School's out for some

[Thracian]

Not everyone knows that you are quite entitled to educate your children outside of the state education system under the Education Otherwise provisions.

 

However, when children who are registered for a school don't turn up, then surely it is the duty of the local authority to find out why and to remedy the situation because not only are all school-age children entitled to education but they are also entitled to protection from any kind of extremism.  

 

So why are councils getting away with being so irresponsible? In law or in fact.     

    

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-36734441

 

 

[Christoph]

I'm pretty sure Leicester city council are quite hot on pupils not in school. They've sent a lot of fines out to parents who aren't taking their kids to school as far as I had heard? May be wrong but it certainly seems like your less likely to get away with going on holiday early than you did when I was in school. 

[Finnaldo]

I'm pretty sure Leicester city council are quite hot on pupils not in school. They've sent a lot of fines out to parents who aren't taking their kids to school as far as I had heard? May be wrong but it certainly seems like your less likely to get away with going on holiday early than you did when I was in school. 

 

I finished compulsory school (GCSEs) 3 years ago and my brother's just finished Primary school, it was hard to get days ff when I was at school and from what I've seen with my brother it's even harder now, Leicestershire seem to have a good grasp on it.

[Vardinhio]

On the plane back from Gran Canaria last night and a kid was saying "I want to go to school tomorrow". His mother andd grandma were laughing at him saying "It's 1am, you are not going to school tomorrow!"

[jonthefox]

My son was refused his last day at school off . You know the day where they just take games in etc.

He'll still be off mind . Got a flight to Tenerife booked.

[Buce]

Off to Tenerifé today, so my daughter has a 'sickie' on its way for next week.

[Guest MattP]

Be careful with that one Buce, I pulled a sickie for a week to go to Sri Lanka, pissed it down for 7 days here and I came back looking darker than most of the Indians in my office.

[Buce]

Be careful with that one Buce, I pulled a sickie for a week to go to Sri Lanka, pissed it down for 7 days here and I came back looking darker than most of the Indians in my office.

Typical.

It's cool - she won't be going back until September. It's not something I'd usually do in term time, but they don't have lessons in the last week and her attendance is 100%, plus she got a magnificent year-end report.

I'm exercising my right of parental responsibility.

[Webbo]

Off to Tenerifé today, so my daughter has a 'sickie' on its way for next week.

Tenerife is brilliant, not really a huge amount to do there for kids, I suppose it depends what age they are. Whereabouts in Tenerife?

[Strokes]

Off to Tenerifé today, so my daughter has a 'sickie' on its way for next week.

Yeah I think we are going to do the same later in the year, have a nice holiday.

[Buce]

Tenerife is brilliant, not really a huge amount to do there for kids, I suppose it depends what age they are. Whereabouts in Tenerife?

She's thirteen, so the beach and Siam Park are top of her list of things to do. We've also got a car booked for a few days to take in some hiking in the North (Dad's thing, but she'll enjoy it), and the compulsary trip up Teide.

Costa Adeje.

[Guest MattP]

Sounds lovely Buce, have a great time.

Wouldn't feel any guilt about taking her out of school, even more so if she's doing well. You can learn more travelling than in classroom anyway.

[Buce]

Yeah I think we are going to do the same later in the year, have a nice holiday.

Thanks, mate.

Where are you headed?

[Webbo]

Teide is amazing. Half way up the mountain on the bus and you see trees coming out of the clouds.

[Buce]

Sounds lovely Buce, have a great time.

Wouldn't feel any guilt about taking her out of school, even more so if she's doing well. You can learn more travelling than in classroom anyway.

Thanks, Matt.

Yeah, there's no guilt, she's more than earned a break.

[Buce]

Teide is amazing. Half way up the mountain on the bus and you see trees coming out of the clouds.

Yeah.

I climbed it the last time I went up it, but we'll be using the cable car this time.

[Strokes]

Thanks, mate.

Where are you headed?

The Canary Islands, not sure which though yet. You can't fault the value of them

[Buce]

The Canary Islands, not sure which though yet. You can't fault the value of them

La Gomera is my favourite but it's not ideal for kids, and there's no airport so you lose a day getting the ferry.

You can't go wrong with Tenerifé, as long as you get a family oriented hotel.

[Strokes]

La Gomera is my favourite but it's not ideal for kids, and there's no airport so you lose a day getting the ferry.

You can't go wrong with Tenerifé, as long as you get a family oriented hotel.

Yeah it will be a thomsons holiday, we have never had anything but good experiences with the family hotels they recommend. The kids entertainment is very good. I'm not really a sunbather myself and like to explore but I can quite happily sit by the pool with a decent novel and beer

[Alf Bentley]

I'm pretty sure Leicester city council are quite hot on pupils not in school. They've sent a lot of fines out to parents who aren't taking their kids to school as far as I had heard? May be wrong but it certainly seems like your less likely to get away with going on holiday early than you did when I was in school. 

 

 

Correct. Though whether it is down to the council, I'm not so sure. Individual schools set overall attendance percentage targets - and my impression is that it is OFSTED they're seeking to satisfy, not the council.

 

It can get quite ridiculous.

 

We never take our daughter for holidays during term-time (though I'm making no judgment about that - there are arguments on both sides). The only time she's not at school is when she's genuinely too ill to go in.

 

Last term, she twice had bugs and was twice off for 2 days. This took her below the school's attendance target (95.5%?). As a result, she was told that she wouldn't be allowed to go on the end-of-year school outing to Drayton Manor.

Fortunately, they recently relented on the grounds that she'd not been off for a month. Though she had another day off ill last week, so we're half-expecting another harsh response.

 

I appreciate that kids (or their classmates) will lose out if they have long or frequent absences from education - and that parents of kids who are off a lot need to be asked why, and measures taken if appropriate - but there surely needs to be a bit of flexibility if a kid needs a few days off ill?

[Nick]

Correct. Though whether it is down to the council, I'm not so sure. Individual schools set overall attendance percentage targets - and my impression is that it is OFSTED they're seeking to satisfy, not the council.

 

It can get quite ridiculous.

 

We never take our daughter for holidays during term-time (though I'm making no judgment about that - there are arguments on both sides). The only time she's not at school is when she's genuinely too ill to go in.

 

Last term, she twice had bugs and was twice off for 2 days. This took her below the school's attendance target (95.5%?). As a result, she was told that she wouldn't be allowed to go on the end-of-year school outing to Drayton Manor.

Fortunately, they recently relented on the grounds that she'd not been off for a month. Though she had another day off ill last week, so we're half-expecting another harsh response.

 

I appreciate that kids (or their classmates) will lose out if they have long or frequent absences from education - and that parents of kids who are off a lot need to be asked why, and measures taken if appropriate - but there surely needs to be a bit of flexibility if a kid needs a few days off ill?

Disagree Alf, the school is correct. Your daughter should go in and pass on her illness to multiple children. This way whilst the school misses out dramatically on attendance targets they do pay out less for Drayton Manor which is an important and costly developmental experience.

[Strokes]

Correct. Though whether it is down to the council, I'm not so sure. Individual schools set overall attendance percentage targets - and my impression is that it is OFSTED they're seeking to satisfy, not the council.

 

It can get quite ridiculous.

 

We never take our daughter for holidays during term-time (though I'm making no judgment about that - there are arguments on both sides). The only time she's not at school is when she's genuinely too ill to go in.

 

Last term, she twice had bugs and was twice off for 2 days. This took her below the school's attendance target (95.5%?). As a result, she was told that she wouldn't be allowed to go on the end-of-year school outing to Drayton Manor.

Fortunately, they recently relented on the grounds that she'd not been off for a month. Though she had another day off ill last week, so we're half-expecting another harsh response.

 

I appreciate that kids (or their classmates) will lose out if they have long or frequent absences from education - and that parents of kids who are off a lot need to be asked why, and measures taken if appropriate - but there surely needs to be a bit of flexibility if a kid needs a few days off ill?

I struggle to get time off work during the School holidays, unless you get in very fast you can't get the time off. I'm not allowed to take time off at the same time as other senior engineers, so it's either me skive, no holidays or take the fine on the chin. We think holidays together as a family are important as we don't get a lot of time all together. We do take education seriously and work hard to be part of the kids development, my wife volunteers to help at the kids school. We read and encourage creativity, I don't think a fine is necessary to us and I don't think we will get one.

[jonthefox]

She's thirteen, so the beach and Siam Park are top of her list of things to do. We've also got a car booked for a few days to take in some hiking in the North (Dad's thing, but she'll enjoy it), and the compulsary trip up Teide.

Costa Adeje.

Me too. Hotel Isabel.

[Alf Bentley]

I struggle to get time off work during the School holidays, unless you get in very fast you can't get the time off. I'm not allowed to take time off at the same time as other senior engineers, so it's either me skive, no holidays or take the fine on the chin. We think holidays together as a family are important as we don't get a lot of time all together. We do take education seriously and work hard to be part of the kids development, my wife volunteers to help at the kids school. We read and encourage creativity, I don't think a fine is necessary to us and I don't think we will get one.

 

 

I'm not sure why you've quoted me in making that point, Strokes?

 

I made a quite different point - and specifically stated that I was making no judgment about term-time holidays and saw arguments on both sides (yours being one of them).

 

My point was that if kids are ill, inflexible targets/penalties shouldn't be applied. I'd actually say the same about parents, like you, effectively obliged to take term-time holidays. 

[Guest]

I've got a 3 day course with 12 Kazakhstani ladies next week and then I'm (back) on holiday.