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School holidays

Find half term and school holiday activity ideas.

Original poster

School term time holiday

48 replies

Justinajj · 21/01/2025 20:17

Hey
I was wondering if anyone could help me.
my husband gets rostered leave meaning his annual leave is given to him he has set dates where he is off
so this year all of his holiday is in term time theres not much he can do he has tried to swap but no luck so if we want to take the kids on a family holiday it has to be in term time as this is the only time work will allow?
what’s the rules on this I can’t seem to find any information on it.
I’m not going to take my kids and leave my husband at home to go away it’s just ridiculous to be honest.

any advice?

thank you!

OP posts:
Completelyjo · 21/01/2025 20:21

It’s pretty easy to find the rules. In England there are very set fines for taking your kids out of school during term time.

Original poster
Justinajj · 21/01/2025 20:27

I understand that but what about people with rostered annual leave who have no choice when they can take holiday?
Is that just unlucky and have to pay the fine because he doesn’t get a choice in annual leave?

OP posts:
Perfect28 · 21/01/2025 20:29

Yes, it's just unfortunate OP

Completelyjo · 21/01/2025 20:32

Justinajj · 21/01/2025 20:27

I understand that but what about people with rostered annual leave who have no choice when they can take holiday?
Is that just unlucky and have to pay the fine because he doesn’t get a choice in annual leave?

The law doesn’t change because someone chooses to work in a job that only has leave during term time.

Pigeonqueen · 21/01/2025 20:34

What a shame if the kids were horribly unwell with flu that week …. 🤔😉

Dillythedallyduck · 21/01/2025 20:35

Justinajj · 21/01/2025 20:27

I understand that but what about people with rostered annual leave who have no choice when they can take holiday?
Is that just unlucky and have to pay the fine because he doesn’t get a choice in annual leave?

Yes just unlucky, what a rubbish way of allocating leave though, they give it you and you put up with it Confused

On the bright side you may well find that the cost of the fine is cancelled out by the reduction in the price of the holiday.

Original poster
Justinajj · 21/01/2025 20:37

Ok

OP posts:
Original poster
Justinajj · 21/01/2025 20:40

Dillythedallyduck · 21/01/2025 20:35

Yes just unlucky, what a rubbish way of allocating leave though, they give it you and you put up with it Confused

On the bright side you may well find that the cost of the fine is cancelled out by the reduction in the price of the holiday.

Show quote history

Yeah there is that it’s just annoying really.
and yes considering we have 2 children both in school, I’m sure there’s many more from his company that’s in the same boat unfortunately 😢

OP posts:
Original poster
Justinajj · 21/01/2025 20:41

Completelyjo · 21/01/2025 20:32

The law doesn’t change because someone chooses to work in a job that only has leave during term time.

Show quote history

If he was to “choose” to be on benefits they would be trying to get him in any job possible regardless of annual leave times.
Thanks for the input though.

OP posts:
1dontunderstand · 21/01/2025 20:42

I am a school attendance officer.

The fpn can be considered if your child is absent for unauthorised reasons for 10 sessions or more in any 10 week period. One day is two sessions. If your child is absent from school and the school has a reasonable assumption that you are on holiday, for example if you report your child sick, they can do a home visit and they will leave a notice at your home to say they knocked and there was no answer.
If you are not home and fail to respond to the notice, or if they have any evidence that you are on holiday, they will report to the local authority who will make the decision to fine or not.

I hope this is helpful.

Original poster
Justinajj · 21/01/2025 20:49

1dontunderstand · 21/01/2025 20:42

I am a school attendance officer.

The fpn can be considered if your child is absent for unauthorised reasons for 10 sessions or more in any 10 week period. One day is two sessions. If your child is absent from school and the school has a reasonable assumption that you are on holiday, for example if you report your child sick, they can do a home visit and they will leave a notice at your home to say they knocked and there was no answer.
If you are not home and fail to respond to the notice, or if they have any evidence that you are on holiday, they will report to the local authority who will make the decision to fine or not.

I hope this is helpful.

Yes I understand it’s just unfair on families that have annual rostered leave.

I think the rules are abit extreme there was a lady who lived near my mum with 5 children never in school and never was fined or anything but decent parents who try the hardest get penalised for attendance falling below 95%

OP posts:
Original poster
Justinajj · 21/01/2025 20:51

Completelyjo · 21/01/2025 20:21

It’s pretty easy to find the rules. In England there are very set fines for taking your kids out of school during term time.

👍🏻 thanks

OP posts:
trifficnews · 21/01/2025 20:54

You can't tell the school both children are off sick and then expect them both to lie when they go back and are asked how they are feeling now. Plus children will be exited and want to talk about their holiday to their friends and teacher.

InfoSecInTheCity · 21/01/2025 20:57

I agree it's rubbish, but honestly I'd just factor the fine into the cost of the holiday. The holiday itself will be cheaper if it's out of holiday time so hopefully it will balance out.

Original poster
Justinajj · 21/01/2025 21:02

trifficnews · 21/01/2025 20:54

You can't tell the school both children are off sick and then expect them both to lie when they go back and are asked how they are feeling now. Plus children will be exited and want to talk about their holiday to their friends and teacher.

Exactly I would never expect them to lie the point of holidays is to create memories and talk about them.

OP posts:
samlovesdilys · 21/01/2025 21:05

Is it rostered due to armed services or similar? You may be able to get dispensation if that was the case...

stichguru · 21/01/2025 21:08

As a TA, when the government expect our pupils to meet enormous numbers of targets, and the parents (some of them) do too. It is hugely difficult to find time to re-cap the week with little Jonny, because his parents pulled him out for a holiday, when every week there are new things that we need to teach Jonny and everyone else.

It shouldn't be like this, but until we get a much more relaxed education system, the fines are there, not because there is never a "good" reason to take your child out, but because even if you have a brilliant reason, it's still a nuisance and would be much easier if you didn't!

whydoihavetowork · 21/01/2025 21:31

Go away for 5 or 6 days instead of a full week to avoid hitting the 10 absences mentioned upthread. You may still get a fine but hopefully doesn't progress further.

KIlliePieMyOhMy · 21/01/2025 21:33

Pigeonqueen · 21/01/2025 20:34

What a shame if the kids were horribly unwell with flu that week …. 🤔😉

And came back with a tan lol

DarkForces · 21/01/2025 21:36

It's shed loads cheaper to go away in term time. The fine won't touch the edges of what you'll save

modernshmodern · 21/01/2025 21:41

So you can go away for 6 days with out being fined (4 school days and the weekend.

You can ask his employer to write a letter stating he cannot take annual leave in school holidays . It may be taken into consideration.

Otherwise you will be fined £160 per child.

Nomoreitsnothappening · 21/01/2025 21:42

I'd speak directly to school, a few years ago (before the rules were tightened so may have changed) my dc friends family had this issue. The headteacher came to an agreement that if they didn't take the dc out of school in certain weeks (think 1st two in September and summer assessment week) they'd allow one weeks holiday with no fine. Worth asking.

Anawi · 21/01/2025 21:50

Headteachers are allowed to authorise leave in exceptional circumstances. It is down to the headteacher's discretion what the decide counts as exceptional. If you can provide evidence that you have no choice over the dates then there's a chance you might get it authorised. More likely at primary level than secondary I'd say.

mistymorning12 · 21/01/2025 22:15

How old are the kids? Secondary, I’d get him to take a week’s parental leave.
Primary, I’d probably take them out for the fewer than 10 sessions.
what sort of job does your husband have?

MightyGoldBear · 22/01/2025 11:22

We do a Friday to Monday holiday then it's under the session limit just missing two days. If you can optimise bank holidays or any inset days that can help.

Otherwise yes it's just rather rubbish. It's particularly unfair for those that can only just afford a holiday the fine can be more than the holiday. Not everyone is having abroad holidays where the term time saving is worth it to pay the fine. If you can only afford a £180 haven holiday then the fine makes it not possible.