Holidays in term time

Smashing

But really, if you're the kind of parent who just ignores school guidelines anyway, what's the stop you claiming to be sightseeing in Rome when they're jollying it up in Butlins?

robnye

Smashing wrote: »

But really, if you're the kind of parent who just ignores school guidelines anyway, what's the stop you claiming to be sightseeing in Rome when they're jollying it up in Butlins?

they might ask for evidence..... not sure butlins can magic up vatican, st pauls square or spanish steps.... that easily...

Smashing

robnye wrote: »

they might ask for evidence..... not sure butlins can magic up vatican, st pauls square or spanish steps.... that easily...

That's just it...how far do you go to prove it's 'educational?' Mention the odd visit to a castle, conveniently forgetting that there is a pub near by (lbeing able to see it from the beer garden counts, right? Chuck in a bit about learning the lingo despite not speaking one word of French in Disneyland, counting the nnumber of units mum and dad have drunk...
Given that they are going to do anyway, I would think this may be the kind of situation where a fine could be given, dependent on the schools actual policy on holidays during term time.

Lunar_Eclipse

Smashing wrote: »

But really, if you're the kind of parent who just ignores school guidelines anyway, what's the stop you claiming to be sightseeing in Rome when they're jollying it up in Butlins?

But who cares?

I don't understand why term time holidays bothers other people so much. I have never met a perfect parent, most being far from it, so why the judgement on this one topic? (Not directed at you Smashing fyi - merely an observation.)

Going against the guidelines once, for reasons which people often keep to themselves on an internet forum provides little evidence as to what "kind of parent" one is. I'm quite sure for instance there are many parents who respect these guidelines and then smoke in front of their children for example. Or swear at them. Or clip them around the ear. Or feed them crap and let them stay up really late etc etc. You get my point!

Parenting is about a whole complex spectrum of values, influences and behaviours. Term time holidays are only one aspect of it. It's the way we raise our children on a daily basis that counts most IMO.

(ETA: Personally, I'm not particularly for or against term time holidays, I just wondered if the 'anti camp' realise how irrational their black and white judgement can appear?)

Spendless

Will depend on your LEA. Ours fines for unauthorised absences and has done for past few years. I believe the fine is £50 per child, though do not know if that is for the absence regardless of how long it is, or if it's per week. I'd suggest looking at your council's website for more info.

Carmina_Piranha_3

what are the rules at that school? here the head would only have said no if the request was for more than 10 school days.

we just went on a free pontins holiday and one of our friends enjoyed it so much she's booked to go back in the first week of september for £60. both of her children's schools have said yes to the holiday but they will be missing 4 days for one of the children and 3 for the other. don't quote me on this but i think that if she'd asked for more than 10 school days off she would have been refused.

RoxieW

smashing - since when does wanting to take your child out of school time make you a beer guzzling neglectful parents?
I played by the rules this year, forking out for a school hols holiday - whereas a friend is having 2 holidays, one the week before the hols and one the week after, for the price of our one. I know what I'll be doing next year - pushing my luck like everyone else!

Gingham_Ribbon

It's also interesting to see that some people seem to think that only those who can afford to take their children abroad can provide educational holidays.

We went camping a few miles away and I can think of dozens of examples of it being 'educational' as well as being great fun. Young children learn through play. You don't need to be at the vatican to learn something new.