Parents who took term-time holiday have fine overturned – after arguing trip was EDUCATIONAL
A COUPLE who could not afford a peak season holiday have won their battle against their sons' school fine.
Hannah Manchester and Neil Hynes were charged £240 after travelling to Spain with their children – but had it overturned after arguing the trip was worth it for the "broader educational value".
Hannah and Neil took Isaak, 10, and Liam, six, out of school a few days before the end of term as it was an affordable time to book a holiday.
Psychiatric nurse Hannah 38, told teachers about the family holiday hoping they would take their ‘outstanding’ attendance record into account, the reports.
She said: “We don’t take the boys out of school for just any old reason, but we’re very confident that the outstanding attendance of both our boys, and the broader educational value of our planned trip meant it was acceptable on this occasion.
“Neil and I agreed that the kids would learn important lessons and gain valuable experiences from this trip which we felt would compensate for a very short absence from school."
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Hannah added: "The trip delivered all of that including a visit to a capital city, important landmarks, art galleries and museums not to mention of course exposure to Spanish as a language which Isaak studies at school.”
The family, from Manchester, travelled around Spain and visited Madrid, Granada and the Murcia area.
But a month after they returned home they received a fine from the Local Education Authority after being told by the school the holiday could not be authorised.
They decided to challenge it and four days later the fine was withdrawn and replaced with a warning.
Now the couple are encouraging others to stand up against fines.
Hannah added: “I am not saying that parents should be encouraged to book holidays in term time; rather I am trying to advocate that schools take a common sense approach and consider the record and performance of the children in question before issuing fines and reporting parents to the LEA.”
“We should always do our best to go away during school breaks, and make sure a holiday doesn’t negatively impact on our children’s performance.
"But I also believe that education is many things and should be considered in the context of real life, one where we want our children to grow into balanced individuals who understand and appreciate the world around them.”
Solicitor Julie Robertson, of Simpson Millar in Manchester, represented Hannah and Neil and said they were ‘absolutely right’ to challenge the fine.
Sun Online has contacted Manchester city council for a comment.
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