Mum Fined For Taking Terminally Ill Son on last holiday.

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Mum Fined For Taking Terminally Ill Son, Curtis Ingrouille-Kidd, On 'Last Holiday' During Term-Time

A mother is being fined for trying to take her terminally-ill son on what could be his last holiday during term time.

Maxine Ingrouille-Kidd could be charged up to £120 and prosecuted if she presses ahead with plans to take Curtis, 13, out of school for the trip.

Her son is a blind quadriplegic and has cerebral palsy and has only been given a few years left to live. He also suffers epileptic fits.

Doctors have told Maxine he could die any time between the ages of 14 and 19.

She said: "My son is 14 in October and this may well be his last holiday.

"He is never going to have a career, he is going to spend the rest of his life with us looking after him.

"I asked for a holiday request form and was absolutely flabbergasted and shocked when the response was ‘no’."

Maxine, 56, and her husband Peter, had wanted to take the family on a cruise to celebrate the couple's silver wedding anniversary.

Initially they had tried to book it during the school holidays but a disabled cabin was not available.

Maxine said: "I am a law-abiding citizen and this has been very stressful

"The only relaxation he can get is swimming, so a cruise ship with a pool where he can also enjoy the sensory motion of a boat is ideal for him."

The recently deposed education minister, Michael Gove, introduced tougher sanctions for parents who take their children out of school during term-time.

Prior to this parents were able to take children out of school for 10 days a year but are only allowed to do so now in "exceptional circumstances".

John Osman, leader of the local council, said: "This case does sound exceptional. I am keen to talk to the head teacher."

An online petition by campaign group 38 Degrees against the new rule changes has received nearly a quarter of a million signatures.

source:Mum Fined For Taking Terminally Ill Son, Curtis Ingrouille-Kidd, On 'Last Holiday' During Term-Time

Just how low can you go this is disgusting
 
Common sense never did prevail in the eyes of the law.

This poor lad is never going to benefit from any education but he can have plenty of happy moment with his family.

If i was in this situation with a child school would be the last concern of mine. Providing as much stimulus and memories i could for my child would be priority.
 
I hope the school administrators hang there heads in shame, what gives them the right to deny this poor kid a holiday.
 
Mum Fined For Taking Terminally Ill Son on last holiday.

Technically incorrrect. It should be "Mum Faces Fine". In fact it looks as if common sense is going to prevail.
 
Aside from the usual headline grabbing sensation being incorrect about the parent having been fined the decision to fine is not down to the school.

Just to clarify the process, The head has the option to grant exceptional leave based on the following,
· Time of the academic year when the leave has been requested
· Duration of the absence – number of school days being missed
· The child’s current attendance and punctuality rate
· Exceptional Term time leave requested/taken in previous academic years for a similar purpose
· Whether parent/carers have considered limiting the amount of time the child would be absent from school e.g. wrapping around school holiday
· Have alternative care arrangements been considered by the parent/carer to limit the time away from school
· Impact on any interventions, assessments or referrals being undertaken with the child or family e.g. family support, social care assessments, CAMHS, SEN
· The impact that the absence will have on the child.

Attendance data is then passed to LEA who then pass it their welfare officer who actually decides if there will be a fine. Almost certainly there will be follow up with the parents to discuss the situation. They will discuss the impact based on the above criteria. TBH the changes of getting fined are minimal. The only cases I have heard about in my LEA has been persistent offenders.

I suspect this child is at a special needs school and head will be used to these types of request. And there is no such thing as a holiday request, probably should have phrased it differently.
 
No matter where the decision is made from,its a callous,insensitive,immoral and probably downright jobsworth type decision
 
Yeah somehow I managed to control my tongue/fingers !!
 
You just wonder if this head teacher just gives a blanket 'NO' without even looking at individual cases
 
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