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Original poster

Taking children out of school during term time

89 replies

mummywoowa · 16/04/2012 11:25

Now I dont want to turn this into a big arguement, just some advice plse...

My dd's school will not authorise holiday anymore.. Sad

We have booked our holiday in term time as my dh could not get time off in sch hols due to work, due to being new there and holidays already taken up. So our original dates had to be changed.

Now we carefully tried to consider as much as we could and felt that the first 2 weeks of Sept would be best as would only need 7 days off sch.

Both our dd's will not move classes, SATS are not too close, and is only start of term so first week espeically will only be settling into routine and book naming (I could be wrong.... Hmm ) plus both dd's seem to be doing well at sch too.

To get this authorised, I am hoping dh will get a supporting letter from his manager confirming that he cant take the time off when sch needs him to but do you think this is enough??

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Original poster
mummywoowa · 16/04/2012 15:41

Er... I beleive I am being honest here... We are unable to get time out during holiday time as dh cant... I was just pointing out a few points.... Confused and TRUE facts too...

I also agree that the wrong people are at target here, the gov need to target holiday companies... not that this is our arguement here, but just agree...

I also would be interested with this link of £50 per day as my links that I have added does not state that. Shock

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Original poster
mummywoowa · 16/04/2012 15:42

Exactly, Sunnyday123... thats what I thought too... some schools enforce a £50 fine per child per adult maybe per week too, but never heard per day!! If you do have the link,I would love to see it though plse.

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pumpkinsweetie · 16/04/2012 15:50

Dont worry op, it is just £50 if paid within 28 days or £100 if not paid up.
I have checked all gov websites
They are picking on the wrong people -the people who have a one-off holiday and it is wrong.
I know of people that let their kids have time off every now an again so they can sit on their butt all without contemplating the school run and i know someone that went on a girls night out and couldnt be bothered to take her child to school the next dayAngry and i knew these people i am not making assumtions, thankfully ive distanced myself from these awful parents but i bet these sorts will get away scot-free as it is days off here and thereAngry
Lets just hope we dont get fined op and if we do we will begrungley pay itAngry but they best not stop my child benefit for my child having just 4 days off(bbc news).
Conservitives will always pick on the working class, Thatcher the milk snatcher & now Cameron the holiday nicker

Original poster
mummywoowa · 16/04/2012 15:56

This is taken of the GOV web site...

Penalty notices for unauthorised absence

You could be issued with a penalty notice if your child is absent from school without permission. Penalty notices can be issued by:
?local councils

?headteachers (including deputy and assistant heads authorised by them)

?the police

This can include parents who take their children on holiday during term time without getting authorisation from the school. The penalty is £50, rising to £100 if not paid within 28 days. If you fail to pay a penalty fine within 42 days you will be prosecuted.

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Original poster
mummywoowa · 16/04/2012 16:02

Yeah a friend of mine said about the benifits... :(

Our holiday begins at the end of the summer hols and sch has 2 inset days so all in all would only need to take 7 days off... I know it sounds a lot to some... but thought it was better than taking the full 14 days off in June or beg July...but hey ho... there is no winning :(

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sunnyday123 · 16/04/2012 16:34

i booked a holiday for next month - 6 school days off in Y1- i only told school last week :) - never asked them as i booked it before xmas and am going regardless. Don't feel guilty!

clam · 16/04/2012 16:40

"Conservitives will always pick on the working class"
Why do you think it's only the working classes affected by this rule?

GoblersKnob · 16/04/2012 16:41

Ds's school prospectus states the fine is £50 per child, per parent, per day.

I used to take mine out occasionally when ds was younger, but I have to admit I would never have taken them out for the first two weeks of term, not work wise, just in terms of wanting everything to be new to all of them at the same time, rather than having to walk into a class and feel like a 'newbie' when everyone else was settled.

Elibean · 16/04/2012 16:41

Our school is about to stop authorising holidays in term time, reluctantly - there is huge pressure on Heads from Those Above Hmm

We are going to put a lot of info on the website, tips etc to help parents find affordable holidays in school hols as best they can - but it will definitely have an impact. That said, our Head is between a rock and a hard place and I think he is right to set the boundary, overall.

BUT people can still choose to take their kids out of school, without authorisation - as others have said, you risk a fine but its your responsibility, and as such you are entitled to do what you feel is right! I know in our school, the authorisations will stop but there will be no judgement of people doing what they feel is right as long as they are willing to take responsibility for themselves - and are generally good on attendance.

pumpkinsweetie · 16/04/2012 16:45

Because clam, a middle class or upper class person can afford £50+ so they probably wont be botherd or have troubke finding £50 to give to school but the working class and those on benefits will be hit hard as they may not have £50 hence the reasoning behind holidays in term time-they are cheaper

clam · 16/04/2012 17:08

Not according to all the threads on the subject I've read on here. Everyone's being squeezed at the moment, right up the income bracket. Those on the lowest incomes seem to be saying that all holidays, regardless of when, are off the agenda at the moment.

baffledmum · 16/04/2012 18:02

How would you feel if you received a letter from the teacher saying "hi, am planning to take the first 2 weeks of school off as this was the only time for me to get away with my partner and kids. Plus it's cheaper and oh, by the way, parents don't think we do much that much in this time anyway?". Most parents would be up in arms....

Whoopydofoxpoo · 16/04/2012 18:13

Hey here's a novel idea - what about not having a family holiday this year as your hubby can't get the leave due to being new in a job. Hmm

My DH has been in same job for 25years and guess what no holiday for us this year - why because he cannot have any time off during the summer because of Olympics as he is in emergency service.

Anyway it would appear that you will be taking your holiday regardless of what the Head says ..

and then people moan when teachers go on strike Hmm

Original poster
mummywoowa · 16/04/2012 18:38

I said, if my post was read properly, let's not turn this into an argument Angry but no some feel the need to turn this around, some humans just can't cope with being polite Hmm and feel the need to get sarcastic Hmm

Here's something for you, how about a no, we have our reasons which I don't feel I HAVE to explain. I'm sorry that if you can't have your holiday this year, how lucky of you to have holidays every year in first place Envy if I am honest...

You know, thank you to all those who have helped, I have received some great feedback and some very helpful tips but is now turning into some know-it-all argument

So think case close before this turns nasty, thank you again for all your help. Smile

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Whoopydofoxpoo · 16/04/2012 18:47

Well what really is the problem of missing a holiday if DH can't get the time off during school holidays for once .

We dont have holidays every year never said I did .

But if you post about this then expect some answers you don't agree with .

Why post in first place when you are going to ignore the Head anyway Grin

Original poster
mummywoowa · 16/04/2012 19:00

I expected some very different views and actually expected some strong ones because we all have some interesting points of views, its the sarcasm in some people.Confused

Like I say, there has been some interesting posts which I have taken on board, and didn't realise beg of sept would be a problem as spoke to one of dd's teacher, who is also deputy head and senco teacher who said it would be better then rather than June.
So I actually thought I was doing the right thing as best as I can, but just wanted some extra info at getting it auth, as I'm particularly not a rule breaker.

I have pretty much now worked out that it won't and therefore will take the consequences Smile

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pumpkinsweetie · 16/04/2012 19:17

Op there will always be one and probably many more with sarcasm Envy.
But just to point out to Whoopy , your H would have known this when he took on the job-being it emergency services.
That is through no fault of the op & if you read your paragraph it does infact say 'no holiday this year' Hmmwhich leads people to think you went on hol last year?
There is many people up & down the country that are being denied a holiday because of these new rules and that is what this thread is about.

Whoopydofoxpoo · 16/04/2012 19:28

No he didn't know 25 years ago that he would not be able to take leave in 2012 because of Olympics ! Hmm

OP states that her DH could not get time off in school hols due to being new there and holidays already taken up - he probably knew that when he took the job - so why not miss a holiday this year ?

Get his leave requirement in early for next year and nice family holiday .

I really don't see any problem in missing a holiday now and again - it really doesn't bother me DH not being bale to take time off - I can get time off and will do days out with my children - the point I am trying to make is that does it really matter so much that you must have a holiday this year ?

KitKatGirl1 · 16/04/2012 19:35

We have taken our ds out of school before as for a while dh worked in a job where he was never allowed any term time off but only did it alternate years and only ever July time. Head happily sanctioned it knowing it was towards end of term and also educational, ie. we usually do a week of museums etc in London. He would not authorise September hols.

Not to get at you, OP, as I think you mentioned you had no control over details of this particular holiday but do find it amusing when people say they're taking children out of school cos they can't afford hol times but then go for TWO weeks! Surely one week in school hol time is no more expensive than two weeks in term time? And if so I would prioritise and have a shorter holiday!

3duracellbunnies · 16/04/2012 20:08

Life is for living, family time is precious, the children are unlikely to look back in 10 yrs and blame parents for taking them out of school. Fyi never taken own children on holiday during term time.

mrz · 16/04/2012 20:10

Nothing to contribute but thought people might have opinions
www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/rss/1127032/Schools-clamp-down-primary-school-absence-Reception/

Original poster
mummywoowa · 16/04/2012 20:14

Can I just add we don't normally get holidays... So we are very lucky THIS year to have one, we are not fortunate to be able to afford holidays as much as we like and maybe if we could, we certainly would wait another year...

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pumpkinsweetie · 16/04/2012 20:16

mrz -read through this article and was just wondering what happens if your child is generally ill ?or is recovering from cancer ?or has cancer ?& is still going to school part-time or you have a child that is truanting even after dropping them at school?
I hope they look on the above circumstances properly because if not it is a disgrace to come up with this ideaAngry

Original poster
mummywoowa · 16/04/2012 20:23

I also add, that our extended family are going THIS year too which also is a once in a very while...

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