I’m fed up of being fined for taking my kid on holiday when teachers strike whenever they want…we should charge them £60
A MOTHER has been left fuming after she revealed that she is getting fined for taking her daughter out of school to go on holiday.
Not only this, but Whitney Ainscough, 30, who is known online as a ‘bad mum’, also revealed that her daughter’s school needs to ‘back off’, after they put her child, Cora, 11, in isolation for her shoes and earrings.
Whitney, who recently revealed that she earnt more than £13,500 last month alone thanks to being an influencer, took to social media to express her frustration, leaving many open-mouthed.
Posting online, the content creator said: “I’ve got a letter from school – it says, ‘application for leave of absence for Cora, my daughter. I’m writing to advise you that your child leave of absence has not been authorised.’”
Whitney then clapped back and added: “Ok, I know you’re not authorising it, but you can have strike days whenever you like and just drop them on us parents, but, yeah, anyway.”
The mother then continued to read the letter, as it explained: “I wish to advise you that if you should go ahead with this leave of absence and Cora’s attendance falls between 95% and 95.2% across the previous 12 months as a result of this, I will be requesting that the local authority issue a fixed penalty notice of £60 per parent, per child, if paid within 21 days, rising to £120 per parent.”
Clearly shocked at the letter, Whitney gasped: “Excuse me?”
She then snapped: “Well, next time you decide to have random strike days, it’s gonna be £60 per child.
If I wanna take my child out of school, I will take my child out of school
Whitney Ainscough
“You know, you’re leaving parents out of pocket, having to have days off school because you have random strike days.”
Whitney begged her followers: “Guys, make me MP of this country! Make me MP!
“I’m not having this. If I wanna take my child out of school, I will take my child out of school.
“It is my child, right? She’s getting more education going around the world than what she’s getting at school, so shut it!”
Not only this, but Whitney also expressed: “Or you know, when you put her in isolation because she’s wearing shoes that she shouldn’t be wearing, or she’s got her ears pierced or something, and you put her in isolation. How’s about back off?”
The TikTok clip, which was shared just two days ago under the username @itsmebadmom, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 63,800 views.
What school fines can parents receive?
THE main issue that can lead to parents receiving a fine is missing school.
Currently, it’s the decision of the local council whether or not to issue a parent a fine for their child missing school.
However, from August this year, the fine for absences will up to the school to consider – when a child has missed 10 or more sessions for unauthorised reasons.
The minimum fine will increase from £60 to £80 per parent as part of a government drive to return attendance to pre-pandemic levels.
And the fine will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days.
It’s the first time the fine has been increased since 2012, and is in line with inflation.
If a parent receives a second fine for the same child within three years, this will automatically be charged at the higher rate of £160.
Fines will be capped at two fines within a three-year period.
After this limit has been reached, prosecution or a parenting order may be considered.
According to the official government website, there are only five reasons your child should be absent from school if the school is open.
These are as follows:
- Your child is too ill to attend that day
- You have asked in advance and been given permission by the school for your child to be absent on that day due to exceptional circumstances
- Your child cannot attend school on that day because it is a day you are taking part in religious observance
- Your local authority is responsible for arranging your child’s transport to school and it is not available on that day or has not been provided yet
- You are a gypsy/traveller family with no fixed abode, and you are required to travel for work that day meaning your child cannot attend their usual school
Social media users could understand Whitney’s frustration and many took to the comments to share their thoughts.
One person said: “It’s getting a joke with these fines.”
Another added: “Well said hun.”
That’s disgusting paying a fine
TikTok user
A third commented: “They are ripping you off.”
Meanwhile, someone else wrote: “I absolutely agree with you on this.”
At the same time, another user agreed: “You are right in what you say, that’s disgusting paying a fine.”
Whilst one parent penned: “Fines for taking your kids out of school? That’s mad! We don’t have that in Scotland.”
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