Can I legally take my children on holiday in term time?

[kslatts]

We would not usually consider taking our children out of school during term time, but dh is a bus driver and is allocated his holidays by the company, in previous years he has always had at least one week off during school holidays, but this year he hasn't. He has asked whether he can swap his holidays but has been told that he can't. He has 1 weeks holiday in March and 2 weeks at the end of September.

One of the people he works with has told him although usually it is illegal to take children out of school during term time, if a parent is allocated their holidays then you are able to.

Does anyone know what the law actually says?

I don't think it is illegal but some schools record it as 'unauthorised absence'

At my dd's (private) school people do this and the school doesn't seem to mind...

I am usually against taking children out in term time but it does seem very harsh if your ds simply isn't allowed to go on holiday when they can.

Can he swap holiday weeks with someone else. People without kids rarely want to pay the school summer holiday premium prices so he might get lucky with a swap.

I think you are allowed ten days a year, you have to apply and the school can say no

BTW I do it every year for a week, simply too expensive to go in holidays.

I think the school would only object if it were SATS or suchlike.

I think I will arrange to go in and see the headteacher and explain the situation to him, request whether we can take the 2 weeks dh has off in september. If he says no, he might agree to 1 week.