Advice re holiday/passport

[AndSoFinally]

My DP has a court ordered CAO. This includes being able to take SS out of the country for a two week holiday and that his passport should be made available in advance. It stated for 2019 and 2020 that the holiday should be in the 6 week summer holidays but doesn't specify after 2020.

We want to take him abroad next Easter before the school holidays. He is 8 so not doing exams or anything. His mum is refusing to let us, first saying she feels the country is too dangerous (it's not, it's an all inclusive resort in Spain) and then saying she doesn't believe in taking him out of school (although his current attendance is around 80% for last year, not including any COVID absence, because she has random days where she just doesn't take him in).

What would be our next steps here? Is it back to court? If we're unable to get a court date before we'd reasonably have to book the holiday, would we have any comeback on her for the cost of the holiday if she prevented him going? Is there any way to find out whether he even has a passport? There's every possibility he doesn't so we could just apply for one

Any advice appreciated

@AndSoFinally

My DP has a court ordered CAO. This includes being able to take SS out of the country for a two week holiday and that his passport should be made available in advance. It stated for 2019 and 2020 that the holiday should be in the 6 week summer holidays but doesn't specify after 2020.

We want to take him abroad next Easter before the school holidays. He is 8 so not doing exams or anything. His mum is refusing to let us, first saying she feels the country is too dangerous (it's not, it's an all inclusive resort in Spain) and then saying she doesn't believe in taking him out of school (although his current attendance is around 80% for last year, not including any COVID absence, because she has random days where she just doesn't take him in).

What would be our next steps here? Is it back to court? If we're unable to get a court date before we'd reasonably have to book the holiday, would we have any comeback on her for the cost of the holiday if she prevented him going? Is there any way to find out whether he even has a passport? There's every possibility he doesn't so we could just apply for one

Any advice appreciated

If the court order allows to take him out of the country and doesn't specify that it needs to be in the school holidays after 2020 then I don't think his mum can stop you. Do you have any access to free legal advice through work or any insurances? Otherwise Citizens Advice might be able to help. It is worth trying to get some clarification, even if you do have to pay for it.

If all is ok legally, then your husband can contact the Passport Office to see if his son has a passport already. If not, he can apply for one and keep hold of it until the holiday.

There is nothing you can do. A court will never support this. Never. Nor should they with 80% attendance.

If you make a court application it will simply go on record that you arent acting in sdc best interests and will give mum more ammunition in future.

Just to update: you all (in the nicest possible way!) guilted me into turning down the holiday in favour of camping in the U.K. during the summer holidays. Would rather have gone abroad but made my peace with it.

DSS's mum has just announced she will be taking DS on holiday next year. I'll give you three guesses as to when and where the woman who was so adamant he couldn't miss school and that Spain was too dangerous has chosen....

Last week of the summer term, and Egypt 🤦🏻

Oh dear.