School fine or not - what do you think?

[JulieSharp]

Hi

We are looking to book our holiday to WDW for early October, not been for 6 years, we cannot go in school holidays due to our medical problems with the heat. I have been hospitalised in the past with heat exhaustion. We only spend 3 hours in the morning at the parks and manage to ride approx 4-5 rides.

We are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and our non-verbal, autistic (mentally aged 3) Ds will be celebrating his 18th birthday.

Do you think our headteacher will refer us to County Council for a fine? Our Ds has 100% attendance for the past year and previous years 98% attendance. Will never do any exams cannot read or write. My Dh does not give the school a thought. I feel anxious putting the application form in after all the letters and reminders sent out and he attends a special school for pupils with severe and profound difficulties. I know its all about OFSTED and the ratings.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[Elise79]

Julie - can I first say I can't believe that Joshua will be 18!

I would take him - I am not usually a supporter of children missing school but sometimes there are exceptions and think this is a perfect.

Hope you have a great time

 

[Disworldluv]

Julie - can I first say I can't believe that Joshua will be 18!

I would take him - I am not usually a supporter of children missing school but sometimes there are exceptions and think this is a perfect.

Hope you have a great time

Totally agree with Elise79. Go for it and enjoy!!

 

[JulieSharp]

Julie - can I first say I can't believe that Joshua will be 18!

I would take him - I am not usually a supporter of children missing school but sometimes there are exceptions and think this is a perfect.

Hope you have a great time

I appreciate your support.
A 25th Wedding Anniversary and Joshua's 18th are 'special' times to us.

 

[fairytale]

Julie - can I first say I can't believe that Joshua will be 18!

I would take him - I am not usually a supporter of children missing school but sometimes there are exceptions and think this is a perfect.

Hope you have a great time

Again, I totally agree you should go for it

Ok, here's the legal head going on

Legislation states that a fine will only "kick in" once 10 sessions have been taken unauthorised ie 1 full school week and then a further morning/afternoon as one session is classed as half a school day.

Allegedly, the school Heads now have no authority to allow leave except for exception circumstances and as we all know, holidays regardless of where and why is not classed as exceptional. What I would say is, "if" you receive a fine you then have a right to appeal. Surely, your circumstances would warrant common sense prevailing and any fine issued cancelled when taken to an appeal committee?

Just do it

Annette

 

[2Tiggies]

I'm in Scotland so we have a different education system, but medical concessions and special circumstances are usually taken into account. Would the education authorities not grant a special permission based on medical grounds if you were willing to provide (not that you should need to) supporting evidence/letter from your GP?

From a purely personal point of view, sometimes you have to just go with what you know: people are more important than OFSTED ratings. I vote for family

 

[mackay_j]

In this case I wouldn't even bat an eyelid - go for it.

I am facing the same issues but cannot take my girls out of school and uni so its aug for us and we will only manage a max of 4hrs a day in the parks - but 4 hrs is better than none

We have hired a villa so afternoons can still be great too relaxing in the shade and dipping in the pool.


Hope you go and have a great time.

 

[DLPDreams]

I would do it.

Can I be blunt? Does it matter if you get a fine? It doesn't really affect anything other than your bank balance in the grand scheme of things. And going out of school holidays will be much cheaper anyway so wipe out the fine. I know to some it's the principle of the thing and schools not looking at individual circumstances - in your circs you would think school would be lenient, but it seems the decision is being taken out of their hands in some areas etc.

In your situation I think this is totally right for your family and I would book. And this is coming from someone who wouldn't take my girls out of school for a holiday (and I'd be mortified to receive a fine). At our school, I'm quite frankly, sick of hearing parents whinging about being fined for taking their children out of school for one or two weeks, sometimes more if it's a Florida holiday (but still do it!).

Hope you get booked soon and can look forward to the planning .

 

[DLPDreams]

Again, I totally agree you should go for it

Ok, here's the legal head going on

Legislation states that a fine will only "kick in" once 10 sessions have been taken unauthorised ie 1 full school week and then a further morning/afternoon as one session is classed as half a school day.

Allegedly, the school Heads now have no authority to allow leave except for exception circumstances and as we all know, holidays regardless of where and why is not classed as exceptional. What I would say is, "if" you receive a fine you then have a right to appeal. Surely, your circumstances would warrant common sense prevailing and any fine issued cancelled when taken to an appeal committee?

Just do it

Annette

That is certainly not happening in our school/education authority from the whinging I've heard. One week and a fine is given. I am not sure if it's happened for anything under, I don't believe so, although I have heard of even one afternoon off being classed as unauthorised absence - so not sure if that triggers a fine? But tbh I try not to get into the conversations about it in the playground as it's quite a contentious area!

 

[chmurf]

I'm not a UK citizen so I just might be off the point here

but if I read correctly https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence/overview

Children must get an education between the school term after their 5th birthday and the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16.

We're talking about a boy turning 18 here

Can families still be fined for unauthorized absence when the child is over 16 ?

 

[flortlebap]

That is certainly not happening in our school/education authority from the whinging I've heard. One week and a fine is given. I am not sure if it's happened for anything under, I don't believe so, although I have heard of even one afternoon off being classed as unauthorised absence - so not sure if that triggers a fine? But tbh I try not to get into the conversations about it in the playground as it's quite a contentious area!

My friend has taken her two daughters out for one day, the last day before the summer holidays, and the head teacher has told her she will be fined £60 per parent, per child... So £240. For one day.

However, having looked into the law, I'm convinced this has to be incorrect! I'm sure it's £60 for any absence over a week...

Personally I would go for it. £60 is nothing compared to the total cost.

 

[wayneg]

Everyone else has covered the school situation, nothing to add, just do it.
Just wanted to say Congratulations on your 25th (ours in Sept) and also can't believe Joshua will be 18. Time is going so fast.

 

[JulieSharp]

I'm not a UK citizen so I just might be off the point here

but if I read correctly https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence/overview



We're talking about a boy turning 18 here

Can families still be fined for unauthorized absence when the child is over 16 ?

Great question, actually I never thought about his age, your right that it would generally apply until aged 16 in mainstream, but the headteacher is still sending us letters so I assume it applies to all us. Pupil's attend this special school from 2 years until aged 19. The law has changed recently and pupil's with disabilities have to stay in education until they are 25 years old now.

I don't mind paying the fine, it is just the principal. MP's keep harping on about exams and being detrimental to education, etc, etc.

 

[Tinks73]

We are taking our 7 year old out in Sept/Oct as my husband cannot take hols during school holidays, going to Animal Kingdom and Epcot will give him a chance to experience animals and other countries all in one hit, so I class it (at a stretch I know) an educational holiday. We will take the fine, as he has not missed any other time off school, he is also above his level in class (very proud mum here). I know some people will disagree with us and that's ok as everyone is entitled to their opinion. °o°

 

[chmurf]

I don't mind paying the fine

Then, go and enjoy.

 

[mackay_j]

being discussed on bbc one one show now

 

[heatherbelle]

I can't believe Joshua is 18 either, how time flies.

As a school attendance officer speaking, just take him and if you get a fine just pay it. It's only £60.00 anyway.

I issue fines for 10 missed sessions 1 week, anything less does not get a fine. Or if there are exceptional circumstances. Different authorities may have different rules.

However if a child has 10 unauthorised session (half days) scattered over a 6 week period, then they too could get a fine. These children are usually the ones who are absent a lot generally and no medical evidence has been provided of the illness. The Educational Social Worker would be involved anyway in these cases.

In a previous work life I too took my son out of school. Personally I feel that the fines are wrong, but we have to follow the rules and charge them.

 

[PJB71]

I would like to think your circumstances would be viewed as "exceptional"

People will always have good and bad opinions on "taking children out of school" but I believe it should be based on your families circumstances.

We can only holiday in December for a number of reasons but the main one bring I have a disability and need families help when traveling (my parents) & the only time of year family can go is December plus DH works for himself in the construction industry & holiday time except December is manic for him. Can you believe I always had a battle taking DDS out of school when they were in primary but since theve been in secondary the school have always been sympathetic of our circumstances.

We always makesure they have procedures in place to catchup with work etc and IMO especially at primary school all they seemed to miss was "school nativity" practice

I think you should definitely go and not worry as memories are priceless & fines can always be paid

 

[VailaTigger]

I would say go for it - experience is education too.
You know Joshua best, you know how much he'll get out of the trip, if you're not worried about the fine financially, then do it.
Make memories!

If needs be, speak to the school about some kind of plan to help him catch up when you come back, if that's possible.

Congratulations on 25 years!!

 

[LeaversOnTour]

I am taking my daughter out for 9 days in January.

I personally would rather take the hit of the fine. She is a smart girl and did not suffer from missing any time this year (we wouldn't be doing it again if she had).

We are massive education freaks and send our 3 year old to a private school nursery so she has a head start when she goes to Infants, so we don't take the decision lightly. We push our daughter to be the best she can be, but to us this includes to be part of the best family time as well.

I would take him out, £60 is a drop in the ocean for what is a holiday to celebrate 2 amazing life events