Does anyone know what the fine would be to take my dd out of school for 1 week?

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, we're hoping to take our 9 year old daughter to Florida 1 week before they break up for the October half term.
She is at a mainstream church primary but has a statement and a full time one to one lady. I'm not sure if this makes a difference? It would make us feel more guilty anyway....
Would they fine us for the week, and if so, how much?
Thanks.

£60 per parent, so £120 in total. You'll receive the fine when you return from the holiday. I only know this because a close friend just went to the Canaries for a week and received £120 fine when she returned (I believe it might be reduced if you pay within a certain time frame). Check your LEA though - I believe it can vary between regions.
HTH!

If the holiday is unauthorised the fine will be as the last poster says - £60 per parent. If the school is willing to authorise the holiday there won't be any fine.

O.k, thank you. It would still be cheaper than going in July then.

Is it 120 per day or week?

Its £60 per child, per parent, per week of unauthorized absence in our area.

So one child, for one week = £120 (£60 per parent). I'm guessing it'll cause all sorts of trouble for separated parents if one parent takes child away for a week and the other parent has to pay for their part of the fine.

in some areas its 60 per parent per day, so it would total 600 for the week.

The regulations aren't specific but most areas will only fine parents once per period of unauthorised absence. I haven't come across any LAs that fine per day but I'm not going to say categorically that it doesn't happen.

Our LA has yet to fine anyone.

Tiggy, do you by chance have a link to the law where it states it is illegal to take a child out of school unless ill? Would be useful for future reference! Thanks.

Thank you :)

is she autistic or have adhd?

id big that up in the letter of request. Due to her additional needs, it would be completely out of the question to take her in peak holiday time. sensory overload, too much queuing etc.

and dont. mention that its florida in the letter.

just family holiday

as they can authorise it in special circumstances

I wrote to school sayin takin dcs on holiday for 4 days joined on to half term, no special circumstances so know it is unauthorized. They wrote back saying I won't be fined unless further unauthorized absence.

Thanks everyone. I'm hoping it'll be authorised as we never go on holiday.
She does, I'm sure have PDA, a form of autism and does suffer badly from sensory overload etc. We are in the process of getting it diagnosed.

If a child only has one week off each school year to go on a family holiday, why doesn't that count as "regular" attendance?

Because it is unauthorized absence.
I plan to take mine every year. So far so good.

Depends on hour LA. Have a look on their website. Ours says:
If your child is absent from school for 10 sessions* in a ten-week period, without authorisation from their school, you will be sent a warning letter by the school. This includes sessions where your child has arrived after the school’s registration period without an acceptable reason. If there are no unauthorised absences in the next 15 school days, no further action will be taken. If there are further unauthorised absences there will be no further warning and a Penalty Notice will be issued by the Local Authority.

Ours says exactly the same, Chocovore (even down to the *!) so I wonder if we are neighbours...

The * indicates a footnote which reminds you that each school day has two sessions, so it is absence for 5 school days or equivalent that triggers a warning letter.

Yes, it's really important to note that each school week has 10 sessions so a two-week holiday would be 20 sessions.

Just to say October is a fab time for Florida. Warm but not too hot, little rain and fairly quiet. Not sure what your DD's SEN is but Florida in summer is not something i'd fancy with any child. Been the last 4 Octobers (luckily DD gets 2 weeks off then)

If you do decide to go - pop over to thedibb forum. I've an 8 year old with a physical disability - I post on thedibb as dixonsontour.