Unauthorised absence from school

Anyone know the implications of having it on a child's school record? I know if it goes to 5 unauthorised days there is a £100 fine, and I also know it's recorded for school stats. Anything else?

I requested two days added on to the end of the two week Easter break and have had it refused, but was told there'd be no penalty as was just two days, and would just be noted on Connor's record. So they kind of left it up to me. The school's rated as outstanding by Ofsted, and in last academic year only had 0.2% unauthorised absence, so I don't want to be the black sheep. But at the same time I'm really annoyed as a friend's little boy had a day approved recently to attend a family birthday down south. My friend thinks it's because it wasn't holiday as such, and it's actual holiday in term time that they want to stamp out but it's still bugs me.

Just to add I don't plan to make a habit of holidaying in term time, it's just that we're planning a long haul trip (very exciting, will post details if it actually goes ahead ) and as dh works in the travel industry he struggles to get two weeks off during summer holidays as it's peak time. My friend's little boy went to his granny's 75th in the south of England, it was on a Sunday but as it was an evening do she asked for the Monday off to travel back and it was approved

I would appeal it on the grounds your husband work dont allow time off in school holidays.
And also that you know of another child that got it

i have no experience of this as ds hasn't started school yet. but as dh isn't allowed holidays from may-oct, we will need to take holidays outside of normal time.

our plan was to make sure that there was a reasonable amount of educational value or family/cultural things being done so that we could argue our case.

if you're heading overseas could you argue your case on the educational value of foreign language and culture, understanding of others etc?

if you're heading overseas could you argue your case on the educational value of foreign language and culture, understanding of others etc?

I told his class teacher this morning about it and she was very excited for us, especially as they're learning about weather and climate in different places around the world. She said there would be no problem getting it approved. Then the school secretary categorically told me it would be rejected but to submit it anyway (I suppose so they can tie up the dates if I ring him in sick). And she was right

I'm so out of touch with school policies & can see I've got a lot to learn before Erin starts school
I can't believe that parents now have to ask permission for their children to take holidays during term time Back when I was a kid, my family pretty much always took one week's holiday per year during term time. My parents just wouldn't have been able to afford to take us all on holiday during school holidays as holiday prices were (& probably still are) hiked up enormously. Don't know that we ever suffered for it, tbh, with all of us holding degrees in academic subjects.
But seriously, 2 days? If you hadn't asked for the time off and called in sick for your child/ren would this have had such an implication on their school record? Just seems a bit overkill to me... particularly if you have family/relative overseas that involves long-haul flights

Dooby x

I would phone the LEA. People I know here have had problems and called the LEA, who told them to ignore the school as you can have 2 wks/10days a year.

dh says to query it with the school, his exact words were 'they're taking the p**s' he can't believe they have refused it for 2 days. His school wouldn't refuse.

But in answer to your question there are no implications, especially in reception and assuming you don't have anymore. Technically you are liable for prosecution but no school would for 2 days with an otherwise good pupil.

Yes, 10 days is apparently 'allowed'.

Its a pet hate of mine how the schools can be so awkward about this. Two days, IMO, is not a problem. I wouldn't worry about being the 'black sheep', at the end of the day they should have authorised it and then it wouldn't be a problem

Different Local Authorities have different policies. This is Leeds policy:

Parents do not have an automatic right to take their children out of school for holidays during term time. Head Teacher’s are able to grant up to 10 school days authorised absence for purposes of family holidays in term time in any school year. Education Leeds policy states that more than 5 days unauthorised absences in any one term may result in the issuing of a Fixed Penalty Notice.

It's up to the Head Teacher of the school to decide whether or not the absence will be authorised. If the Head Teacher refuses to authorise the absence, there's not much you can do but as it's only two days it's unlikely that anything will happen other than the absence being recorded as unauthorised on your child's records. It's possible that you might get a patronising call/visit from an EWO reminding you of your legal responsibilities but it's not very likely.

Reason 4569 to home educate.