School Holiday Authorisation

[fairytale]

Blimey so both you and your hubby have to pay £50.00 per child, x 4 eeeek

Yep

I understand the per adult part is to not penalise single parent families.

 

[2Tiggies]

Blimey so both you and your hubby have to pay £50.00 per child, x 4 eeeek

I saved a LOT more than £400 by booking my trip in term time. Okay, I didn't know the full trip was term time. After years of having the October break the same week every year, they now decided to shift it to the end instead of the beginning. But here's the cracker: The holiday dates for this year beyond the end of June were only posted after New Year. Now I ask you .....

 

[lin85prest]

Our region used to authorise holiday absences if the child had good attendance for the rest of the year but now the policy has changed and they are all classed unauthorised, there is no penalty for taking children out of school, but it is on the child's record, I usually take ours out for 3 or 4 days in October and tag it on to the 2 week break they get then. This year I got no reply from either the primary or the secondary school, I phoned to make sure that they had received the letters and was told because I had acknowledged that it would be unauthorised they did not need to reply.

 

[alisonbestford]

Before they stopped all authorised school absence Eve's primary school wouldn't authorise holidays in May if the child was in a year that was sitting SATS.

Now she's at secondary school they will allow 10 authorised days but there's a "blanket" ban on holidays in May and first two weeks of new school term in Sept for exams/testing.

 

[Zeebs]

I saved a LOT more than £400 by booking my trip in term time. Okay, I didn't know the full trip was term time. After years of having the October break the same week every year, they now decided to shift it to the end instead of the beginning. But here's the cracker: The holiday dates for this year beyond the end of June were only posted after New Year. Now I ask you .....

Thats a bit off, in fairness our school has listed dates right through until July 2012, yes that is right 2012.

So apart from the staff training days that may pop up we pretty much know going forward the dates of the holidays. Which has made our Christmas trip a bit easier to plan. Although we will still be taking him out of school, I am not making a 26 hour flight for only 2 weeks. But new school year.

Kirsten

 

[ukool]

My mums just applied for time off for my brother for our trip. She was told by the school that no holidays were being authorised this year, and the school dont even give out holiday forms anymore, so shes had to write a letter.

First time shes ever taken him out of school for anything, so fingers crossed itll be ok. Its not till the end of september so heres hopeing.
My dads told him hes got to stay with my grandma if school turn it down...

 

[Sapper383]

I have to say, I've always been very luck with my childrens schools. DD5's Primary school has only 100 children from age 3 - 11, so classes are very small and I know the head teacher very well ( on first name and texting basis). I have never known her not to autorise anyones holidays.

My DS11 is in his first year of comprehensive and we will be taking him out for over 2 weeks in september. I know I will have a letter from the school saying they would rather us not take holidays during term time, but they will still authorise it.


I work for a charity, trying to improve the atainment and attendance of children from a local deprived area......some of the children have attendance of below 40%....their parents havent been taken to court or fined......in my area it is only the extream cases that are taken to court.

As you say you know your child and he is only 5........have a lovely holiday

 

[ben1993]

I'm glad people in this thread havn't got all snooty with you about takign your child out of school for the trip. 1 week off of school is nothing, this trip will make memories that last a lifetime.

 

[T16GEM]

If we changed our dates so that we were going 7 days earlier- meaning the kids would only be out 3 or 4 days then the price of our exact same holiday shot up to £10,000 we paid £3400!!! Until the holiday companies are bought to account with these ridiculous school holiday price increases I don't see how anybody could blame us for taking the kids out!

 

[2Tiggies]

If we changed our dates so that we were going 7 days earlier- meaning the kids would only be out 3 or 4 days then the price of our exact same holiday shot up to £10,000 we paid £3400!!! Until the holiday companies are bought to account with these ridiculous school holiday price increases I don't see how anybody could blame us for taking the kids out!

I absolutely agree. I was also 'forced' to book a week earlier because of the hotel and park ticket price, which was several hundred £££ less by leaving a week earlier. At the time I wasn't able to see flight prices, but once they were released, it also would have cost me an additional few hundred for the same flights. It is very difficult. If I had the choice I would never take DD out of school, but in reality if I didn't, we would only get a holiday every 2-3 years. Now that is more than some people get, but since I am the adult in the house and the sole provider for all expenses, and the care and wellbeing of myself and DD as a family and as individuals, I have exercised my good judgement that regular trips to Disney are good for our relationship, our health and a great experience. I go without plenty else to pay for it. I will never forget our first trip. We were always close, but that was when our relationship changed from purely parent-child to parent-child and friends. It added a new dimension and to me, that is priceless so the only way to do this is in term time, so be it. If there is another alternative that is practical and allows us the same without her missing school, even better. However as yet, just like T16GEM says, there is no other way.

 

[dixonsontour]

Sorry not had chance to read all replies but just wanted to say it doesn't matter.

Your son is in reception class and is below legal compulsory education age.

He does not legally need to be in school until Sept 11 so they can't fine you etc. I know most parents use reception class but it isn't compulsory, he could have quite legally stayed at home with you all year.

Think authorised/unauthorised depends on each school and local authority.

My friend was told one day off for a family wedding was unauthorised in reception - she still took her 4 year old, he was a page boy.

My DD's school authoried 1 day for our florida holiday when she was 4 but it's a private school not sure if that is different.

 

[2Tiggies]

My DD's school authoried 1 day for our florida holiday when she was 4 but it's a private school not sure if that is different.

Yes, private does operate slightly differently and they have a little more room for using their own discretion.

Hopefully the OP is having a successful meeting today to put her mind at ease. As I said before, it's the speculating and uncertainty that is often more unnerving than the facts - especially if you are not in the habit of bending the rules. Waiting for a glowing, positive report back

 

[disney_princess_85]

Good luck OP.

Seems like too much trouble, this having children lark...

 

[tttessa]

LOL ! I was racked with guilt about asking for time off last October - the what if I don't get it etc was preying heavily on my mind for months - then I saw the 30deep pile of requests mine was added to and didn't feel soooo bad...

Tessa

 

[lin85prest]

If the schools start only having 4 weeks at summer, I am sure there will be a lot more children needing out of school during term time, the price of air fares etc. will rocket.

 

[2Tiggies]

Good luck OP.

Seems like too much trouble, this having children lark...

Just you wait. You think airfares are expensive .... wait for the kids

 

[T16GEM]

Just you wait. You think airfares are expensive .... wait for the kids

Oh yes!! I am with you on this! I wonder where the money goes sometimes!

 

[joolz1910]

Sorry not had chance to read all replies but just wanted to say it doesn't matter.

Your son is in reception class and is below legal compulsory education age.

He does not legally need to be in school until Sept 11 so they can't fine you etc. I know most parents use reception class but it isn't compulsory, he could have quite legally stayed at home with you all year.

Think authorised/unauthorised depends on each school and local authority.

My friend was told one day off for a family wedding was unauthorised in reception - she still took her 4 year old, he was a page boy.

My DD's school authoried 1 day for our florida holiday when she was 4 but it's a private school not sure if that is different.

I think OP's son is 5 - I'm pretty sure that 5 is the legal compulsory age. My daughter was 4 (in reception) when we went to DLP so I didn't need to put in a holiday request form for her. My girls' school has a blanket 'ban' on holidays during term time, as does the school I work in. It still won't stop me.

 

[dixonsontour]

Sorry misread as still 4 when you go - teach me to read in a hurry.

Yes if he is 5 in feb he legally needs to be educated from after easter - so disregard my comments op

 

[Zeebs]

Thanks for everyones help and well wishes,

Took the form back today and apologised that it was for May as I wasn't aware of any "blackout" periods I asked if I needed to make an appointment to see the head and was advised "No there are usually no problems with Reception children"

So we are good to go, without the stress of a fine..... I believe from others in the area the school is very good and realises the need for family time away.

So thanks again from One Happy Kirsten
Who is about to go and read the Orlando Attractions Magazine that I got for Christmas which the first one arrived today. yay.