A dying dad who took his children on a holiday during term-time because he does not know how long he has left to live was left stunned after the school fined him £240 .
Neil Austin, 38, jetted off with his wife Tracey, 34, and two children on a sunshine break to Tenerife because they had never been abroad before as a family.
The former postman was forced to quit his job in February last year after being struck down with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and fibrosis.
He said he wanted to take his family away for a special treat because of fears his incurable illness could soon become terminal.
But despite explaining his personal situation to the school, the headmistress refused to grant him permission to take son Reece, five, and daughter Skye, eight, out of classes.
Mr Austin, from Coventry, says the trip would have cost an extra £800 had it been a week earlier during the peak season and decided to go away regardless.
But they were shocked when they returned from their 10-day break on September 13 to be slapped with a fine by Parkgate Primary School, in Holbrooks, Coventry.
He has now been threatened with court action if he fails to pay the penalty in full by the end of November.
Mr Austin says: “I had to take them all away because I don’t know how long I’ll be here for.”
“The children absolutely loved it, they were down the pool, it was brilliant for them – the oldest one didn’t want to come home.”
“The furthest they’ve been is to Great Yarmouth four years ago and they can barely remember it.
“I wanted to treat them to a special holiday, because as far as I’m concerned, I don’t know when I can go abroad again or how long I have left to live.
“You would think the school would have shown some compassion giving the circumstances.”
Mr Austin was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease over two-and-a-half years ago and suffers around 14 chest infections a year, and struggles to breathe.
He was told at the start of the year that he could potentially have lung cancer, but tests came back negative and instead, he was diagnosed with fibrosis in July.
But after returning from the memorable holiday, he was handed a £240 fine from the local education authority.
He added: “I wrote to the head mistress on three separate occasions pleading with her to allow this holiday to go ahead.”
“I feel the people who make these rules up as they go along.”
“The £240 is made up of a £60 fine per child per parent.
“I’m willing to pay, I just can’t afford to pay it all in one go because I can no longer work.
“I asked the council to let me pay £10 a fortnight, but they are demanding I pay £120 by this Friday and the other £120 by the end of November.
“I physically can’t afford to pay that much money at once, and if I don’t pay, the fine will double and I could even be taken to court.
“I knew what the rules were but I honestly thought the head teacher would allow it to happen and have a little bit of compassion regarding the situation we’re in.
“The school’s policy say that holidays will be considered in exceptional circumstances.
“You would think the fact that this could be my first and last holiday abroad with my kids would be an exceptional circumstance, but obviously not.
“If they were doing exams I wouldn’t take them out of school.”
The children were due back to school on September 3, but returned home on September 13 – missing seven days of lessons.
Mr Austin said the childrens’ attendance records were otherwise good.
He asked Coventry City Council for an installment plan because he couldn’t afford to fork out a large lump sum.
Instead he said he could pay £10 per fortnight – a proposal the council has since refused.
Full-time mum Tracey added: “I’m so shocked that they won’t let us pay the fine in installments.”
“It’s the fact that the school are fully aware of my husband’s condition that makes it worse.”
“I am disgusted at this whole situation.”
Kirston Nelson, Coventry City Council’s director of education, said: “The priority for Coventry City Council and our schools is that all children maintain good levels of attendance during term time to ensure that the city’s children have full access to the education they deserve, in accordance with the Department for Education’s guidelines.
“We issue penalty notices at the request of individual schools when they feel the conditions for absences granted through exceptional circumstances have not been met.
“Payment plans are negotiated on an individual basis.”
