Taking a child out for holiday in term time.

[akaemmafrost]

In the letter do you request or inform them it's happening?

I know it's not ideal but this holiday was planned and booked before dd even started school (year 1). Don't want to get anyone's backs up though.

Thanks.

As long as you are prepared for the leave to be unauthorised, just put what it is for. That is what we do for skiing. We don't sweat it because DD's attendance the rest of the time is 100% and so far there hasn't been any repercussions (currently in year 3).

The school should have a leave application pro forma. Go into reception and ask for one to save you writing a letter.

Oh thank you. I already asked and they said write a letter to the Head.

You request. It is the school's decision whether or not to allow you to take your child out for a term time holiday. If they refuse permission but you go anyway this will be an uunauthorised absence. You need to be aware that you can be fined for unauthorised absence. The current fine is £60, rising to £120 if it is not paid within 28 days. Some schools and LAs are quicker to impose penalties than others, so the fact CaurnieBred has not had any repercussions so far does not mean you will have the same experience.

Ours has a special form to fill in, they are usually fine about it. Just ask.

Just to give support to tiggytape's argument, our school no longer authorises any absence other than medical.

Can I just also say that, although many people say it's fine and makes no difference, attendance is fine the rest of the year etc etc, a week or two solid absence can have a significant impact on learning. It's hard enough to cram the curriculum in as it is and it often builds on itself. So, missing two weeks for example, would have the potential to lose a complete sequence of learning.

Is that sixty quid a day pe child or for the entire absence?

It is £60 per child per day, per parent I believe.

I've just read that it's £100 per child per period of absence, so not each day. Possibly per parent too can't be clear on that but I am separated from their Dad anyway and he has no connection to this holiday.

So if I am fined it will cost me £100 it seems.

Or then again on another site it says £60 rising to £120 if not paid in 28 days (as a previous poster said) per child per absence.