Not really, just a admendment of the existing laws to be more specific in its wording.

Currently section 444 of the Education Act, which stipulates that parents are guilty of an offence if they fail to ensure their child “attends regularly” at school.

Typical of British law it's a ambiguous statement. As it does not define what "regularly" means.

Basically some numpty who wrote these whilst trying to put it in legal jargon-speak (may as well write them in Latin ). Missed the important bit which is defining anything in regards to a limit on non-attendance be it percentage or number of days. It was probably intentional as so to allow discretion based on common sense - something that is increasingly lacking in this day and age.

There is an arbitrary figure of 90% attendance for truancy which based on this current ruling means you can take your kids on holiday for 19.5days each year during term time.

LEAs and School administrators had this coming to them, it's obvious the law allowed discretion based on common sense -hence the ambiguity, but as usual some little Hitlers thought "it's the law" and threatened parents in a draconian manner without actually reading the law properly and understand that it DOES allow leeway.

All that will happen now is the law will be amended to state a number of days, possibly in total per year or consecutive days. So at least now those without common sense (like the "educators" who fine parents for a few days) can understand it better

 

Apparently the "law/rules/guidance" or whatever, where tightened back in 2013 by the government

Against the advice of teachers/schools - who said the previous regime was working ok

Why does the government always think it knows better than the professionals (teachers, lawyers, doctors)

Foe so many of young people THE only route out of poverty is education, they don't have well off parents with their well known "sharp elbows"

My worry is, that this ruling acts as a green light to the errant parents who would rather go on holiday on the cheap than ensure their children have an education

Studies have shown that absence of only 7 days a year DOES effect attainment

Yes I know my children (and yours) are special and are clever enough to cope (my eldest starts at Edinburg University in September, and the next one down has bet me he will get into Oxbridge)

But believe me others arnt - I see the parents when I take my twins to school every morning

I am always wary of pandering to the lowest common denominator, and it is a shame we have too

But education is so important

 

In the longer term, the only way this will ever stop being a problem is if they introduce longer school days, so that term lengths can be shortened and major holidays lengthened (if you look at continental Europe, school summer holidays in most countries there are 2 months instead of our 6 weeks).

 

My sister in law just phones in sick & was advised to do this by a head teacher who told her a blind eye is turned for occasional bouts of holiday illnesses.

 

Yep I can see my kid when it arrives (14th nov) having an annual bout of chicken pox...

 

Out of interest, did any of the qualifications you got from school help towards the job you do today?

I know for me getting gcse's made **** all difference to the work i do, people wanted time served/ someone experienced etc over over someone who had a few good gcse grades

 

For me, the single thing that my GCSEs grades were of any use was for me to gain access to one of the UK's top ranking sixth form colleges, and they haven't been used since. It was all downhill after that LOL

Ironically during my downfall I had no term time holiday, except for a Friday off so I could whizz down to Monaco to see the F1 Gp (total wash out...only four cars finished ).

 

I did History at university - it taught me to not only read, but understand what I am reading and also to check sources

sound familiar - on this forum I often ask for and check sources when people make a claim

so often in business I get documents to read and it is clear that NO ONE has either read them or if they have, understood what is in them

but interestingly I was having a conversation today with a friend who has a child in my son's year at school

she was complaining about her older son who is retaking his AS level for the second time, and still is not working

I said that if I had a child like that I would simply tell then to leave, forget education, start work get an apprenticeship - avoid the big debt from university

i.e. crack on

but I also know that education is the route to increasing your earning potential - every survey says that

 

LOL at some of the comments on here.

1. The law is the law, it was brought in by a particularly nasty SOCIALIST government, NOT schools.

2. Schools do NOT fine people, the courts do that, schools are OBLIGED to pass on the names of any pupils not attending regularly to the authorities for prosecution.

3. The fine is £200, then £400 etc etc PER CHILD.

4. Headteachers are OBLIGED to refuse pupils permission to not attend.

5. Any headteacher who flouted 2. and 4. above would be liable to disciplinary action and their school would get a very quick visit from, and a black mark, from OFSTED. The whole thing was set up by a nasty socialist government and a particularly nasty education minister, (the blind b@stard), so that schools and heads would take the brunt of parents complaints, but were obliged by law to do as they did.

The law will now almost certainly change and be stricter.

 

I know you're Mrs works in a school but the above isn't (wasn't) correct last year.
£60 per parent per child at my daughters academy, this rose to £100 if not paid in x amount of time.
And for all my daughters friend lives with mum and dad they paid a £60 only 'fine'

 

What about the damage done to businesses in tourist locations across the UK?

I can tell you that without absolute doubt that this law has had a damaging effect on many businesses, including my own.

Businesses in locations that rely on tourism for trade have seen a steady decline in trade during term times. This season has so far been the worst on record for many businesses in this position since this law was introduced. It was noted last year that trade had dropped significantly during term time periods. But as time has progressed, the effects are being felt more and more.

This is putting a strain on these types of businesses, less staff are needing to be employed, therefore less jobs are available in the tourism industry across the country. This is especially a problem in small seaside towns and villages where the majority of jobs are based firmly within the tourism industry.

I will give you some figures, using my own businesses as an example.

I would usually have five staff members working in one of my establishments at the same time, at this time of year. I currently have three. During the school holidays, that figure rises to eight. Thats eight people at work on the same day from 12pm to 10pm 7 days a week. Last years school holidays saw me needing a maximum of five staff at work at the same time throughout. Unheard of in the 35 years this business has been here. Even during the recession, trade was better than it is now!

Thats the first business, the second is in a similar boat, less staff needed and less trade.

Across the two, I have seen a reduction in trade of approximately 23% since the beginning of the 2015 season.

The only thing that has changed is this new law.

Having said that, the weather also has a large impact on our trade, but even when the sun isn't shining, we still do well. But not these days. I cannot provide exact figures to prove that its the weather or this term time law that is causing the main issue. But what I do know, is that trade is much less than it was 3 years ago even with the dodgy British weather!

This new law will see lots of businesses close their doors over the next few years unless the government take a different tack on the whole situation. Closed businesses = less jobs.

Of course I also feel that a child's education is highly important. But if there is regular attendance, then the odd week or two throughout the year is not going to cause major issues with the child's progression through the curriculum is it.

There is an argument that teachers may have issues with children needing to catch up with subjects that they missed while absent from school. More work for the teachers to make sure these children are all up top date. My response to that is, its been that way for many many years. Why change now, teachers are more than capable of resolving these issues.

Then there is the question of children who are home schooled, who regulates them? No body, thats who. There is nothing stopping a home schooled child going on holiday when their parents choose.

A similar story for private schools who seem to be treated differently in this situation. This law only applies to state schools. Ridiculous really.

Is it not true that travelling is also a learning experience? Spending time with family while on holiday is also a valuable experience.

My parents took me on holiday during term time, and that had no detrimental effects on my education at all!

There needs to be some regulation regarding genuine truancy which does have an effect on the child's education, but this isn't the way forward.

 

Must vary from LEA to LEA, then. Parents in our one have had £200 fines from the courts. North Lincs.

 

Dozza: can't agree more.

The legislation was put in place by a supposed socilaist government, led by our worst (at that time) prime minister ever, and with a nasty piece of **** as education secretary.

Why should THEY care? THEY can afford holidays when schools are out, and most likely get freebies too.

Lieing Labour b@stards!

 

But its not even just he money aspect in my mind.
There is the increased heat levels during July/August