taking children out of school for holidays in term time

belfastgirl23

I think if the school has just written out there will be no exceptions at least for a year or two. Once one parent has an exception made for them there will be the usual grumbling/b**ching about how come they're a special case and everyone else will be asking for holiday times and there will be an uproar if some are refused. So the school will enforce it strictly at least for the first while.

I reckon you're stuck with it for now - in the end it's a rule designed to help children and as a parent it would be hard not to support it.

jess1974

We are a family of 5 so holidays are expensive for us, but i've just booked a week in Spain for us half board for £1400 over the easter holidays.....
Previous years we would holiday in August but stay in the UK or camp in France, anything else was just too expensive.....

Bubby

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

in the end it's a rule designed to help children and as a parent it would be hard not to support it.

Or to help the schools absence records;)

blue_monkey_2

I am taking my kids out for 2 weeks next academic year. Our school gives 10 days (although apparently I am told the LEA is changing it to no days) authorised absence and if you need longer they tell you to make them down as sick.

I do not usually take my kids out in term time but we are going to Floria for 3 weeks - there is no point in going for a week at half term - also we a time when it is not too hot (cannot go in summer) hubby is on call from Xmas day to NY Day so cannot go then and Easter is too near to the end of year as they are preparing for their Sats. We also need to go a time when it is relatively quiet because my son has Autism and so does not like too many people around him. We usually go at Xmas/NY but cannot do it this year because of hubby working. So we are going October to straddle the half term and they'll be out for 2 weeks, possibly 12 days.

I've thought long and hard about this but it's the trip of a lifetime for us - we might not get the chance to do it again and stay where we are - so I am going. We was offered the accomodation and had to take it there and them so the rest of the holiday has been built around that.

Do I feel guilty? I do and I don't. I do because I feel they should be at school, I don't because we need to go at a time when it is relatively quiet and that time of year will be. But they do not miss days for anything other other than my son's hospital appointments. I guess I am fairly lucky (touch wood) that my kids are made of steel and never seen to get bugs.

However, we are not allowed to complain when they shut the school for 10 days because of the snow. Or that you drop them off and they say 'we might be closing at lunchtime because of the snow' or that you get a text asking to pick them up in an hour because the school is closing. Neither that I get a call because my daughter 'does not look well' and could I go and collect her. She is used to being in a house that is 20 degrees - school is usually at 30 degrees or more so she often looks flushed - all she needs is some fresh air and she is fine. Open the windows!! So it is swings and roundabouts as far as I am concerned.

My son's teacher is often out on courses - should they not run those outside of term time?

blue_monkey_2

Bubby wrote: »

Or to help the schools absence records;)

Yes, that is what is is for, so they do not have a high absence record. Or at least it is here. We was told this in our last school, which was under the same LEA.

If my son has a hospital appointment at 9.30 and I do not send him in until 10.30 he gets marked as absent. If he goes in at 8.45 and is marked in, I collect him at 9.00 and then bring him back at 10.30 he does not get an absence mark.

blue_monkey_2

Treacly wrote: »

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.

Utter. Crap. I have (how do you put it) a 'challenging child' - that would be because he has a disability. He still goes to school every day. I expect him to be taught the same as the other children in the class.

That is what happens when you take the money away from Kids that need it and give it to other 'more worthy projects', that children with disabilities become 'challenging'. They have reduced the funding for giving kids additional classroom help - and then wonder why they have 'challenging' children in the class.

I'd say it is more the other kids that make my son 'a challenge' with the nasty horrible things they do to him day in day out - he retaliates and then he becomes 'a challenge'. Of course, all perfect, lovely kids doing this clearly deserve to be there more than him - you know, the 'normal ones'.

So yes, I will be taking my son to Disneyland - and frankly it is him that deserves a break from the nasty horrible kids in his class who are able to do things to him all the time - things that I can do sod all about other than going telling the teacher the same thing every day, who of course 'did not notice that happening'.

elisamoose

blue_monkey wrote: »

Yes, that is what is is for, so they do not have a high absence record. Or at least it is here. We was told this in our last school, which was under the same LEA.

If my son has a hospital appointment at 9.30 and I do not send him in until 10.30 he gets marked as absent. If he goes in at 8.45 and is marked in, I collect him at 9.00 and then bring him back at 10.30 he does not get an absence mark.

that is because the school legally have to mark the register at the beginning of each school session and record absences accordingly. Schools don't make the rules!

maggied_2

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.

I do hope that if you have children either now or in the future that you home educate, seeing as you know sooo much better.

blue_monkey wrote: »

Utter. Crap. I have (how do you put it) a 'challenging child' - that would be because he has a disability. He still goes to school every day. I expect him to be taught the same as the other children in the class.

That is what happens when you take the money away from Kids that need it and give it to other 'more worthy projects', that children with disabilities become 'challenging'. They have reduced the funding for giving kids additional classroom help - and then wonder why they have 'challenging' children in the class.

I'd say it is more the other kids that make my son 'a challenge' with the nasty horrible things they do to him day in day out - he retaliates and then he becomes 'a challenge'. Of course, all perfect, lovely kids doing this clearly deserve to be there more than him - you know, the 'normal ones'.

So yes, I will be taking my son to Disneyland - and frankly it is him that deserves a break from the nasty horrible kids in his class who are able to do things to him all the time - things that I can do sod all about other than going telling the teacher the same thing every day, who of course 'did not notice that happening'.

BM - no offence but I think by 'challenging' the poster meant the badly behaved little b*ggers you mnention.

I think this is all about choices and priorities - this post comes up frequently.

What I don't understand is when people have children and then expect the school to dance to their tune because they deem a holiday more important than keeping their children in school. If you want to go on cheap holidays then either don't have children or home educate so that you can do what the hell you like. There are children in the world whose parents would give everything they had for the chance of an education - you reckon they'd be b*tching because they 'needed' a cheaper holiday to Florida?

Fly_Baby

Becles wrote: »

Once I explained it was for work reasons and not for cost reasons, the headmaster approved the holiday.

Is there anything wrong in genuine cost reasons?

kelloggs36

buzzyy wrote: »

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

Meaning more work for the teachers who already spend hours and hours outside of school time planning and preparing lessons and activities; without having to do extra because parents have decided to take their children on holiday! If they want them to learn they will send them to school.