taking children out of school for holidays in term time

Fly_Baby

OK, here is a problem.

My son only missed 2 days so far, and both due to illness. He never any problems with homework sheets that he brings home. And when he practices his Maths at home he does workbooks for the Year 3 (he is now in Year 2). So I was assuming he is doing very well.

But on the recent parent and teacher meeting I was told that he is in the group B in class. How is it possible? Well, the teacher showed me his progress sheet (or whatever they call it) and I see many areas that they did cover at school are not coloured - meaning that he hasn't quite got a grasp of it.

Could it be because of those 2 days that he missed? But those uncoloured areas - he was never even given homework on them, so there is no way to know if he understood them or not. What he WAS given he did correctly and easily. He didn't miss any significant amount of school. Out of class, he does exercises from the next school year. So how was I to know that he needs help? And even now that I know that he does need help - still, when I memorised 1-2 problem areas she mentioned (I was not allowed a copy of my own son's progress either) it is up to me to seek and find this material elsewhere and only hope that it's exactly what they covered.

What is that? Is it really to brush off the parent "Oh, he is doing great!" leaving the child behind just because the parent is not allowed to even know about their own child's progress?

flowerscotland

I've taken my girls out of school at term time, we went to Disneyland for a week.

I wrote to the school and advised them, they wrote back to me saying this holiday would be put down as unauthorised by the school. Basically they weren't giving permission to go, but we went anyway.

They wouldn't give us any work to take away either, they said my girls could catch up when they came back.

squashy

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

In many cases, it is simply not possible to take time off from work in the school holidays.

Also it is not some peoples idea of a 'holiday' in a caravan in Skegness or a weekend in the Yorkshire Dales (not that there is anything wrong with those types of holiday, but it isnt what some families like to do)

But if that is all someone can afford, that's better than nothing, right? I don't really like driving an old banger, I can't afford a mercedes but I am just grateful I don't have to walk everywhere

NEH

squashy wrote: »

But if that is all someone can afford, that's better than nothing, right? I don't really like driving an old banger, I can't afford a mercedes but I am just grateful I don't have to walk everywhere

I pointed that out earlier as I feel kids don't spend enough time in this country....They are missing out on so much and even if the weather isn't great there is a wealth of things to see and do.......

Lifeisbutadream

squashy wrote: »

But if that is all someone can afford, that's better than nothing, right? I don't really like driving an old banger, I can't afford a mercedes but I am just grateful I don't have to walk everywhere

It can be more expensive to go in a caravan in Skegness than a week in Spain. We are going in a 5* hotel in Gran Canaria for two weeks in October at a cost of around £2K - we could get away with spending around £500 in the two weeks if we wanted to, as everything is paid for.

One of the most expensive holidays we have had was a week in a caravan in Wales! We spend £2K in a week including travelling, food and entertainment!

As I said it is more to do with what you want to do. *Some* people are making out that people today are greedy because they want to go abroad.

Lifeisbutadream

NEH wrote: »

I pointed that out earlier as I feel kids don't spend enough time in this country....They are missing out on so much and even if the weather isn't great there is a wealth of things to see and do.......

Which all cost a fortune...

And how do you know that all these children dont spend enough time in their own country??

NEH

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

Which all cost a fortune...

And how do you know that all these children dont spend enough time in their own country??

Well if they are abroad and struggling to pay for that holiday i doubt most families would be able to afford a second holiday to see their own country....

squashy

Not always? You can get English Heritage membership on nectar vouchers and there's a wealth of free galleries in the big cities, plus there's the wide open countriside and miles and miles of gorgeous coastline...

milliebear00001

Fly_Baby wrote: »

OK, here is a problem.

My son only missed 2 days so far, and both due to illness. He never any problems with homework sheets that he brings home. And when he practices his Maths at home he does workbooks for the Year 3 (he is now in Year 2). So I was assuming he is doing very well.

But on the recent parent and teacher meeting I was told that he is in the group B in class. How is it possible? Well, the teacher showed me his progress sheet (or whatever they call it) and I see many areas that they did cover at school are not coloured - meaning that he hasn't quite got a grasp of it.

Could it be because of those 2 days that he missed? But those uncoloured areas - he was never even given homework on them, so there is no way to know if he understood them or not. What he WAS given he did correctly and easily. He didn't miss any significant amount of school. Out of class, he does exercises from the next school year. So how was I to know that he needs help? And even now that I know that he does need help - still, when I memorised 1-2 problem areas she mentioned (I was not allowed a copy of my own son's progress either) it is up to me to seek and find this material elsewhere and only hope that it's exactly what they covered.

What is that? Is it really to brush off the parent "Oh, he is doing great!" leaving the child behind just because the parent is not allowed to even know about their own child's progress?

Your child isn't falling behind and nor are his needs being ignored. The maths (and English teaching structure in most primaries means that areas are constantly revisited. Just because your son isn't secure in certain mathematical areas now, doesn't mean he'll be 'left behind'.

I am not sure why you think homework is a good guide to what children are struggling with. Would you therefore have to give homework for every subject? I can study three different things in maths in a single week - how would I keep parents informed about how all 30 children have performed in those three areas in that week? How could I set homework for all these areas - that's just maths remember! Homework in itself is often set at a slightly easier level than classwoek, bacause the idea is that it is done completely independently, without assistance, precisely so the teacher can see what the children have and have not understood in class.

Why don't you trust your son's teacher to do his/her job?

retro_bluebell

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

Which all cost a fortune...

And how do you know that all these children dont spend enough time in their own country??

No they dont all necessarily, I take all 3 of mine out on frequent day trips during the hols and all it costs me is the price of diesel and an ice cream at the end of it, theres a lot of good websites highlighting free days out with the kids you just need to google it, we are quite good at packing a picnic loading the car and heading out all day. We make the most of all the free museums, art galleries etc when the weather is bad and the beach, country walks (on bikes) etc when the weather is good Like I said before my kids have never missed out on the experience of a holiday as their days are pretty packed with activities.