School fine!

[Katie72]

I would be grateful for some advice.
My son has caught every virus going since starting back at school in September, resulting in him having poor attendance.
I have now received a letter from his school saying if his attendance falls below 90% then I risk getting a fine of £120.
Can they do that? He cant help being poorly, and I certainly don't keep him off school for the slightest little sniffle.

Thanks in advance.

[Ripped-Off]

Re: School fine!

Yes they can.

Next time he's ill, take him to the doctor. If you have medical evidence of his prior absences you might need that eventually.

[charitynjw]

Re: School fine!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-36277940
A father who refused to pay a £120 fine for taking his daughter on an unauthorised term-time holiday has won a High Court ruling in his favour.
Magistrates had ruled that Jon Platt had no case to answer as, overall, his daughter had attended school regularly.
Isle of Wight Council had asked the High Court to clarify whether a seven-day absence amounted to a child failing to attend regularly.
Lord Justice Lloyd Jones and Mrs Justice Thirlwall dismissed the council's challenge, ruling that the magistrates had not "erred in law" when reaching their decision.
They ruled that the magistrates were entitled to take into account the "wider picture" of the child's attendance record outside of the dates she was absent during the holiday.