Mum slams school for refusing permission to take her daughter, 10, on term-time holiday to Florida
A MUM has slammed a primary school for refusing to let her take her daughter on a "once in a lifetime" holiday during term time.
Kirsty Smart, 37, was denied permission when she asked to take her daughter Lilly-Mae, 10, to Florida - and could now face a £120 fine.
This holiday means everything to us, it’s what my nana wanted to do before she passed away.
Kirsty Smart
"He is a carpet-fitter and goes around schools doing the carpets so he can’t get the time off during the holidays.
“I told the school about it and that my dad can’t get time off work but they still said no.
“This holiday means everything to us, it’s what my nana wanted to do before she passed away.
She added: "No matter what I will still be taking them.”
Birches Head Academy - the school which older brothers Patrick,14, and Alfie,12, attend – has authorised the holiday for the boys.
But nearby Abbey Hulton Primary School refused to sign off on Lilly-Mae taking holiday during term-time.
It means Stoke-on-Trent City Council received £36,105.65 in fines over that period.
Abbey Hulton Primary School said: "Our policy is written to follow local authority and Government guidelines which advises schools to fine parents for unauthorised leave in term time.
All holidays taken within term time will have a negative impact on a student's education, therefore we never authorise term-time holidays - regardless of circumstance.
Abbey Hulton Primary School
"All holidays taken within term time will have a negative impact on a student's education, therefore we never authorise term-time holidays - regardless of circumstance.
"It is the aim of our school, along with all other schools, that all of our children's attendance is 96 per cent and above. This is in line with Government expectations."
Kirsty is not the first parent to struggle to take their child on holiday during term time.
In 2017, Jon Platt, 46, was slapped with a £2,000 fine for taking his seven-year-old daughter to Disney World when she should have been in lessons.
He refused to pay an initial £120 fine, sending him in to a landmark legal battle costing taxpayers £140,000.
Mr Platt was eventually convicted of failing to secure his daughter's regular attendance at school and was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,000 costs plus a £20 surcharge.
And in 2018, the Wheeler family from Grimsby, Lincs., were slapped with a £240 penalty for jetting off to Turkey for a week with their two eight-year-old boys Joshua and Leo - a £60 fine for each parent, per child.
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