Holidays during term time

[Louise88]

Me and my ex split up 2 years ago he moved to Salisbury which is 6 hours away from me and his children, he tries to see them when he can and him and his new partner who also has kids booked a holiday to Spain end of next month they booked Ciara and James to go aswell and chose dates in the middle of half terms for bother mine and there's as the half terms are different down south and the half term down there is a week before ours up here so there's are having to take 3 days off from school and mine are having to take 3 days off, I was originally just going to ring in sick for mine as both have 100% attendance since starting school jn September, but the kids grandma who works in a school told me to fill in a holiday form and that it would be fine well as you can guess I've receive the form back see its been unauthorised by the head mistress! Not sure what to do now kind of wishing I'd just waited and rung in sick! Don't want to cancel their holiday as it's cost their dad and partner alot and from what I gather his new partners children have been granted authorisation to go away. Anyone with similar experiences? It's not like my ex is trying to get and cheap deal as he's paid for half term which just happens to be different opposite sides of the country. I wish they would take into consideration the child's mental and emotional development as their dad's obviously trying to make memories and their denying it which in the long run could make them think he doesn't care which in turn could effect their work, make them go down wrong paths etc. 😞

 

[wildflower79]

I've taken my DD out a few times for holidays. I always fill in a holiday form, but it's always unauthorised. The school makes a note of when we'll be away, so I don't need to phone in and we go off and enjoy our holiday! We're lucky in that our school don't issue fines at the moment, but I know a lot of schools do. I think it depends on your local authority policy. I know ours wouldn't fine for 3 days, it has to be 10 sessions (2 sessions a day, so 5 days)

 

[Wobbles]

Some schools can be quite good and understanding ... due to circumstances of 2 families I'd have thought 3 days would be ok.

Personally I'd go and speak to them (and lay it on thick lol) about the 2 families coming together, holidays of all working parents and organising holidays access etc can sometimes be difficult to suit all and ask her to reconsider ... if still no I'd just knock them off sick and you'll know for the future but unfortunate it has to be that way. They can't prove it ... sore throat, cough etc you don't need to waste the doctors time either.

I used to be quite concerned about the full attendance, not late etc ... now I don't care.

 

[MrsPear]

I'm taking my children away for a week in June. Haven't filled in a form yet but should think it'll be unauthorised. I'm really strict about attendance etc, but I couldn't get any annual leave for holiday time (new job, all been booked by other people already) and I just decided that school isn't the most important thing in life. It's really important for families to get a bit of time together and if I've got to be working all through the holidays then i need to spend that time during school time, unfortunately. Authorised or unauthorised, I've weighed up the pros and cons, and we'll definitely be going.

I won't be asking the children to pretend to be sick because I'm pretty strict that they mustn't ever keep secrets from the teacher *just in case* anyone should ever ask them to keep more sinister secrets I don't want the lines to be blurred.

 

[Eleanor ace]

We've taken ours out for a week each year, it's always been unauthorised but its no bother. They know we're going and wish the kids a nice holiday!

 

[Rags]

I've taken my Ds out a few times since he started P1 and have always told the school that we're going away on a family break (I don't want to teach him to lie by pretending he was ill). Our local authority don't fine (yet!) but I tend to add the potential cost of a fine into the cost of the holiday, just in case, and then go ahead - authorised or not.

 

[babyrough]

I take my son out for 2 weeks each year. Holidays are always unauthorised by the school, I didn't get a fine last year, not sure if I will this year. I really think a family holiday is important and I can't get the time off work in the school holidays to go. I would just fill in the holiday form so school are aware they are away and the children don't feel like they can't mention it when they go back.

 

[c1403]

For those of you that take the children out and it's unauthorised do you actually request the holiday first and then take them anyway
My DD is in year R (so year 1 next year) We are thinking of taking her out next year before DD2 starts school. Her school is quite hot on attendance as to be honest it is quite bad across the school (we have 100%). They also fine for 10 consecutive unauthorised absences (5 days) but I don't care about that so much.
Just wondering if I should put a request in or call her in with chicken pox .

 

[Tanikins]

We took our son away and were fined. £60 per parent.

I'd let them go but tell ex that if there is a fine it's his job to pay it