Term time holiday fines

[patchouli]

Re: Term time holiday fines

There was a chap on TV earlier who said there was a petition to change the rules to 4 weeks summer holiday and two weeks 'floating' allowed time off for parents to chose when to take their children out... taking into account exams etc etc..

i think this is a good idea.. with some tweaking of course.

[patchouli]

I'm interested in knowing the actual legislation behind the fines.. what I mean is what is their reason for asking for money?

Is it simply the child wasn't unwell, wasn't at school so therefore you pay up... regardless of any legalities?

Or is it soley based on missing the education being given over the missed days.... if so then how does this fit in with the last few days of Summer term when activities in the school are mainly parties, clearing walls of posters etc and sports day.. would one get a fine if the school closed on say the 18th of July and you took the child out on the 16th.. so missing the last two days of sports day and party day?

Also, does this include current 6th form students... I say current as the rules have changed and school leaving age is now 18 but current 6th formers are in fact still under the 16 year old school leavers age, do they have the same rules about access to education as younger students?