MMD: Should you take the kids out of school for a holiday?

aplegjnf

Jambala wrote: »

If that were true, they'd all start school aged 10



Yes! It's over 7yrs old on the continent isn't it? and their results are higher than ours!
P.

Taffybiker

Yes I would. I've done it before. At the ages of 8 and 10 the children would be told that in return for this holiday they would need to work harder to catch up on their coursework.
On the other hand, I don't feel obligated to the school since most schools nowadays show very little compasion for the parent who needs to take extra time off work because of so called teacher training. I prefer my kids to be taught by teachers that are already trained.

sluggy1967

stationaryace wrote: »

plain, simple yes. but only once or twice during their school life and not every year.

I agree, I think a week is fine but 2 weeks is too much. I took my son out in March (his reception yr) for 4 and a half days & will be doing it again next March when he will be in Yr 1. I won't do it when he's in Yr 2 as it will be his SATS yr, and we will have to think carefully as he gets older.

To those who say it is detrimental to the child's education, I would argue what happens when the child is ill then? In my son's school, if a child is sick they MUST stay at home for a minimum of 2 days, so kids could be missing important work when they are ill. Parents need to use common sense, if your child is off school for whatever reason, find out from their friends what they have missed. I don't think the teacher should be pestered for missed work if the child has taken a holiday.

Jambala

aplegjnf wrote: »

It's over 7yrs old on the continent isn't it? and their results are higher than ours!

That's cos our kids are always on holiday!

LuLan

I totally understand that parents can be tempted to take their children out of school due due to current financial climate, and the vast differences in prices. However, this will disrupt their childs education - this is a fact.

I also understand those opinions that place value on out-of-school education - I am also an advocator of this but I return to my previous point - this will affect your childs school education. Teachers plan projects and topics which consist of a process of objectives, inwhich learning is continuously built upon. Missing school means that children will miss elements of this process, subsequently hindering their overall understanding. The school day is already jam-packed, meaning that there isnt much time to go over previous learning so children may never get the opportunity to catch up on missed learning.

As you can guess, another teacher here!

aplegjnf

[
My dad was a teacher, so we couldn't have our family holidays in term-time, and we weren't loaded either. Guess what? We went camping, either close to home in Scotland, or when we were older, we went camping in France and managed to find plenty of culture and quality family time along the way.

I'm noticing something here.... the teachers are suggesting that parents take a cheap holiday during the holidays. BUT I am beginning to think what is cheap to a teacher is actually quite expensive for a low paid worker? What are teachers on? ( just googled.. minimum £20k.) that is over £5 k more to start with than a family on family credit.( my husband is on 10k pension, I work part time form home earn 2, tax credits make it up to 15 our total income.)
Perhaps that's where the differences of opinion may be explained?
when a cheap holiday ANYWHERE in the holidays is 50% more than any holiday in term time, who can blame lower income skint parents?
My daughter goes camping, but never during school holidays as the prices are ridiculous, most camp sites are minimum £15 per night per unit, plus around£5 per person... then add in spending money, food ( even doing the cooking in a tent you will have your usual weekly food bill and realsitically little holiday time!) and traveling costs at least £100 in petrol getting there and driving round places, so ultiamtely the cost of the cheap holiday in the UK during holidays is far more than a package in term time. That's even supposing people have the equipment in the first place!
I would be interested if anyone could work out a fun and relaxing really cheap holiday for 2parents with two children in school holiday time, that is cheaper than a package in term time :whistle:

Time for a new thread?
P.

Nettie35

I have had exactly this problem. Want to take kids to Belgian Cats festival 2009, only held 3 yearly in same week each time. Four children to take out of school in May. Have tried everywhere to find out how i stand as never taken any of the children out of school. Finally found out that trip on SATS week and second child sitting KS2 SATS. I have rang head teacher with no response, examining board, childrens services and Educational welfare and no one can say what will happen if absent for tests. Happy for him to take tests later( although wont be included in school figures) but cant find out anything. The trip itself will include trip to Menein Gate, WW1 war memorials, WW1 museums, Hill 62 museum and trenches, plus first ever trip abroad. So the educational value of the trip is huge especially as the boys are really into history. Cannot leave it three years as he will do KS3 sats and 3rd child will do KS2 sats and oldest will be seventeen so may not want to come. This trip is not about money but about taking children on a family trip that will probably be the last opportunity to do of this nature. What would you do?
Also doesn't help that I am a "TEMPORARY" teaching assistant at the school nursery, with a brand new head teacher.

brassick_2

Last year we took our family holiday from mid August to beginning of September (3 1/2 week holiday to Oz) which meant a late start to the school year for my children and myself as I worked as a LSA. I was not granted the 3 days leave so I unfortunately had to resign. It would have cost us an extra £1000 to go any earlier and as I earned about £400 a month it was not worth the extra cost. I understood the schools position and knew when I took the job term time holidays were not allowed. Hey ho! I am working elsewhere now where I am not tied into school holiday leave but for the next 2 years I will not be taking my children out as one is in his final year and next year will be son number 2's last year. We had a great time and it was well worth it!

aplegjnf

Jambala wrote: »

That's cos our kids are always on holiday!

touche!!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
Love it!

sluggy1967

Nettie 35 - I feel for you, that's a real dilemma. I would be tempted to take the kids. As long as they are not GCSEs or A Levels, the exams are not really THAT important, because they are really there to measure the school's performance. Your kids teachers are aware of their ability and potential, it's not like the SATS are the only measure used for your child's ability. (Otherwise, what if a really bright child flunked the exam?, it wouldn't mean that they would be put in a lower ability group)

I would make an appt with the Head Teacher, it's clearly very educational, it's not like they will be lying on a beach all day!!!!!!!