Fined For Taking Their Kids Out Of School

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

Did anyone see this story about a father who was fined £600 for taking his kids out of school to go on holiday.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2540054/People-make-laws-dont-live-real-world-Anger-father-fined-600-taking-three-children-school-weeks-holiday-Greece.html

 

When our two boys were at school we regularly took them out of school for the week before the May half term holiday so we had two weeks including the half term week. Almost every year we went to France camping, the lads loved it, they had all sorts of experiences in a foreign country, ate different food, saw historic sites, learned about the world war 1 & 2 battlefields, they learned a little of the language, made friends with French children on the campsites and even got invited back to French kids tents and caravans for meals etc., thereby learning a little of how the French live and how it is different to how we live. We used to sort of make it an extension to their education much more than sitting in a classroom being taught French or history etc., It was only one week out of their school lives but it enabled us to have a cheaper holiday than would normally be possible and them to gain from the experience.

 

What do others think about this, would you take your kids out of school to go on holiday?

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

It's outrageous.

@super_ram and @GrannyPie like going to Skegness when it's near the end of the season, we've always gone this time of year and yet we have to 'review' this years because of being fined ourselves. Now if the children are behind or constantly off/away from school, it should be reviewed for action but I don't think everyone should be treated the same.

It makes me angry that Ellie is 6 this year and we cannot get her a school place, they should focus on making sure children get places rather than fining those who do just because they go away for a couple of weeks once a year.

I'm going to get annoyed if I continue typing, it's silly.

[william1984]

put it this way the school and goverment can f**k off trying 2 fine me and my wife for taking my son on holiday coz i wont be paying them a penny as i think its against our human rights 2 have a holiday when we like and find it funny as at christmas a parent of a asian lad in my sons class had there holiday off just before christmas then wasnt it week before coz  she was against him learning bout a christian holiday and sod all is getting done 2 her theres a petion on line about it online aswell to get this stupid idea scrapped.

[super_ram]

Don't get me started!

[Northants Pie]

I haven't read the article but as we are taking our kids out of school early for a holiday we asked our school receptionist (who is really nice & most importantly honest!!) about the fine system and most importantly if we would be affected as we are taking them out three days before the end of term in April.

 

It was explained to us that this whole system was brought in because there are some parents who, like in the case of my children's school had their child of school for 2 weeks for nothing more than their daughter had a cold, now this cold was nothing more than a blocked nose and a bit of a sore throat, something that Calpol would easily sort, again all the parents had to do was ask the school to administer this to their daughter sign a consent form for them to do so and the school would have gladly obliged. 

 

Again it was explained that it is down to the school to report the parents to the local authority and if you have an attendance of 90% or above then there is really nothing to worry about, In our case at least honesty has been the best policy, we told the school at the first instance (September last year when it was booked), we filled in holiday forms so that at least they had a record and although they are not allowed to authorise the absence they have assured us that everything is all good as we have told them of our intentions well in advance and it is only for three days before the end of term. 

 

Maybe we're lucky to have a really good school 

[PTID1862]

hmmmm, what a load of testicles

 

I always took my children on holiday when I wanted to, not when the school or anybody else wanted me to. Cost was always the most important factor.

[Feral Fox]

As a teacher...absolutely bloody ridiculous. 

 

In fact we live in the county (Kirkby in Ash) and I work in the City (the Meadows) so I have different holidays to my kids now due to the stupid 5 week idea from the city.

at the October half term i get two weeks wb 20 th oct as well as the county which gets wb 27th. we're looking at going away in this country for a week and so far prices point clearly to us taking our two out of school on my first week the 20th as there is as much as £500 difference in the places we are looking at.

 

The government bang on about wanting parents to respect schools and teachers like they used to and they put up stupid ideas like this, which in effect, causes a teacher to break the very rules they are looking to impose!!!

 

A child misses a week or even worse two. after twenty years in the job I can safely say the claims about they will never catch is rubbish. The ones who wont catch up are the ones that were so far behind due to bad parenting in the first place.!!! and trust me, working in the Meadows, I've seen lots of bad parenting!!!

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

If they stick to this they need to stop striking though, it's unacceptable especially how often my son's school does it. Absolute joke because having worked in the care industry, I would be charged for striking as I would have signed an agreement to say I wouldn't but it's also counted as neglect. I get tired of certain sectors going on strike, example the transport.

This ruling isn't going to bring respect but ill-feelings and a lot of blame will fall onto schools.

It's silly, it should be based on certain exceptions. My parents go to Skegness when it's easy to get around, now we can't go as a family and I can't offer to help push my mum around.

PS. Jake's got a very good attendance, I believe he's only missed two days but his teacher's been on strike quite a lot and because of this the dates get marked down for some odd reason.

[Feral Fox]

Joe, Joe, Joe...

Lets not get political.

The biggest issue with the recent batch of strikes (and the likelyhood of more) are the fact that the parents haven't had the communications from the schools or the unions that they should have had.

 

I'm guessing (I may be wrong!) that one of the things you werent aware of and one of the reasons we are currently in 'industrial tensions' shall we call it, is that your children, under Goves ideas could be taught by UNQUALIFIED teachers for their duration of their primary education.

As a parent I have to see both sides, but the things that Gove has suggested is ridiculous. No child deserves to go through 7 years (6 + reception) of primary education withoutever having been taught by an qualified teacher. How can all his soundbites on the news be about raising the bar and standards while allowing unqualified staff to lead a childs education?

 

Another issue that parents probably aren't aware of is the changes to pay. Previously teachers have gone up a pay scale by experience and outstanding performance. Now an adult who has .......

 

 

experience dealing with children.......

 

Can immediately be placed at the top of the pay scale. After making various investigations into this (yes...I'm a trade union rep!) that experience could be anything from working in Mothercare for 6 months fitting car seats to taking your own child to playgroup.

 

Seriously! So a person who has had NO educational experience can be awarded more money than a teacher with 30 yrs experience in the classroom ???

 

These might sound so ridiculous they are laughable, but they are very, very true.

 

Nobody, and even as a union man, I mean nobody likes striking, but some things and sometimes professions do need to stand up to be counted. 

 

As I started this rant!!! with being a parent, it is a damn inconvenience. It is difficult to organise chn when the staff are on strike for two or three days across a year, but when the real facts slowly start to trickle out people start to understand.

 

the unions choice to play on pensionable age (teachers now have to go to 68 and lets be honest who wants their 7 yr old, full of energy and life, being taught by a 68 yr old?) was a choice the head of the unions made, but rest assured the masses of teachers feel far more aggrieved about other things such as knowing children will be taught be a teacher rather than a student who has never passed any level of teaching degree in their lives!!!

 

Rant over.

 

You Pies!

[GrannyPie]

Why don't the powers that be just target parents who have children with poor attendance records.Why do all families have to suffer because of a few bad parents.

[Canadian]

This is absolutely bonkers. 

 

I'm literally lost for words 

[Northants Pie]

Why don't the powers that be just target parents who have children with poor attendance records.Why do all families have to suffer because of a few bad parents.

 

Because & i hate to get political they being the tories who are only interested in the top 2 percent of this country don't want equality they want to create more division between their class structure & everyone else.

 

Just look at the fracking issue, it's not going to lower anyone's gas price in the slightest, all it is going to do is raise the profits of the people who have shares in the french company Total, now guess which group of people have shares in companies like this? Politicians & the rest of the fraudulent wankers that allow the this country to get ripped off just so they can earn a few more quid.

 

I used to work for one of the conservatives biggest benefactors and let me tell you this, if you knew what they are allowed to get up to it would thoroughly depress you.

[cheeky~k8]

I find it stupid because it used to be fine because if the childs attendance was lower than 90% the school would not authorise it, which makes perfect sense. If a child is already behind you don't take them out more unless they are too ill to attend. No one seems to agree with this government decision and that includes the teachers. My sons school has a sign saying they don't authorise any holidays in term time now due to the government.

Its not fair as i really don't know what we are going to do this year because the fines would be unaffordable and it would be way too busy for us to go in the holidays and too expensive.

The petitions that have been sent to them have all been refused so they aren't getting anywhere at the moment.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I firmly believe that statements can be made by communication rather than striking, I do feel sometimes it's valid but you see certain types of works which picket more than jobless hippies - my son's school being a prime example of this.

This doesn't mean everywhere is the same but I still feel that in order to be heard, communication should be explored.

If it isn't working, for me it suggest the people representing the issues don't do a very good job. We can change things if we put our heads together, though the education system needs to changed. I don't believe their ideas are the best, though if children are learning and everyone is happy, that is where the main highlight for change comes from. This achieved, I don't see the point in messing about.

It's like the six week holiday debate, oh let's change it to 5 weeks and we're happy.

[liampie]

This is absolutely bonkers. 

 

I'm literally lost for words 

i do not see why the changes are required, if your attendance is good it would be approved. if not, well its rejected and that would encourage parents to make sure children have good attendances. i dont see why they have to complicate or make things awkward.

my cousin oftens goes to hospital due to illness and hes lucky to go on holiday, its usually cheaper when schools open. it would make it harder and the cost for someone in his position is already silly.

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

I find it stupid because it used to be fine because if the childs attendance was lower than 90% the school would not authorise it, which makes perfect sense. If a child is already behind you don't take them out more unless they are too ill to attend. No one seems to agree with this government decision and that includes the teachers. My sons school has a sign saying they don't authorise any holidays in term time now due to the government.

Its not fair as i really don't know what we are going to do this year because the fines would be unaffordable and it would be way too busy for us to go in the holidays and too expensive.

The petitions that have been sent to them have all been refused so they aren't getting anywhere at the moment.

I really feel sorry for parents today, as @cheeky~k8 says some are in a cleft stick on the one hand they can't afford to take the kids on holiday during the school holidays because of the extortionate rise in prices during that period but on the other hand they can't afford the fine if they take them at other times.

So the only thing that will happen is that some children won't get a holiday with their parents/grandparents etc thereby missing out on valuable family bonding and that is really precious.

We went to Spain last year with my son, his wife and our two grandchildren who were under school age, we had a marvellous family holiday but now George has reached school age they will be going on holiday in August which is out of the question for us, too crowded, far too expensive.

I wonder if a labour government would overturn this policy, I'm sure it would be a vote winner.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I see someone else overturning it, they need to sort out school places.

We've applied for Ellie's catchment area again, so we're hoping she will have a place but she's nearly 6 and been without school since nursery. I don't really buy into the fact that they have the interest in regular people, they seem to want to improve their own pockets and this holiday ruling should have exceptions.

[Feral Fox]

As you yourself has said, the other problem here is it all gets placed at the schools door, even though they have nothing to do with it. Parents get disgruntled quickly and moan at the nearest thing to the decision, in this case the school.

I've not met one teacher or head who thinks this is a good idea.

 

School places wise, most authorities are a joke when it comes to forward thinking. In the Meadows there used to be 5 schools, one of which was 'my' school where I was deputy-h. Two of them were shut down a few years ago to save money. Here we are 6 years later and the same councillors who told us we needed to make redundancies and shut the two schools are there telling us we now need to expand the other three due to lack of places. The land the two closed schools was sold off to developers and made **** loads of cash. Now they have o spend **** loads to double the number again. bloody ridiculous as usual. Every man and his dog could see the places were going to be needed, but the authority, regardless of their political persuasion, went for the short term. As usual it back fired on them and more importantly, the parents and the children.

 

Other areas suffer from short sighted authorities not thinking the long game when it comes to school places. 

 

Just the fact that your are 'hoping she will have a place' is a terrible situation to be in and I feel sorry for any parent struggling to get their child/ren into a school where they have chosen to live. Blame the ones in charge though, not the school.

[cheeky~k8]

We do not blame the school in regards to the school places, its the council that sort of the admission of the childrens places and the government who says what the criteria should be. Our son Jake is in our nearest school(unfortunately not our catchment) and as we cannot get Ellie into that school or any other near by upto now. We are trying to get her into the catchment area school in the opposite direction, but i don't feel we have much choice as shes missed a year and a half of school education already. Theres no certainty that we will get in now either though, we just have to wait and see.

 

As for the holiday fines i hope it gets revised because we are in the same predicament that most people are in regards to that issue.

[PTID1862]

a personal opinion here, but I do not believe in strikes full stop. Very rarely do they achieve anything truly constructive. I would prefer people to communicate, and work through differences.

[Feral Fox]

We do not blame the school in regards to the school places, its the council that sort of the admission of the childrens places and the government who says what the criteria should be. Our son Jake is in our nearest school(unfortunately not our catchment) and as we cannot get Ellie into that school or any other near by upto now. We are trying to get her into the catchment area school in the opposite direction, but i don't feel we have much choice as shes missed a year and a half of school education already. Theres no certainty that we will get in now either though, we just have to wait and see.

As for the holiday fines i hope it gets revised because we are in the same predicament that most people are in regards to that issue.

If theres one thing you expect, it is the children being able to go to school where you live. Feel for you.

[Super_Danny_Allsopp]

Too much of a nanny state. Not everyone can afford to take kids on holiday during scheduled dates when the price is doubled.

Common sense must come in to play.

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

a personal opinion here, but I do not believe in strikes full stop. Very rarely do they achieve anything truly constructive. I would prefer people to communicate, and work through differences.

I agree up to a point but it takes two parties to communicate and sometimes employers won't or they take such a rigid stance that unions are left with no choice if they want to protect their livelihoods, when all the talking and communicating is getting nowhere and workers have a just cause then sometimes there is no alternative than to withdraw your labour because that is the only weapon available to you, it's either that or let an employer walk all over you.

[liampie]

joe made this point about striking, tho i think its like a messy divorce when you go on strike. its also quite childish, im not having my way so im going to stomp and throw a tantrum until somebody listens.

i think a lot falls onto unions who always want to be splashed in the press. 

[Feral Fox]

Communication is always the key to everything, but Mr Gove, as he has proven with the original point of the debate about the holidays, is not always to air on the side of common sense, just what he thinks will make a name for himself.

It's a silly situation really as at the end of the day he is dealing with our childrens futures!

 

There are some teachers out there who cares about the job and the children we deal with everyday. Gove just makes it more difficult to spot them!!!

 

I've worked in socially deprived areas for the my whole career, as I said, including the last 15 in the Meadows which doesn't have the best reputation in Notts, although most of the people are wanting the best for their children struggling to deal with lots of issues in their lives. I choose this path because I wanted to give something back as I grew up as a bit of a lad and didn't attend school a great deal. One teacher put me right and for want of going soppy! put me back on the right lines.

The government need to realise they are messing with the most important things our country holds. Children with the will to learn. Any government, regardless of political persuasion should support parents and educators alike in their desire for wanting the best for the young children.

School places is a prime example. How ridiculous is it Cheeky and Joe should have to go through that, along with thousands of others just to get a basic education sorted in their locality for their children?