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Primary education

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Original poster

£60 fine for illness- unauthorised - advice please

133 replies

Luckz66 · 08/04/2019 12:21

Hi all, desperately seeking advice please!
On 18/3/19 I kept my son off school for the week as he had a terrible sore throat and cough.
I called in the school everyday and gave them updates on him.
However, today I received a letter from the education authority stating I am being fined £60 for that week as the absences are unauthorised.
The letter didn’t even go to the correct address as the school somehow has my address wrong on the system and the guy from down the road has brought it up to myself.
Also, I have had one for my sons dad (we are not together) sent to the wrong address also.
I know that if he gets fined too will cause issues as he’s going to go mad at me for keeping him off school for what looks unauthorised but I only did it because he was ill.
Totally confused on what to do now!
Help please!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

DullPortraits · 09/04/2019 21:48

Which dr is prescribing fricking calpol?!? No wonder the NHS is going down the pan 😡😡

SavoyCabbage · 09/04/2019 21:49

Sorry, my Wi-fi was playing up.

I wouldn't take my child to school if they were ill and I wouldn't take them to the doctor unless they were really ill. I don't take attendance into account at all when I'm deciding if one of my dc is going to school or not. I only consider them. My dc went to primary school in another country where attendance wasn't an issue so I can't quite get my head around it.

ichbineinstasumer · 09/04/2019 21:52

I wouldn't pay it, no way, and I would be quite prepared to go and explain to a court that my child was sick and as a parent I made the decision not to send them into school for that week. You haven't asked for a week off to go on holiday and not had that authorised, which can cause a fine, I don't think they are entitled to fine you for medical absence. I would ask them for chapter and verse on their authority to make the charge, take it to the governors (whilst handing in my resignation), take it to the MP and take it to the local paper.

mummymayhem18 · 09/04/2019 22:12

I agree with some other previous posters that a week off for a cold and sore throat is a lot. Different if has tonsillitis and temperature etc but would have thought a couple of days if anything was enough. Also ridiculous doctor prescribing calpol when it's cheaper and you can get over the counter.

Wolfiefan · 09/04/2019 22:13

Savoy my kids don’t go to school if they’re too unwell to be there. A bit of a cold? They will cope but if they’re sick they need to be home. I wouldn’t rush a child to a doctor just to validate absence. BUT my kids would have to be so unwell to have an entire week off that I would be likely to seek medical advice. Hope that makes sense.

MyDcAreMarvel · 09/04/2019 22:16

Could have easily been strep throat which could easily take five days to recover from.

missyB1 · 09/04/2019 22:25

Oh tell the school you will see them in court. Don’t pay the fine, it’s a bloody racket to extort money out of scared parents. I know schools are struggling for money but this isn’t the way to try and raise it!

A child can easily have two weeks illness in an academic year, it’s hardly impossible! In the 70s I was regularly off school with repeated tonsillitis (and no GPs didn’t have to provide letters), schools didn’t threaten parents and trying to get money out of them!

CookieDoughKid · 09/04/2019 22:36

If it was me I'd see them in court. Let them chase and chase. It takes a lot of administration, will power time and expense to pursue you. I think you have a good defense but I'd prepare well in advance on a defense and the legalities.

OhTheRoses · 09/04/2019 22:38

As a teacher and school governor surely you simply write to the school stating the facts noting you telephoned daily and your son was too ill to attend school. Be clear this was sickness absence not unauthorised absence, return the fine demand and ask them to confirm within seven working days they accept it was sickness absence, not unauthorised. If they didnt ask for a doctor's note when you phoned every day I'd note that too.

DD had ten days off for chicken pox circa 2004. Didn't take her to the dr and wouldn't expect to waste gp time for it.

The world has gone mad.

prh47bridge · 09/04/2019 22:39

Your ex shouldn’t get a fine

As far as the law is concerned, both parents can be fined. Some LAs will fine both, some will only fine one. That is the LA's decision.

I don't think they are entitled to fine you for medical absence

They cannot fine for a genuine medical absence. However, if the parent cannot prove it is a genuine medical absence the LA is entitled to fine them. This most commonly happens when the child already has poor attendance so the school suspects that the illness is a sham to try and avoid a fine.

Don’t pay the fine, it’s a bloody racket to extort money out of scared parents. I know schools are struggling for money but this isn’t the way to try and raise it!

The fines don't go to the schools. They go to the local authority. The school won't get a single penny.

prh47bridge · 09/04/2019 22:43

In the 70s I was regularly off school with repeated tonsillitis (and no GPs didn’t have to provide letters), schools didn’t threaten parents and trying to get money out of them!

The law was different back then. It was only during the Blair years that LAs were given the ability to fine parents for unauthorised absence.

Yes, the OP should argue that the penalty notice has been issued incorrectly as her child was ill. But, if that argument is not accepted, she will have to pay or risk the LA taking her to court.

MollysMummy2010 · 09/04/2019 23:14

Last day of term my daughter came home with a 100% attendance badge very proud. I said that she was lucky that she had not been ill. I don’t keep her home for a sniffle but if she is unwell she stays home. She is in juniors now but bloody primary called me out of work to collect if she had so much as a tummy ache and she would then bounce around the house all afternoon!

leccybill · 09/04/2019 23:25

As a teacher, I'd think two full weeks off in two terms was a lot, sorry.

Original poster

Luckz66 · 10/04/2019 05:26

UPDATE...
My son had a week off in October as he had a tummy bug which lasted 3 days and I had to keep him off for a further 2 days once it had finished.
In March he was kept off for a week and I luckily am off on maternity leave at the moment with an 8 week old baby.
I’ve called the school and spoke to the Head who has not retracted the fine.
I asked why my ex would have one and she said because he has parental responsibilities as he’s on the birth certificate and there was no child protection issues etc to why he shouldn’t, even though his fine also got sent to my address and not his!

OP posts:

NicoAndTheNiners · 10/04/2019 06:13

They must think that you're lying and that you went on holiday.

In your shoes I would resign from the governors and tell the head that you can not work with someone who is accusing you of being a liar. And I would let them take you to court.

cansu · 10/04/2019 06:38

They obviously have decided that you are lying. I would write a formal letter of complaint and challenge the fine. What you do about the governors issue depends on how you feel about how you have been treated by the school. I would be tempted to resign or you could be an absolute pain in the backside of course!

exLtEveDallas · 10/04/2019 06:48

I just wouldn't pay it and wouldn't worry about it. How exactly are they going to get the money out of you? They'd have to be able to prove that your child wasn't ill, and how are they going to do that?

AuntieCJ · 10/04/2019 06:52

Tell them you'll see them in court.

cordeliavorkosigan · 10/04/2019 06:53

Not sure what your best move is, but I would be absolutely fuming over this. How completely ridiculous is that. I suppose taking it to the governing body, to the local authority and/or eventually to the media are options, but probably an in-person conversation, or several, are the best starting points.
They should absolutely not be able to fine you for keeping your child home when he was ill.

Hollowvictory · 10/04/2019 06:54

So it's not an error, they think you aRe keeping him Off without good reason. 2 weeks is a lot for a stomach bug and a sore throat tbh.

Puddlet · 10/04/2019 07:00

It's very odd. Why would you go on a term time holiday with such a tiny baby?I agree that you cant stay on as a governor. Really sorry this has happened to you.

TheWildRumpyPumpus · 10/04/2019 07:02

Any chance your son went back to school and told them about the lovely things he got up to with mummy and baby on his week off while he was recovering?

Not saying that you were lying but was he so ill that he was confined to bed, or was he able to get up to some enjoyable activities such that his teacher might think he could have been at school?

hsegfiugseskufh · 10/04/2019 07:08

So it's not an error, they think you aRe keeping him Off without good reason. 2 weeks is a lot for a stomach bug and a sore throat tbh

Its not a lot at all! Its just unfortunate timing. Kids get all sorts from school and its no bloody wonder when they actually insist on sending your sick contagious child in.

Their attendance rates would probably be better if they used their common sense and told contagious children to stay at home.

BlackCatSleeping · 10/04/2019 07:10

If you Google your county there should be contact info for the person in charge of absences, but they may just refer you back to the school. It sounds like the Head is being very heavy handed here.

Original poster

Luckz66 · 10/04/2019 07:12

It states if I do not pay the fine in 21 days then it will double! Also, I also have the letter for my sons dad as they have sent this to my address as they don’t have his! Am I liable to pay that too?

OP posts:

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