Wedding during term time

[Katie785]

My brother is planning to get married abroad. He is currently looking to get married midweek during what will be my DC’s term time in 2021. Nothing is booked. My DC will be reception, year 2 and year 6. He’s looking at the last week of May.
I would need to pull my DC out of school for 3 days. Can anyone advise if this would be unlikely to get permission?

Unlikely I'm afraid. The LA here would fine for 6 sessions missed. My husband is I'm the armed forces and returned recently from a long period away- the LA did not authorise the 2 days I asked for so that they could reconnect so I paid £60 per day per child instead.

As PP said unlikely to have it authorised but you can request anyway. You may avoid the fine if their attendance is very good or your school doesn’t tend to enforce these things.

Thank you and would they fine both me and my husband?

They didn't with me, and only 1 session day rather than 2 which was a concession for the fact that their dad had been away so long. Normally is is 60 per session not day

It would most definitely not be authorised at our school. I'm not sure how quick they are to fine people but I suspect they would if we did what you planned to do, sorry!

OK so does it vary per school whether it is £60 per day or per session? Potentially if it is per day, per child, and both parents the fine would be for 3 DC £1080. If it is per session, per child, and both parents it would be £360.

Does the date clash with the SATs? They are in May (for the Yr 6 pupil).

You wouldn't get permission as the school cannot authorise that type of leave, they have no leeway there. You usually have to miss 10 session (5 days) for a fine but check with your council and it would be both parents, I'm getting the impression that you don't actually want to go in which case it's fine to say no to your brother OP. He can't expect everyone to spend their holiday and money going abroad because he wants to!

They are likely to authorise at least the wedding day. The £60 per absence is a legal fine and can not be applied to below 10 days off over 100 plus days ( it is more than this but figure alludes me). If you have paid the incorrect amount you need to request a repayment as the charge was not legal. It is not per day or per session but for the whole absence. If your attendance is good and you r below the 10 sessions absence then you can not be fined

I think sats is the week beginning 10th may on 2021 so shouldn’t be an issue

The rule is 10 sessions (5 days) unauthorised absence in a 50 day period that attracts the fines. Some LAs differ, but that's the rule that most have adopted. In my school, we fine every time if those criteria are met. However, I do make sure I apply a bit of common sense to the decision as to whether to call it unauthorised or not. The general rule of thumb that I go by is if you cannot REASONABLY arrange the time off for during the school holidays, I will often authorise the leave. I would authorise this, as you personally cannot reorganise your time away to the holidays, as the wedding dates are not in your control and it is family. However, the caveat to that is that I would not authorise if your DCs attendance is below 95% currently, or the time off falls during Year 2 or Year 6 SATs. So if the only unauthorised absence they have had in the last 50 days is these three days you would not be fined. Should they have had two or more unauthorised days in that period, the fine would be £60 per child, per responsible adult, for the entire period of unauthorised absence. So £60 x 3 children = £180, x2 parents = £360. Hope that all makes sense.

Sorry that should have said 5 days in a 100 day period.

Isn't the last week in May usually half term?

Certainly where I live that will be half term. But maybe there are variations around the country.

Our school would not authorise the absence but they would not issue a fine either. If they do fine it is £60 per parent per absence, we was advised when completing the leave request form to put that they are only going away with one parent so you would only receive the one fine.

Last week in May (bank holiday week) is usually half term. So that would be ok. However, earlier in May is the Y6 Sats which you wouldn't want him to miss - this is then followed by completing the writing evidence required to give a writing assessment grade. So whilst I am all for taking a kids out for a wedding - in this instance it is a tricky time.

I know it is usually half term that was what my brother was hoping but frustratingly I think because the last Monday in May that month is Monday 31st May, in Derby the school half term is the first week of June.

in 2021

Does anyone know the dates of Yr2 SATS?

The minimum can not be altered and is not legal. LA s can choose to allow 20 or 30 days off before fining but not reduce it.The fine is £120 per child, per parent with PR per holiday . It is reduced to £60 if paid promptly . If you have not got the funds to hand then it will cost £480 for a family of 4

The LA will find both parents with PR even if families are separated.. You will need to argue your case if you were unaware of an absence

It’s been a while since I taught year 2 but I believe they just have to be done in May. There is no statutory date like with the year six tests

We've recently taken our DS out for 3 days for a family wedding... I put in a holiday request and was told up to three day would be authorised as it's close family. Good luck :)

www.tes.com/news/revealed-sats-week-dates-2019-2020-and-2021

www.gov.uk/guidance/key-stage-1-and-key-stage-2-test-dates#academic-year-2

Sorry I missed earlier you will have a y2 also doing SATs...this makes it even more difficult for you.

@user1474894224
It looks like my yr6 DS will have completed his SATS by the time of the wedding... The SATS will be finished by the 2nd week of May and the wedding is proposed for the 4th week of May. The phonics screening check week is week commencing Monday 7 June 2021

@Katie785 do check with the school - as our Y2 Sats were the week before and the week after the y6 ones last year.....(Year 2/KS1 are just given a month and not specific dates.)