taking children out of school for holidays in term time

peachyprice

In answer to your direct question, no you do not have 'rights' to take your child out of school for any number of days, however some schools are less strict than othes and will allow a certain number while other have zero tolerance, which is obviously the case at your school.

If you do get fined for unauthorised absence it's £50 per parent, per child. Rising to £100 if you don't pay it within 28 days.

ady_j

Take them on holiday, they're your children.

If the head doesn't like it, stuff him / her.

If he cries to the LEA and you get fined, pay it with a smile and ask the head if he wants double as you'll be taking them away the same time next year.

woody01

ady_j wrote: »

Take them on holiday, they're your children.

If the head doesn't like it, stuff him / her.

If he cries to the LEA and you get fined, pay it with a smile and ask the head if he wants double as you'll be taking them away the same time next year.

Thats terrible advice.
I assume you realise that you are trying to tell the OP that truancy is OK? and goes unpunished.

buzzyy

here we put a request in the head always grants this,my freinds just go on hols they wont do anything for 2weeks,then it just goes down on end of year report as unconsented absence,i always ask for extra homework to take with us

Fluffi

peachyprice wrote: »

In answer to your direct question, no you do not have 'rights' to take your child out of school for any number of days, however some schools are less strict than othes and will allow a certain number while other have zero tolerance, which is obviously the case at your school.

If you do get fined for unauthorised absence it's £50 per parent, per child. Rising to £100 if you don't pay it within 28 days.

So if you are saving more than £100 on a child holiday place its still makes (financial sense) to go into term time then?

I can totally see why the OP wants a 2 week holiday - 1 week isn't enough to wind down from work - its about 4/5 days before I feel relaxed and then its time to go home again.

Maybe state schools should think about having some 2 week half terms like private schools often have if they are going to be so restrictive about term time holidays. Admittedly this would mean Saturday morning schooling or adding 3 extra hours on to the school hours during the week but there would be less unauthorized absences and more relaxed parents!

peachyprice

Fluffi wrote: »

Maybe state schools should think about having some 2 week half terms like private schools often have if they are going to be so restrictive about term time holidays.

If they did that the travel industry would just hike up the prices for those 2 week half terms!

kingfisherblue

My son's school will not allow any holidays to be taken in term time - the decision was made by the governors a couple of years ago and there are no exceptions. There are a number of schools in our area that are the same.

The holidays are changing next year, though, to include a 'spring break' instead of Easter. It means that all schools in the LEA will have standardised holidays, which will make life easier for those of us who have children in different schools and with different holidays. My youngest attends a Catholic primary school that does not break up until the Wednesday before Easter, but my older son breaks up on the Friday of the previous week (as do most other schools). This means that we cannot book an Easter break at the moment, but will be able to next year as they will both have the same days off.

Treacly

Imagine the uproar if teachers took the same view as the more 'relaxed' parents. Sorry - your little darlings will have to teach themselves for a fortnight as Miss Blah has gone skiing while it's cheaper. The Head told her she couldn't but she told him to stuff it and went anyway.
Although frankly many teachers love kids taking unauthorised absence as they're generally the more...how shall I put it...? Challenging children (and parents) and it can be nice and peaceful when they're off in Disneyland or wherever.

Lotus-eater

I think schools and all of us where education is concerned, need to lighten up a bit.

Two weeks, unless it's a important time for exam learning, won't make the slightest bit of difference to 99% of children.

We're putting our kids under too much pressure, too early. My view.

Our primary school has a head most parents would kill to get, among the best results and reports in the county, is the nicest friendliest school you've ever seen, massive parent input and help.
Yet they allow children to take TWO weeks holiday! In the term time !!

Strange, all those well behaved, high achieving children, in a school that doesn't force too much homework and is pretty relaxed about kids being off school. Must be a fluke.

sal-ad_daze

At the school I am a Governor at, we recognise that some local workplaces allocate holidays on a rota system even if you have school age children, for instance if you have 2 weeks in the summer break this year you won't get them for next year or maybe even the year after so we allow holidays at the HT discretion taking into consideration the student's attendance record which must be at least 95%,
Saying that, if the fine is £100 and the difference in the holiday price is double that then it's not surprise that some parents take the holiday anyway!