Kids hols during termtime - 10 days max ?

rdwarr

TurnaroundSue wrote:

"If a bit of cheap sun is more important to you than your children's future career then that's fine. But think long and hard about it first - you at least owe them that".

Look at my previous thread before you tar ALL parents with the same brush who take their kids out of school - to me having quality family time is EQUALLY as important as their education - once kids grow up and leave home, you cannot get their childhood back and those family holidays, but you can still go onto further education and do re-sits. Now I am not saying this lightly, but it is a fact childhood only comes along once, where you have all your life to learn.

That's your desicion but it's questionable whether it's even legal. As a parent you have a duty to send your children to school or provide a suitable alternative.
When children fall behind due to term-time holidays the school won't just forget about them because they can do resits when they're older. They will try and catch them up at the risk of holding up everybody else in the class.

rdwarr

If teaching time is lost due to strikes (not that there really are any but why let facts get in the way?) that's another reason NOT to take the kids out of school when the teachers are actually there!

Bit ranty here - just been studying Every Child Matters.

TurnaroundSue

Yes but my point is you cannot get back their childhood, but they can sit exams at any time in their lives. It was not a flippant remark, but one that I find is true. Time as a family when the kids are growing up is an important part of anyone's life and I know that if it meant a choice between them not missing school or us having a family holiday then I know which one I would choose every time!!

Narva

we where refused hoilday as we where 11 day, and my husband is a governor. It is law now.

rdwarr

TurnaroundSue wrote:

Yes but my point is you cannot get back their childhood, but they can sit exams at any time in their lives.

That can be expensive. Where will the money come from? Will your kids really thank you when all their mates are off to University and they're still trying to get some decent GCSEs?

TurnaroundSue wrote:

It was not a flippant remark, but one that I find is true.

Do you have anything to qualify that? My experience is that, with the best will in the world, things don't work out like this. If a child has been brought up on the ethic that holidays are more important than education then they won't suddenly change attitude when they're older.

TurnaroundSue wrote:

Time as a family when the kids are growing up is an important part of anyone's life and I know that if it meant a choice between them not missing school or us having a family holiday then I know which one I would choose every time!!

The choice is not yours to make. The law on education is there for the benefit and protection of children, not parents.

gibson123

As school holidays were designed around the fact that children in rural areas helped with harvest in summer are the school holidays still relevant. I know that in Edinburgh there was a proposal to spread the 12 weeks holiday over a 12 month period effectively meaning that there would be 4 weeks school followed by one weeks holiday. If this came into force and was staggered depending on school area then we would not have a problem with holidays as parents would have much more choice. The children would also get more rest periods over the year and not in a whole big bunch. We would probably have many other problems instead (childcare etc) but maybe it is time for a re-think.

Sallys_Savings

I'm not saying that school education isn't important at all...but I do feel that its not everything. Experiences in life make a big contribution too.
I have four great children, and I believe that an all round education of life is important. Holidays in the summer holidays are normally more expensive both at home and abroad. For those with limited budgets it makes it even harder. We've been camping for years in the summer holidays but know that some people pay £600-£800 for a caravan on the same site we are, yet in the school term it can be half that. We are a nation were morals etc are declining, family time will help family values increase so it should be encouraged.
Yes it is Law, yet we have a family near us whose children have days off school all the time (lots of sick days yet they are out and about)...and their time off would equate to far more than a couple of weeks off school.
We were very fortunate that the school my daughters are in have allowed us to take them out at different times during school time. I have always sent in a letter explaining the reasons why we were going at that time or for that long and they gave permission. I went in and spoke to their head of year confirming that we would assist the girls in catching up with their work missed and would appreciate the help of the teachers in giving them extra work for the month before we went. They have always been very helpful.
Taking my children out of school isnt something that I take lightly but sometimes it is not possible to go at another time.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to have a rethink of the school holidays. I do believe that the shorter terms would be most beneficial to lots of children. One of my sons found school very difficult and was worn out by the time the end of term came around. He would of found the short bursts easier to cope with and maybe able to concentrate better knowing that he had time off every four weeks.

hammy_the_hammer

the all round education of life can take place whether it be june or august. the vast majority of parents who take children out of school in term time do it for none other than financial reasons.
the shame is that as some posters have declared they are forced to take holidays at a certain time due to their occupations ....as these people are in a very small minority it would be easier for the education system to assist these people in catching up ....the others spoil it for the genuine cases

Zziggi

OK, so what *DOES* actually happen if you do take you kids out of school for 10 days after the head has refused permission?

Is it a fine pure and simple or is it a fine plus the risk of a criminal record?

spursman

In reply to Zzigi
it should be a £50 per pupil fine, followed by a referral to an EWO, which then should go onto a court appearance.
the government are pushing to get children classed as non-attenders & passing their places onto children in the waiting list but you & i know this wont happen.
Schools get paid x amount each year for each pupil, govt are looking at withdrawing the funds for each absent pupil this they think will stop children being taken out of school because if a school loses say 10 pupils funds a year the school will just reallocate those places. there is a school in my LEA that wont take pupils if their parents dont sign to say they wont take their kids out of school term time, it is a much sort after school parents willingly sign then take no notice of what they have signed, i'm not going to spell it out but there are 4 reasons a school CANNOT refuse to let you take your children out of school & these are readily used.
my wife is a schoolteacher & i've probably said too much, but i can honestly see a spate of fines & exclusions in the next couple of years
all the best
Spursman