Mum hit with £185 fine for taking daughter on term-time holiday despite her other two children’s schools letting them go
Rachel Lancaster had to take her three children to Spain during term time to accommodate her son's disabilities
AN angry mum has been hit with a £185 fine after she took her daughter on holiday during term time, despite her two other children's school allowing their absences.
Rachel Lancaster, of Biddulph, Staffordshire, was desperate to take her three children to see their grandfather in Spain and says they had to travel during term time as her son has ADHD and autism.
The 34-year-old was granted permission for son Tyreis Hancock and daughter Chelsea Hancock to miss lessons at their respective schools.
But Oxhey First School said her youngest daughter Tinkerbell Lancaster wasn't allowed the time off.
Rachel took all three kids anyway - and was shocked when she came home to a £60 fine through the door.
Tyreis has autism and ADHD so he wouldn’t be able to cope with the crowds during the school holidays
Rachel Lancaster
Rachel : “My dad lives in Spain and I really wanted us to go over to see him. I don’t get to see him very often.
“I’d never tried to take Tinkerbell over there before because she has problems with her breathing, but since she has been doing better I thought we would be able to manage it.
“Tyreis has autism and ADHD so he wouldn’t be able to cope with the crowds during the school holidays, and that wouldn’t make it a nice experience for the others either. So I wanted to take them for a week in July before the school holidays started.
“Tyreis’ school was fine with it, and so was the high school, it was just Tinkerbell’s school.”
SUMMONED TO COURT
She attempted to appeal but heard nothing back and was then summoned to court.
Rachel was charged with "being the parent of a child who failed to attend school regularly".
She received a £185 fine at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.
She added: “I was angry to receive the fine. I called Staffordshire County Council and was advised how to appeal. I emailed the person I was told to but I never heard anything back. Then before I knew it, I had a summons to go to court.
“I understand they have to stop children having a lot of time off school but I don’t know why they couldn’t be sympathetic to our situation.”
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Oxhey First School says it adheres to ‘strict guidelines’ regarding term-time holidays.
Headteacher Catherine Pointon said: “The welfare of the children at Oxhey is paramount.
"Any decision to grant leave during term time is made after following strict guidelines and the school’s attendance policy taking into account the nature of the circumstances and the child’s attendance record.”
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