A mother said she found a loophole in the education system that allowed her to take her children on vacation during term time.
Over the past five years, Jenny has confidently crossed the seas with her children and says she has never been in trouble for it.
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Taking children out of school for cheap holidays is frowned upon as it may disrupt their education.
Earlier this year, the Labor Party’s Bridget Phillipson criticized “disrespectful” parents who do so.
The MP highlighted how some schools suffered from persistent absenteeism rates in excess of 50 per cent.
She said: “’Cheaper holidays, birthday treats, I’m not imagining today, that’s no excuse to skip school.
“Penalties must be part of the system, but they cannot be the answer alone.
“Allowing your child to miss school without a good reason shouldn’t just be grounds for a fine. It goes deeper. It’s a sign of disrespect. For the children, the teachers, the school.”
But cash-strapped parents are increasingly turning to school holidays, as the average price of a school holiday varies between £289 per person and £1,610 per person.
This is much cheaper than school holiday prices as they range from £398 per person to £1,932 per person, according to Go compare.
And Jenny, mother of three, is one of them.
She took to her TikTok page @justjennybenny to share her “simple” trick with other parents on her platform.
The video has since gone viral with over 666.7K views and over 1,100 people rushing to the comments section to share their thoughts.
Speaking to the camera, Jenny revealed that she can get around the system by going over the dates on the school calendar with a “fine tooth comb”.
It will then look at how many days fall on bank holidays, have built-in days, or are closed for random occasions.
The mother of three will take a week off around these dates because the children “have to be gone for five days to get fined”.
She usually travels in May, because there is a certain week when her children’s school is closed for two days.
This means your children will only lose three days off from school during that week.
While she agrees that this is “unauthorized,” Jenny is confident that she “will not get a fine” because of the days off the school has given her.
According to Government website Schools are required to consider a fine when a child misses 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorized reasons.
From August 2024, the fine for school absences nationwide will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days.
Currently, it is the responsibility of the local authority to impose fines on parents, so it is important to check the rules in your municipality, as the process varies from municipality to municipality.
Jenny also gave another example of this year’s 4th of July.
Her children’s school was closed due to the election and the British were voting that day, which meant that, if she wanted, she could have booked a holiday for that week “going from Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday”.
I’m not afraid, I just don’t want to pay fines and I don’t want thousands of children to miss their holidays… just trying to help
Jenny
This would mean that their children would only “miss school for four days, which means they would not be fined.”
Jenny revealed that she will “always” book holidays in the weeks when school is closed on a random day to save money.
She encourages other parents to “think smarter” and look at their children’s school calendar throughout the year, and take a look at all the days off in the week for a day.
Jenny says: “You won’t get a fine. That simple.
How do fines work?
According to Government website, It is the responsibility of the local authority to decide when to fine parents, which means the process varies from council to council.
The Gov’s website states: “Under the new national framework, all schools will be required to consider a fine when a child misses 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorized reasons.
“From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country will be £80 if paid within 21 daysor £160 if paid within 28 days.
“Fines are a last resort, and parents will be offered support to help improve their child’s attendance first. The vast majority of fines for unauthorized absence (89%) are applied to school holidays.”
Fines per parent will be limited to two fines in any three-year period.
If this limit is reached, the process will be considered. If you are prosecuted and appear in court because your child did not attend school, you could receive a fine of up to £2,500.
Read more about school fines here
“That’s all I do and will continue to do if I want to get them out during term time.”
The mother revealed that she has a son with additional needs who finds it difficult to go on holiday during the school holidays because it is so busy.
That’s why she will do her best to be away during less busy periods.
Check your local council rules
One wrote: “We have to stop being afraid, this is control, our children are not property of the State. They are OUR children.”
Jenny replied: “I’m not afraid, I just don’t want to pay fines and I don’t want thousands of kids to miss their holidays… just trying to help.”
Many others asked if “inserted days are included.”
It is important to check the rules with your local school and local council as rules can vary across the country.
Training days entered are still considered school days and can be included in the five or more consecutive days on which there was an intention to be absent due to teaching leave.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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