taking children out of school at term time

angela110660

Has anybody thought about the trips the schools choose to make in term time which they are happy to authorise? My daughter is off to Germany soon and comes back on the first Tuesday of the Easter break having been away for 10 days in total. She wanted to go so much and it should help her German lessons but even so - it is still five school days she misses and all her other lessons.
We are taking her out of school for 1 week (for a Sun break to Spain) at the start of July as by then the school is running down and I don't think there should be an issue. If there is I shall have something to say....

bestpud

As said already, if their attendance is otherwise ok, it should not cause a problem.

I took my older two out of secondary school a couple of times and it was recorded as 'unauthorised absence but applied for' because they would not authorise absence in years 9,10 or 11.

I never worried about it as it was only a few days and they had pretty much 100% attendance otherwise.

They only involved EWOs if the pupil had more than 10 days unauthorised absence.

alwaysonthego_2

Teachertim wrote: »

This is incorrect, the new rules which came into force when schools could begin to fine have taken these away. Holiday has to be recorded as an unauthorisde. Don't worry about it, if her attendence is fine otherwise it will not cause problems. An education welfare officer has to be involved before fines can be given and that only happens when attendance is less that 85%.

.

Actually you may find that you are incorrect! A headteacher has the discression to allow a parent to have 10 days authorised absence, whether the HT agrees to it is another issue.
Personally I am taking my daughter (shocker, horror) out of school for 2 weeks in June (she is 4 years old) and the school have authorised 10 days, but we have to take 2 days unauthorised.

Holidays during term time


A school can agree to let your child take off up to ten school days a year for holidays. However, this depends on the policy of the school's governing body, and they do not have to agree.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/education/problems_at_school.htm#Holidays_during_term_time

Kez100

sturll wrote: »

Not if you can't afford to go.

People can change their holiday destination and accommodation to suit their budget. Many holidays do not, in fact, give very much experience of culture. In fact, many often give less experience as it is actually easier to avoid culture in AI resorts or beach based holidays than it is in self catering caravanning and camping, say. Many families go back to the same country over and over. That does not necessarily give the same education as varied holidays might.

Sine taking school holiday holidays, we have been to the Scillies, to France camping (also caravans/pre erected tents are reasonable) and used french in every possible venue, Cyprus we stayed in a villa, we cruised to Norway and the Arctic Circle for two weeks (saw whales, reindeer and the north cape) and we have toured places in the UK people forget exist because they are on our doorstep. All under £1800 for family of four in school August holidays (inc food). That cost was the cruise - most were well under and very close to £1k.

I wouldn't have described as expecting our cruise to be particularly educational from a culture perspective when we booked (we did it as a great deal - we are always looking to book a deal) but I couldn't believe how much of a wonderful experience it was. One thing I had never expected was to experience minky and killer whales and the way people live across the arctic circle which we were lucky to talk to locals about. The other was how close one gets to the thai and philippino staff and the difference in their (what they see as privileged) life and our (almost certainly) privileged one. Formal nights were also an experience.

bestpud

alwaysonthego wrote: »

Actually you may find that you are incorrect! A headteacher has the discression to allow a parent to have 10 days authorised absence, whether the HT agrees to it is another issue.
Personally I am taking my daughter (shocker, horror) out of school for 2 weeks in June (she is 4 years old) and the school have authorised 10 days, but we have to take 2 days unauthorised.

Holidays during term time


A school can agree to let your child take off up to ten school days a year for holidays. However, this depends on the policy of the school's governing body, and they do not have to agree.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/education/problems_at_school.htm#Holidays_during_term_time

I took my dd out for a week in January and while I can't say I was easy about it, I didn't lose any sleep either!

trickytrolleys

I'm taking my daughter to Florida for a fortnight in April and although I have completed the necessary form I don't care what the response is, I (albeit very politely) have already informed the headmaster that I understand if he can't authorise it but we are going regardless.

She has never had a term time holiday before and is at the top of her class so I have no worries about her education atall.

I couldnt care less if the authorities get involved - fine or no fine we're off for the holiday of a lifetime!! Woohoo.

broonbear

i've always taken my kids out of school and always will. Never needed the schools permission [ wouldn't ask for it anyway ] I won't pay rip off prices. my kids are not at the top of their classes or the bottom but anything they miss they ALWAYS catch up pretty quickly.

sturll

Kez100 wrote: »

People can change their holiday destination and accommodation to suit their budget. Many holidays do not, in fact, give very much experience of culture. In fact, many often give less experience as it is actually easier to avoid culture in AI resorts or beach based holidays than it is in self catering caravanning and camping, say. Many families go back to the same country over and over. That does not necessarily give the same education as varied holidays might.

Sine taking school holiday holidays, we have been to the Scillies, to France camping (also caravans/pre erected tents are reasonable) and used french in every possible venue, Cyprus we stayed in a villa, we cruised to Norway and the Arctic Circle for two weeks (saw whales, reindeer and the north cape) and we have toured places in the UK people forget exist because they are on our doorstep. All under £1800 for family of four in school August holidays (inc food). That cost was the cruise - most were well under and very close to £1k.

I wouldn't have described as expecting our cruise to be particularly educational from a culture perspective when we booked (we did it as a great deal - we are always looking to book a deal) but I couldn't believe how much of a wonderful experience it was. One thing I had never expected was to experience minky and killer whales and the way people live across the arctic circle which we were lucky to talk to locals about. The other was how close one gets to the thai and philippino staff and the difference in their (what they see as privileged) life and our (almost certainly) privileged one. Formal nights were also an experience.

So what about Florida - whereby in the Summer holidays it is far to busy and humid to enjoy it?

And im not buying the comment regarding many holidays not having culture. I would say most do - there may be few that don't but most do.

In the last 5 years my kids have been to:

USA (8 times)
Mexico
Canada
Peru
Egypt
Dubai
India
Most of Europe

Not saying all our holidays are during school times but Florida always is.

Kez100

Florida can actually be enjoyed at Easter at good value.

If you had said that was cobblers three months ago I would have agreed with you as we have always thought we would never be able to go to Florida again (we can't get christmas off of work and I agree August would be stifling) That only leaves Easter and the direct flights are stupid money and booked up so far in advance. However, I actually thought about going this Easter a few months ago and found flights for under £300 each for the two week school holidays. If it wasn't for a sudden concern at the time over our work position I would have booked quicker than we are reply posting.

The amount of culture involved varies. My argument is that many cheaper holidays offer as much culture/educational experience. So, a cost of £2k in term time to a long haul shore is not necessarily better in overall educational experience than a school holiday £2k holiday to France or the Arctic Circle.

sturll

Kez100 wrote: »

Florida can actually be enjoyed at Easter at good value.

If you had said that was cobblers three months ago I would have agreed with you as we have always thought we would never be able to go to Florida again (we can't get christmas off of work and I agree August would be stifling) That only leaves Easter and the direct flights are stupid money and booked up so far in advance. However, I actually thought about going this Easter a few months ago and found flights for under £300 each for the two week school holidays. If it wasn't for a sudden concern at the time over our work position I would have booked quicker than we are reply posting.

The amount of culture involved varies. My argument is that many cheaper holidays offer as much culture/educational experience. So, a cost of £2k in term time to a long haul shore is not necessarily better in overall educational experience than a school holiday £2k holiday to France or the Arctic Circle.

I agree about the second part of your post, but the Florida part i don't. The flights may be £300 but added to that you have car, hotels, tickets.

In Jan (just gone) I went to Florida with my mother, in total there were 2 adults and 3 kids. With car, Villa and all tickets in for £3k. Whilst i appreciate it can be done for much cheaper the exact same holiday cost £5k in summer - i know i priced it up.