Southfleet couple fined £240 for taking sons out of school for holiday

9:08am Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News By Kelly Smale

Alison and Tony Newton with their sons Alfie, 13, and Tom, 15 Alison and Tony Newton with their sons Alfie, 13, and Tom, 15

A SOUTHFLEET couple have blasted Kent County Council for slapping them with a £240 fine for taking their two sons out of school for a holiday.

Tony and Alison Newton, of Hook Green Road, went to the Isle of Wight for a week with their sons Alfie, 13, and 15-year-old Tom.

Both boys are students at Longfield Academy, in Main Road, Longfield, and took five days off from October 1, which was unauthorised.

Mr Newton, a market porter for a fruit firm, said: "I work nights and can't get time off through the school holiday.

"I can't take time off from June to September because summer is the busiest time."

The 41-year-old added: "It's very important to have a holiday with the family and to have quality time together because I work six nights a week and don't see them a lot."

When the family returned from their trip both parents were hit with a £60 fine for each son.

Mr Newton told News Shopper: "It's very unfair.

"My kids have got very good school attendance.

"We didn't book because it's cheaper, it's just when I can get time off."

He added: "It's purely about making money.

"I said 'lets give the money to charity' but they told me 'we can't do that'.

"I don't want to pay but I might have to."

If the couple do not pay within 28 days, each fine will go up to £120 per child.

A KCC spokesman said: "Under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, a parent is responsible for making sure that their child of compulsory school age receives efficient fulltime education that is suitable to the child’s age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs the child may have.

“This can be by regular attendance at school or otherwise.”

Department for Education advice

UNDER current regulations, schools have discretion to grant leave of absence for up to 10 days (per school year) for family holidays during term time.

In exceptional circumstances they can agree more than 10 days.

Leave of absence must be applied for before the holiday and the decision to authorise absence for holidays rests entirely with the school and is not a right.

Parents can be fined for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school.

Comments(7)

the wall says...
10:07am Tue 30 Oct 12

You got caught, now pay up. End of.

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Guess who ;) AGAIN ! says...
10:51am Tue 30 Oct 12

F them, dont pay. Or better still tell them you can only pay 10p a month EACH. Fining each parent, what a cheek.

They are your boys and you can do what ya like with them.

I hope y'all enjoyed you break away together, and more power too you all. The man's working WTF, if he was poncing sucking on the government teat thats would be a different story.

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curlyk123 says...
11:19am Tue 30 Oct 12

I take my children out of school every year because it's the only time we can afford it. The difference is, I apply to the school for leave of absence BEFORE we go, as all Kent schools demand. The headline should read 'Idiot parents don't know how to fill in a simple holiday form'.

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Guess who ;) AGAIN ! says...
3:33pm Tue 30 Oct 12

curlyk123 wrote:
I take my children out of school every year because it's the only time we can afford it. The difference is, I apply to the school for leave of absence BEFORE we go, as all Kent schools demand. The headline should read 'Idiot parents don't know how to fill in a simple holiday form'.
OK Mrs Perfect, like you never ever bent the rules at no time in your life.

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Labras4 says...
8:03pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Excuse me curly123 we did tell the school about the holiday in writing.So they knew about it before we went.The difference with you and us is that you go on holiday during school time because it's cheaper,we go because my husband can't take time off work.

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melissa67 says...
11:18pm Thu 1 Nov 12

Does this family think that they are the only ones who suffer from this problem. We all have to arrange our holidays around work and school. We are all in the same boat. What I have noticed is that some people decide to take their children on holiday during term time as it is considerably cheaper!! I wonder if this was the real motive here? We would all like to be able to do that. Schools should fine parents who think they can do as they wish. It is disruptive to the child's education and not fair for everyone else. Why should they get special treatment. My husband struggles to get family time and time off, but we have to make do. Strange how they managed that week though!! A very cheap week when you look in the brochures. Pay the fine before it goes up and stop complaining. Put your childrens education before your pockets, they only get one chance. You will soon be complaining when your kids get behind with studies etc, and no doubt start blaming the education system. Why do some people feel that they can just ignore the system. A 15 year old can not afford to not be in school!! We are in really tough times for youngsters to get jobs etc and you are wasting valuable learning time on the Isle of Wight. Get in the same boat as the rest of us.

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Labras4 says...
11:58pm Sun 4 Nov 12

melissa67 wrote:
Does this family think that they are the only ones who suffer from this problem. We all have to arrange our holidays around work and school. We are all in the same boat. What I have noticed is that some people decide to take their children on holiday during term time as it is considerably cheaper!! I wonder if this was the real motive here? We would all like to be able to do that. Schools should fine parents who think they can do as they wish. It is disruptive to the child's education and not fair for everyone else. Why should they get special treatment. My husband struggles to get family time and time off, but we have to make do. Strange how they managed that week though!! A very cheap week when you look in the brochures. Pay the fine before it goes up and stop complaining. Put your childrens education before your pockets, they only get one chance. You will soon be complaining when your kids get behind with studies etc, and no doubt start blaming the education system. Why do some people feel that they can just ignore the system. A 15 year old can not afford to not be in school!! We are in really tough times for youngsters to get jobs etc and you are wasting valuable learning time on the Isle of Wight. Get in the same boat as the rest of us.
Yes it may have been a cheaper week,oh you did notice it was IOW not abroad.His company he works for only allows certain weeks off a year for their employees because other times are too busy.He is last in the queue to take time off because he was employed last,does not give him a lot of choice,unless we go in the colder months e.g Nov,not Dec as too busy at work,Jan,Feb,etc.
Our children's attendance at school are in the high 90's unlike some children at their school.
Anyway another rip off by KCC just a shame that the money can't go to a good cause instead of in their pockets!

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