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Unauthorised term time leave penalty

16 replies

Jayg213 · 07/12/2024 18:52

Has anyone had a unauthorised leave in term time penalty notice, challenged it and not had to pay the fine?

me and my partner took my son out of school for 5 days to visit family abroad in October as the flights were extortionate in the school holidays. We received a fine from the local council last week.

My name misspelled and the dates on the fine are wrong. Would this make the fine invalid?

The Education Act 1996 states

Duty of parents to secure education of children of compulsory school age.
The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable—
(a)to his age, ability and aptitude, and
(b)to any special educational needs [F1(in the case of a child who is in the area of a local authority in England) or additional learning needs (in the case of a child who is in the area of a local authority in Wales)] he may have,
either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.

my son has attended school apart from the 5 days mentioned to visit family abroad. During his short absence from school he was engaged in diverse educational experiences, including exposure to different cultures, life skills, and practical lessons that are not typically offered in the school curriculum. He also completed written homework set by his school teacher. Would this qualify to meet the policy?

any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance

OP posts:
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Mrsttcno1 · 07/12/2024 20:00

No, it doesn’t make the fine invalid.

cansu · 07/12/2024 20:04

I can't believe you are surprised by this. It is fairly clear that term time holidays mean fines. All the culture makes no difference whatsoever.

wafflesmgee · 07/12/2024 20:07

Simple advice. Don't take your child out of school in term time if you don't want to pay the fine.
What did you think was going to happen?!

If you do, you have to pay the fine.
You say it was worth it, well, that's your decision, but face the consequences. Don't try to get out of them when it's clear you took her on holiday in term time.

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Dueanamechange2025 · 07/12/2024 20:10

There is a Facebook group called against school holiday fines/PNCs if you join that, they will be able to tell you if the fine is legal with the incorrect dates.
None of the other stuff (education experiences) etc make a difference, it’s not a legal defence.

Snorlaxo · 07/12/2024 20:12

Just pay the fine. Presumably you saved more than the fine so you need to suck it up. It doesn’t matter why you went on holiday and what you did. The fines have been well publicized and it’s well known that they would be even stricter from September 2024.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 07/12/2024 20:14

Just pay the fine, you must have known you would be fined, as you did 5 days which is the 10 sessions

Pigeonqueen · 07/12/2024 20:15

Just pay the fine. I can’t believe you think you’re exempt from it on those grounds!

We always take a term time holiday because our son has complex needs and can’t cope with the crowds during school holidays. We just accept the fine as part of the cost of it all.

UpUpUpU · 07/12/2024 20:16

Pay the fine. You know you owe it.

somuchtodonextyear · 07/12/2024 20:24

I suppose the question is why do you think you are above the rules?

SErunner · 07/12/2024 20:25

You knew you'd be fined. Cough up and don't do it again. Not a great example to set your children.

RampantIvy · 07/12/2024 20:29

I'm surprised that any parent doesn't know that unauthorised absences result in a fine.

The cost of the fine will be far less than the air fare savings, so just suck it up and pay it.

supercalifragilistic123 · 07/12/2024 20:33

It's been very well publicised that the rules have gotten much stricter from September. I really don't see how you are getting out of paying the fine.

I really don't agree with the stricter fines, it seems unnecessarily harsh.

user2848502016 · 07/12/2024 21:01

But what you saved in flights must be more than the fine so just pay the fine?
I can't say I disagree with you taking a child abroad to see family for 5 days but it's the law, you must have known that, not much you can do

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 07/12/2024 21:02

Just pay the fine.

itsgettingweird · 07/12/2024 21:14

Doesn't make the fine invalid.

However check how many sessions the fine makes it's that you've missed.

5 days is 10 sessions. Usually a fine kicks in after 10 sessions/ 5 full days.

You can check your counties website for their policy.

User820825 · 07/12/2024 21:19

I don't agree with school fines but that's the system at the moment and they are clamping down even more at the moment because school attendance is still down since lockdown.

Everyone thinks they have a valid reason to take their children out of school. Nobody wants to pay the fine.

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