School fine or not - what do you think?

[marcgiu]

I would definitely do it - We have an Autistic DS (Age 7) and have taken him out for a few days before....

TBH the life experience and family time is very important to children - School and Education is incredibly important as well but given your sons attendance record, age and his challenges I can't see how anyone would have an issue.

Also I don't believe you will be fined - I wouldn't stress about that at all...

 

[JulieSharp]

Just wanted to say a big 'Thanks' for all your support. So kind.

 

[leise]

Hiya just wanted to say I'm pretty sure fines only apply up to age 16 currently. My son also attends a 2-19 special school for children with SLD, he' 15 and has autism. We are lucky and can go in the summer. I know other parents of children at my sons school have this dilemma and for the older ones, the main impact is on the school's attendance record and with Ofsted rather than the family. Just go for it, hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[Ware Bears]

Congratulations for both your 25th and Joshua's 18th!

We celebrated our 25th last year at Disney, can't think of a better place to mark special occasions!

 

[dixonsontour]

I can understand your reasons entirely.

Could you speak to someone at the council to clarify the position and hopefully put your mind at rest?

My understanding is as he is over compulsory school age then there will be no penalty.

Same with 4 year olds in reception who are below compulsory school age.

 

[lgp1]

Congratulations on your 25th and Joshua's 18th.

Go and enjoy yourselves. If you got fined under these circumstances there would have to be something seriously wrong with the system.

 

[TinkerbellW]

As a teacher I'm supposed to say that taking children out of school during term time is a definite no no, but you know what, if I could still do it, I would!

Before life as a teacher I used to take my kids out of schools for holidays 1. For the financial gain 2. I could give them an education that no school could ever give in a classroom.

Do it, so what's the worse that can happen? You get a fine - I'm sure the money you're saving by going in term time will compensate.

Oh and happy anniversary!

 

[MrRomance]

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.

I am a former teacher, my wife is a teacher, we also adopted 2 autistic children and my view is this... I don't care what the school or OFSTED or the council have to say, you and your son deserve this special trip and should just do it. We have pulled our daughter out a couple of times because honestly, I really don't care what anyone has to say. If they want to fine me, so be it, but our trip is the most important thing to our kids. It is one of the very few times per year where they can enjoy themselves and be who they are.

Don't worry about the school, go and enjoy yourselves! Congrats on your 25th and happy 18th to your son

 

[susieh]

Same with 4 year olds in reception who are below compulsory school age.

The rules say that once a child has started school they have to comply so 4 year olds cannot be taken out of school (a friend recently fell foul of this and was fined).

You might find the same applies to over 16s.

But personally I would take him and pay the fine as it sounds like you will all get more out of the trip than 2 weeks at school.

Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[joolz1910]

I am a former teacher, my wife is a teacher, we also adopted 2 autistic children and my view is this... I don't care what the school or OFSTED or the council have to say, you and your son deserve this special trip and should just do it. We have pulled our daughter out a couple of times because honestly, I really don't care what anyone has to say. If they want to fine me, so be it, but our trip is the most important thing to our kids. It is one of the very few times per year where they can enjoy themselves and be who they are.

Don't worry about the school, go and enjoy yourselves! Congrats on your 25th and happy 18th to your son

Hear hear! I am a teacher and I don't agree with the fines. I hope Joshua has a magical 18th and you get to celebrate your anniversary in style.

 

[hsc3boys]

The first thing that also struck me was the fact your son is 18, so not a child of compulsory school age, so can't see that they would have a leg to stand on. We are going in October for two weeks, fortunately my boys get two weeks half term, however due to the cost of flights they will still miss two days of school as we fly back on Monday, landing Tuesday. However they are in private education, so we have no issues. I wouldn't take them out of school when they get closer to GCSE, but at this stage it makes no difference. They could have a sickness bug and be off school for more than two days.
We live in a nanny state with no common sense!

 

[Lady Lowe]

In your situation I'd go, such a great celebration and worth it.

In relation to this I have a question, previous comments say about 10 sessions missed etc, if we're going the week before oct 1/2 term, all of 1/2 term and then 2 days after do they count this as 1 whole absence or would it be 2 separates, before and after half term?

 

[scoobydooby]

The absence test is cumulative so it's irrelevant to the 'count' when in happens, it's worked out on %'s. Theoretically. But the theory is applied differently all over the UK. Different LAs also administer it in different ways. Academies in LA areas may do something different again. Free schools. Who knows?.... There is the 'rule', then there is your own head teachers interpretation of the 'rule', then there is the system put in place locally to administer the 'rule'. How the 'rule' is administered is critical to understanding if you will actually be fined or not. There is not necessarily a direct correlation between what your school website says and what actually happens re the administration of the 'rule' (fine).

I appreciate this doesn't answer your query but it is a fact of the reality of how this 'rule' works. Find our your LA and school approach to the 'rule' and then act as a decent parent would. I am trying to be helpful here. I know the back story ........

 

[jothp]

In your situation I'd go, such a great celebration and worth it.

In relation to this I have a question, previous comments say about 10 sessions missed etc, if we're going the week before oct 1/2 term, all of 1/2 term and then 2 days after do they count this as 1 whole absence or would it be 2 separates, before and after half term?

At our school one session is half a day - ie a morning or an afternoon - so 10 absences is actually only 5 full days. It isn't about how many different periods of time you have off but how many half days in total.

To OP I would just go and take the fine, in your circumstances having family time together for these celebrations is more important than what might be going on at school.

 

[funkydelia]

I am a former teacher, my wife is a teacher, we also adopted 2 autistic children and my view is this... I don't care what the school or OFSTED or the council have to say, you and your son deserve this special trip and should just do it. We have pulled our daughter out a couple of times because honestly, I really don't care what anyone has to say. If they want to fine me, so be it, but our trip is the most important thing to our kids. It is one of the very few times per year where they can enjoy themselves and be who they are. Don't worry about the school, go and enjoy yourselves! Congrats on your 25th and happy 18th to your son

I teach in a special school in Scotland with children just like Joshua. I think he will learn more and be challenged in all sorts of ways on a trip to Florida than he will in his classroom. Many of the children in special schools are absent for long periods through ill health so it's not like he won't catch up etc. enjoy your trip. If I could give all my parents a trip like that I wouldn't care how much school they missed. There's more to life and the whole of the world outside that classroom.

 

[Minniesgal]

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 ?

My understanding of the system is if your child is taking up a school place the fines apply regardless of age. A 16 year old can leave school but not turn up as and when they please

 

[disneyholic family]

wow!!! when did Joshua get to be almost 18???????????
and how is it that it's been 6 years since your last trip?
it really seems like just yesterday that i looked at the beautiful pictures of Joshua in the villas you stayed in...

time really really really flies by so fast!! (frighteningly so)

as to the question at hand. I'm with everyone else in the thread. GO FOR IT!!!

fine or no fine, life is short. There's nothing more important than family.
None of us know where we will be tomorrow. Not even later today.
Carpe diem and all that.

It's a wonderful way to celebrate your anniversary and Joshua's birthday.

 

[jump00]

Hi Julie,
I am fascinated by your dilemma. I am a teacher and had no problem pulling my kids out of school for a week to experience Disney or Universal. Here in Canada we would never "fine" parents for kids being absent - great idea - I can hardly wait to share this with my colleagues. Lol!!! But even if we did have a "fine" I would have paid it!!!! Go and have a great time. These are wonderful memories for your family. God Bless.

Jump00

 

[Pootle]

Just want to agree with so many others on here, take Joshua and have a great time

I'm a retired teacher and I think that fining people who use common sense is just ridiculous. I can't imagine it would apply in your case anyway.

Best wishes to you and Johnnie on your anniversary - I'm another one who can't believe the passing of the years. One of my grandsons has autism and global developmental delay too, but he's still only 3. I hope Joshua has a splendid birthday.

 

[Cinderella2006]

The one thing I have learnt by having a child with special needs is that life is too short, we only live once and we need to make the most of every moment given.
Florida is a holiday in a lifetime, special memories are made and quality time is had as a family which is very important these days. I find a holiday really educational, they learn so much about different cultures and the world around them etc not just in Epcot either.
I took the boys out of school for 7 days in May and I am doing it again next year. School obviously have to abide by what has been set but after having a word they understand why we do it and even the secretary has told me she would do the same!
Hope you have an amazing time planning x