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Primary education

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Original poster

Fined £240 for taking kids out of school for 2 days

66 replies

StayAtHomeDad1 · 27/02/2017 10:29

We have recently received a letter from my children's primary school informing us we are being fined £240 for taking them out of school for 2 days after the recent half term. My children are 6 and 9.
We did so because we were visiting friends who live in Romania and flights from our nearest airport are only on Wednesdays. My children also had 4 days learning skiing which they loved.

I advised the school of my intention and expected it to be unauthorised but wasn't expecting to be fined for just 2 days. It seems you get fined this amount for 2 children whether it be for 2 days or 2 months!

From looking at other people's experiences online there is no recourse and no appeals process so we are stuck with having to pay.

I am arranging a meeting with the headmaster to discuss this and am fully aware that the fine cannot be undone. I just would like to know what his criteria is for deciding who to refer for fining.

It's not about the money as much as the principle. If I had lied and told the school they had a stomach bug, nothing would have come of it. I was honest and got penalised. I know of a few parents that take their children out of school every year for a week or more and others that lie and say their kids are ill and take them out for a week - they will continue to get away with it.

I just wondered if anyone else has been fined for only a couple of days unauthorised absence?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Sunnydaysrock · 27/02/2017 14:04

In our area the fine is £60 per child per parent for any period of unauthorised absence.

Abetes · 27/02/2017 14:27

It's well publicised that you can get fined for taking your children out of school . I think that you have to suck it up and pay it.

CeciCC · 27/02/2017 15:03

Oh gosh!!! All the cases I've read on the news ilI thought it was per week! .
I've never said they were ill when they weren't and I've never been penalised for 1 day off school(not illness related) but no wonder parents would say they are ill if it's just 1 or 2 days.

BrieAndChilli · 27/02/2017 16:11

I've just checked our policy as we got a letter about it a while back

We are in Wales and our LEA stance is...
Head teacher can authorise up to 10 days holiday a year - pur school authorises it if you have over 95% attendance in the previous 12 months
You get fined if you miss 10 sessions per term (so 5 full days) so if your holiday is NOT authorised and it takes you over the 5 days then you are likely to be fined.
I'm not sure if illlness counts as authorised or unauthorised but I know it counts towards the attendance figure.

We took the kids out for 2 days last term but when I put in the holiday request the previous 12 months included the time off my DS had off after his op so I was told to wait a couple more weeks until this was no longer within the last 12 months and when I di holiday was then authorised

prh47bridge · 27/02/2017 17:01

BrieAndChilli - The rules are different in Wales.

CeciCC

It is highly unlikely you would be penalised for a single day's unauthorised absence. Most LAs will only impose a fine after either a long unauthorised absence (typically a week or more) or a number of short unauthorised absences within 3 or 6 months.

mrz · 27/02/2017 17:20

I'd be aware that if you don't pay it the fine doubles

mrz · 27/02/2017 17:23

"Schools make the decision to report to the Local Authority or not." Simply not true the school must provide the LA with weekly register information.

umizoomi · 27/02/2017 17:58

It's not £60 per child per day.

It's £60 per parent per child for a period of unauthorised absence. Be that 2 days or 2 weeks in any one slot.

Although our HT told me no fines are issued by our LEA for less than 3 days

mrz · 27/02/2017 18:14

Penalty notice issued under the local Code of Conduct (Sections 444A and 444B, Education Act 1996):
• £60 fine if paid within 21 days, rising to £120 if paid within 22-28 days. (Per child per parent)
• Non-payment will result in a prosecution for the original offence.

prh47bridge · 27/02/2017 19:31

It's £60 per parent per child for a period of unauthorised absence. Be that 2 days or 2 weeks in any one slot

No, it is £60 per parent per child per unauthorised absence. Technically an LA could enforce a fine for every session (half day) missed as each session constitutes an unauthorised absence but I don't know any that do so. There is nothing in the law or regulations that limits the LA to a single fine per period of absence but I agree that some do only fine once per period of absence. Equally some will only fine one parent, others will fine both.

user99009960546 · 27/02/2017 19:34

I'm taking my kids out of school in June for a week, I'm not expecting any issues with the secondary school but not looking forward to the primary school meeting I will have to attend.

Dd 9 had 2 weeks of school in November due to developing pain/limp that left her unable to walk and on crutches and numerous hospital visits, MRI and test. Then in January ended up with another 8 days off with a awful virus that just took forever for her to get better from.

But as a single parent they not way I can afford to holiday is in term time.

Our LEA fines £60 per child per parent so I'm guessing my maxim fine will be £60, for me it still works out cheaper to take the fine and go term time than it would in school holidays

Desperina · 27/02/2017 19:52

What a load of bullshit. Surely LA can use their wits to see the difference between negligent parenting and a fun, valuable life experience. FFS.

I am Dreading all this school crap.

VeritysWatchTower · 01/03/2017 20:41

Leeds fines you for anything over 5 days, so 4 1/2 you are okay, 5 and above you are fined £60 per child per parent per absence not sessions.

Or that was the case in 2014 when I took my children out for a week for Disney World, the week after year 6 SATs which was the also the last week of term. I didn't argue I just paid.

Annoying when my friend who comes under a different school gets given permission for 3 weeks to Disney World in October and doesn't even use half term week as part of it.

IAdoreEfteling · 03/03/2017 13:03

USER it sounds like your DD could benefit from a holiday after all that

Simply not true the school must provide the LA with weekly register information On past threads about this sort of thing I am sure a teacher or some one said even the school prefers you to lie as it makes their own figures look good!

Op so sorry this has happened to you, leaves a really nasty taste in the mouth and yet your dc had a wonderful experience. We are taking 2 or 3 days out next year I shall be lying.

Trifleorbust · 03/03/2017 17:26

I was honest and got penalised.

Not really an argument that holds much water. If other people lie to avoid a fine, that doesn't mean you get to avoid a fine simply for not lying.

I don't agree with these fines but it seems perfectly within the rules.

AndNowItsSeven · 03/03/2017 17:29

It is not and never had been per day! It's £60 per parent per period of absence.

AndNowItsSeven · 03/03/2017 17:29

rka2017 · 04/03/2017 21:33

These are all money making tactics for LA.They all the time say, encouraging education by 100%attendance. Those who take children few days before summer holidays are still fined.Are they missing really important lessons before few days or even a week?????? Where all these bugs and contiguous disease like chicken pox spreading? Still they fined parents. They have ridiculous policy for one week off from school for chicken pox,48 hr do dv bug and same time they want good attendance.If a child is catching chicken pox from school,their attendance definitely falls bellow average,that means they can't take further days off.

mycavitiesareempty · 05/03/2017 22:55

£60 per day per child. They can levy it per parent, too.

prh47bridge · 05/03/2017 23:38

It is not and never had been per day! It's £60 per parent per period of absence

I agree that is how many LAs implement it but, since these fines were introduced, the law has always allowed them to charge £60 per parent per unauthorised absence, NOT per period of unauthorised absence.

Those who take children few days before summer holidays are still fined

It depends what you mean by a few days. If you mean one or two days this is very unlikely to attract a fine unless the child has a number of other unauthorised absences. However, if it is a week or more it may result in a fine.

Where all these bugs and contiguous disease like chicken pox spreading? Still they fined parents

Evidence? Parents cannot be fined if the absence was unavoidable, e.g. due to sickness. The school may ask for evidence of sickness and fine the parents if the evidence is not forthcoming. But if there is evidence (a doctor's note, for example) the parents cannot be fined.

If a child is catching chicken pox from school,their attendance definitely falls bellow average,that means they can't take further days off

Rubbish. Days off when a child is sick are not unauthorised and therefore do not count towards a possible fine.

rka2017 · 06/03/2017 09:29

But if there is evidence (a doctor's note, for example) the parents cannot be fined.

Normally nobody go to doctor for chicken pox and normal disease which could be cured by home treatment.

"Rubbish. Days off when a child is sick are not unauthorised and therefore do not count towards a possible fine".

Haven't you heard about when a child continuous falls ill,parents were harrased and threatned, they might fined and take to court. if some children are unlucky they will catch every bug that goes around and continuously falls ill. Because have to show evidence it wastes doctors appointment and time. The problem is different policy among LA.
Because of this policy parents are forced to send sick children to school and spreading more bugs to other children.In reality that is the truth.

rka2017 · 06/03/2017 09:37

"My concern is that my son had a number of days off a month ago because of a very nasty chest infection. I think it would be unfair if the school is judging attendance on figures that include days off due to illness"

I agree with OP. That is my point as well. They just see the total attendance percentage. whether it is due sickness or not,it doesn't count. I have seen in the past many parents took their children during term time for a week and never get fined.

prh47bridge · 06/03/2017 09:44

Normally nobody go to doctor for chicken pox and normal disease which could be cured by home treatment

Agreed and yes, some schools go over the top with demands for doctor's notes. I can understand it when there are concerns about a child's attendance but it should not be routine for everyone. GPs have better things to do with their time.

Haven't you heard about when a child continuous falls ill,parents were harrased and threatned, they might fined and take to court

I have heard occasional reports to this effect. However, if they are true the school is being extremely stupid.

If a child is continuously ill it is not unreasonable of the school to ask for evidence. After all, some parents will report their child is ill when they are not. But if the child is genuinely ill the parents cannot be fined or prosecuted. Any attempt to do so will fail. That is the law. The law trumps any school or LA policy.

Because of this policy parents are forced to send sick children to school

Since, no matter how much the school huffs and puffs, parents cannot be fined for keeping their sick children at home, they are not forced to send sick children to school. They may, however, feel bullied into doing so if the school adopts an overly aggressive stance.

GladAllOver · 06/03/2017 10:02

My concern is that my son had a number of days off a month ago because of a very nasty chest infection. I think it would be unfair if the school is judging attendance on figures that include days off due to illness.
What the school is looking at with absences is the effect on the child's education and on the teacher and other children if catching up is required. There are no 'good' and 'bad' absences.
As far as the HT is concerned, the fact that the child has missed a month due to sickness makes it even more important not to take additional time off for a holiday.

AnguaResurgam · 08/03/2017 06:32

"As far as the HT is concerned, the fact that the child has missed a month due to sickness makes it even more important not to take additional time off for a holiday."

This worries me about potential new policy of 'holidays only if attendance good' because that means only the healthy, who have been lucky enough to escape any circulating infectious diseases, can have authorised hols.

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