Taking DD out of school for a week

[broccoliquiche]

Hi, just looking for some expert views on how it might be viewed if I took DD out of school for a week - I had someone telling me I'd be fined £80/day but it's for an important reason (I think) so can school 'authorise' the absence if it's not just for a cheap holiday etc?

Reason is that DD(in Yr1)'s dad is a teacher and lives abroad and unfortunately their school system's holiday dates only match up with ours for a few days over Christmas and Easter. For the first time in the four years since we split up, he is talking about coming over to visit her (I have taken her to visit him at least once a year and sometimes more but it's expensive and obv uses up my holiday too) but unless he only comes for a few days, it will mean DD missing some school.

Frankly, I'll pay the fine if I have to, as I am thrilled that he is finally making the effort and I know DD will be very excited. I also don't think it'll be detrimental to her schooling as her attendance is otherwise very good and she doesn't struggle with her work at all.

Anyone know if I'll be hauled in front of the authorities for this?? Thx

I have no experience with the Brit school system, but, I took my DD out of school for a week for a holiday.
The school were in agreement because her GPs were coming to Thailand for three weeks and we wanted to go away for one of them.
DD was given the weeks plan of work to do as well as homework.
I honestly can't see the school kicking off assuming they know the background.

Schools have the discretion to allow up to 2 weeks off a year in term time.
Whether or not they will depends hugely on the school.
A lot of them have cracked down on it because attendance is one of the things OFSTED looks at when they are grading the school.
I think if the school does not authorise it then it has to be 5 days or more off before they can look at fining you. There was a discussion of it on a thread about taking time off to go to centre parks lately.
here

FWIW my Dc's had the last week of the x-mas term off authorised as we went to Oz for 3 weeks. I have never taken them out in term time before and they said yes so I didn't have to worry about the fine thing.

OP, I think that is a unique and very worthwhile reason to miss a few days of school.

And I am not generally in favour of missing school for holidays, so I don't speak lightly!

Thank you all. I was in no doubt that I thought it was worthwhile but obviously it's very personal to me so it's nice to hear you agree. I was just unsure as to how much leeway schools have to allow this sort of thing. DD's school has a very poor OFSTED history so do everything they can to make their stats look better and make quite a song and dance about attendance. Am going to ring the school today to speak to the headteacher.

Also, its worth knowing that the fine only kicks in on the 5th day. Take 4 days holiday and one day in school. So in on Monday, then tuesday to Sunday with her dad.

However, it is worth letting the school know the circumstances, so that they can make that call...I find that schools are generally reasonable if they know you are not just taking a holiday to save money.

Can't she still go to school but spend all her time out of school with her dad? She could have two weekends with him and after school and evening? At least on some days? I do think this is sort of thing that might well authorise though.

We took ours out for 7 school days for a holiday - had no problems at all - only did it once, kids had 100% attendance apart from that - blessed with kids who don't suffer badly with colds.

Don't see why your situation should not warrant authorised time off. Don't "ask" just state you are taking dd out for he dads visit.

When did schools get to be the most powerful in the time-demands department? grrrrrrr.

That's interesting re the 5 day thing. I took my ds out for 5 days in year 1 and I was warned a penalty notice could be issued.
Not heard anything though. Now need to take him out for 1 day and I really don't want to be fined £100 for 1 day. Again he has a good attendance record.

fram, you wont be fined for a day. They are trying to clamp down on people taking a week to go to disney in June low season, not the odd day here or there. Where our school has big issues is children out for 10 days to go to exotic location, plus a day here and a day there throughout the year so they can go and a) see the christmas lights in London b) go to legoland c) go to a landrover show d) have a duvet day because they are tired.

Spoke to the headteacher and she said she had no discretion to call it "authorised", but made it clear that it was my decision. Which is that DD will be missing school. It will be impossible for her to see her dad more than once a year in the future as he lives on the other side of the world, so I feel we have to grab these opportunities.

It does mean that if she has much illness over the rest of the year, we will be on "Fast Track" and required to provide medical evidence for any illness, but that's fine. I'm happy to jump through hoops to prove we are not being irresponsible with her time off.

Have to admit though, I was a bit surprised as I know a lot of the children in DD's class have had extended visits to family abroad (high immigrant population) during termtime and this is essentially no different.

I suspect it would be OK at DS's school, but they seem to be VERY flexible.

Would your DD want to show her dad her school? ie- have him do drop off and pick up one day? DS is always keen to have his dad do pick up if he is here on a school day ( rare).