Fined for holiday in school time

kelloggs36

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

The state has decided that it can educate our children, but not put the required resources into providing it in many cases eg TAs who work part-time, mixed aged classes to save teaching staff wages, not providing decent teaching resources so many teachers paying for their own, the list is endless some parents decide to have additional input but the state does not require it. The state does require the children to attend during term time. If parents don't want to do that then they can home-educate or find an independent school that allows term time holidays.

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kelloggs36

Fly_Baby wrote: »

Why all the fuss on the teachers' part about the child missing out on 3-weeks worth of education? It is not the teacher's child, after all. If the parent in question in fine with it then it's up to them how they deal with consequences: do some additional teaching at home, hire a private tutor or just accept that the child's end of year results are not going to be great. It is the parent's problem, after all, not the teacher's sadly, it is actually. Teachers have to justify why a child has not reached at least 'age appropriate' at stages throughout the year - with a push towards not moving up the payscale unless they hit specific targets. The targets take no account of the fact that children are not machines, yet they are expected to make a fixed amount of progress and be at a certain level in ALL subjects. There is no longer any acceptance that children may be better in Literacy or Numeracy - no, they have to be equal, We know it is rubbish, yet we have to try and get them there. Lack of support from parents, and lack of attendance means that children are less likely to meet targets, which means sacked teachers through no actual fault of their own. Yes, bad results - if the child really doesn't catch up - can affect the school's rating but come on, there are less than average pupils in every class even if they don't miss school. And that one child could make the difference,

On a personal note, I do far more at home with my son in terms of education (English, maths, science, foreign language) than what he brings in as a homework, so I am sure that with some dedication from the parent any child can make up for the missed time.

After all, the parent can very nicely ask the teacher what they child missed and then cover it at home.

Edited to add: not that I approve of 3 weeks of holiday in the term time - but if bad consequences are predicted as a result then I honestly believe that for a 5 year old they can be rectified.

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kelloggs36

dizziblonde wrote: »

It's when I get parents who come up to me and announce they're taking a term time holiday can I set a lot of work for them to do that get my goat. When I suggest keeping a journal or anything like that, that's actually going to be useful and meaningful - no chance... what they want are a pile of worksheets to be bodged together on the plane over.

I won't set work for a termtime holiday - the work IS set, it's available in the classroom - if you take your kids out and make the choice to remove them from that environment... your problem matey because I'll be going on with business as usual in school - the world doesn't revolve around your 2 weeks in Ibiza or wherever.

How much extra work would that involve for the teacher to set the 'additional work' - not five minutes that's for sure. It would involve planning extremely far ahead, specific activities for that child linked to what they would be missing - which isn't sorted in detail until much nearer the lesson. So I agree, no way!

Fly_Baby

kelloggs36 wrote: »

sadly, it is actually. Teachers have to justify why a child has not reached at least 'age appropriate' at stages throughout the year - with a push towards not moving up the payscale unless they hit specific targets. The targets take no account of the fact that children are not machines, yet they are expected to make a fixed amount of progress and be at a certain level in ALL subjects. There is no longer any acceptance that children may be better in Literacy or Numeracy - no, they have to be equal, We know it is rubbish, yet we have to try and get them there. Lack of support from parents, and lack of attendance means that children are less likely to meet targets, which means sacked teachers through no actual fault of their own

I am surprised to hear that. - maybe all schools are different? When I had the latest parent and teacher meeting my son's class teacher explained that all children will be "graduating" in Year 2 (ours is infant school) in either A, B and C category. So if a child has only reached a C then it is still acceptable.

And parents are kept informed on the child's progress - so if the child was behind then the parent would be given an advance "warning" that the boy/girl needs to make an extra effort and be given support in this and that.

I realize that I am speaking as a parent here, not as a teacher so I may well be underestimating the crucial effect of one-off unattendance. As a parent I am sure that any child can catch up at the age of 5.

kelloggs36

It's the new OFSTED criteria.

Yes parents are kept informed, but if they are behind anyway and then fall further behind, it makes it very difficult to catch up as the resources just aren't there.

adouglasmhor

I had 6 weeks off aged 5 because I had my tonsils out. I still achieved a university education etc. My handwriting is still atrocious though, maybe they were doing a lot of their "letters" those weeks and I never caught up.

gregg1

Fly_Baby wrote: »

Surely it was a joke?

A person will hardly become unemployable ONLY because he missed a few weeks of schooling as a child. Should parents that ignore homework or don't help their child sufficiently should be made to provide for them for the rest of their lives too? Who is going to assess the extent of blame and on what grounds?

How about a teacher not paying enough attention/not pushing enough a particular child - for various reasons - should they be held responsible for the child's poor GCSE results and therefore financially liable?

They are held responsible for poor results!

phunkles

Did the OP just pay the £50 fine in the end?
Id love a 3 week holiday to Florida though if anyones offering

bylromarha

Fly_Baby wrote: »

As a parent I am sure that any child can catch up at the age of 5.

If that's the case, then every child would leave Reception at the expected level for there age.

More and more children are starting Reception below and well below the level of entry they should be at - and spend the rest of their educatinal career trying to catch up.

So, as a parent, you are wrong

kelloggs36

I am starting a new school in January, and have just been informed that I have a group of children once a week for Literacy who are year 3 (aged 7) and who are on P levels. This means that they are unable to write anything! How they have reached year 3 still on these levels, I will be interested to find out. Not that I have any miracle cure - any teachers out there?????