taking children out of school for holidays in term time

Becles

Fly_Baby wrote: »

Is there anything wrong in genuine cost reasons?

Just what our school said.

For our holiday I noticed the cost shoots right up for May week, so we haven't really saved compared to going in the summer holidays.

Takoda

I teach and I don't have a problem with term time holidays especially when they take their kids to places like Egypt because it is our topic this term. How cool is that!

Becles

Takoda wrote: »

I teach and I don't have a problem with term time holidays especially when they take their kids to places like Egypt because it is our topic this term. How cool is that!

That happened to one of my sons! We went to Mexico in the Easter hols, and then they studied Chichen Itza in the summer term. He was able to take in loads of photographs and a book we bought there, and he was able to tell the class loads of information. The teacher said he even knew some stuff that she didn't :rotfl:

Takoda

Becles wrote: »

That happened to one of my sons! We went to Mexico in the Easter hols, and then they studied Chichen Itza in the summer term. He was able to take in loads of photographs and a book we bought there, and he was able to tell the class loads of information. The teacher said he even knew some stuff that she didn't :rotfl:

Excellent! I bet he enjoyed being the class expert.

Last year one of my Y3 children did a talk on the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. I found myself visiting Amsterdam for a concert last May and he'd made the museum sound so interesting I just HAD to go! He was seriously impressed when I told him.

bestpud

kelloggs36 wrote: »

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.

I thought that!

It's one thing to request work of the child is ill, or cannot attend for reasons beyond your control, but it's a bit cheeky to book a holiday in term time and then request the teacher do extra work for it.

Also, if a family holiday is that important, why on earth would people request school work for their children?

I thought the whole idea is to spend time as a family, relaxing and the like...

welshmoneylover

mspig wrote: »

Most families who do take their kids on holiday in term time do it for money reasons.

True, but there are also families who have to comply with the holiday rules from the work place. Not every can get the time off to match school holidays.

In my place of work we cannot have easter nor christmas off and I'm sure other firms have their own rules.

What about couples needing to book the same time off work? That can also be difficult depending on the job.

All sorts of reasons exist for people taking kids out of term time and I'm sure most of them don't do so lightly.

My tuppence..:)

gregg1

blue_monkey wrote: »

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?

My OH's school opened during February half term to compensate for the snow days. Roughly 10% of the students turned up !!

Why should teachers have to do the courses during their holiday? would you?

NEH

There may be an odd exception to the rule but generally these rules are in place for a reason....Whilst i understand the costs and maybe something should be done about that I do think that if the parents are willing to break the rules how will the children understand that rules aren't to be broken if the parents don't set the example....

jackieblack

This is the advice given by DirectGov: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/SchoolLife/DG_4016103

Holidays during term time

You should not normally take your child on holiday in term time as it can be disruptive both to your child's education and to the school.
Holidays in term time can only be agreed by the headteacher or someone with appropriate authority. Schools can use their discretion to grant up to 10 days’ authorised absence in a school year if both:

• the parent the child normally lives with applies to the school in advance of the holiday
• there are special reasons for the holiday

Schools can only agree to more than 10 school days’ absence in any school year in exceptional circumstances.
Schools must judge each holiday request on a case by case basis. They can take into consideration:

• the time of year for the proposed trip
• if it's near any exam dates
• your child's overall attendance pattern
• any holidays already taken in the school year
• the age and stage of education of your child
• your wishes
• the ability of your child to catch up the work that they have missed
• the reason why you are taking the time off during term time

Schools should not take into consideration:

• availability of cheap holidays
• availability of desired accommodation
• poor weather experienced in school holiday periods
• overlap with the beginning or end of term

red_devil

i think its draconian and i disagree that parents who want a holiday should be lambasted in this way while parents who are out there drinking, smoking, swearing taking up with horrible new boyfriends, and doing all manner of horrible things in front of heir kids get away with it!

someone should mention this take on it?