School declined holidays and branded the kids truants

poet123

The easiest way around it would be to have the 10 day rule applied across the board, have OFSTED start from that premise, and for that type of absence be outside the stats calculation and apply it rigorously and without exception.

That will not happen, because of sectors who need special dispensation, and because a lot of stats ofsted (and other educational monitoring tools) use unfair collection methods.

For example, when we are graded at work, if several students are absent for whatever reason, and class size falls below a certain figure, or the resources in a classroom when we are randomly inspected are not great, the highest figure we can get is a 3 (scale is 1-4) this is patently unfair, as these are issues outside our control, but that is how it works. So, until the way stats are used (and abused) in education changes, rules will never be fairly applied.

sunshinetours

blue_monkey wrote: »

Why is it a shame? If the holiday was given to him because of these circumstances do you think other parents would not be up in arms when they found out Boy x was allowed 10 days off last month to go on holiday? We already suffer because of his disability let alone giving the parents more ammunition to flame my son with this is why the 10 day rule is good, everyone gets the benefit. The rule is there already for 10 days.

This is why it has to be a one size fits all approach and which is why 10 days should be standard across all schools if the rule already exists. Different rules for different children/parents should not be given otherwise bullying WILL occur. Should a child have a high level of unattendance then yes, the holiday would probably not be granted, however, that person is unlikely not to worry about asking permission anyhow. But to single out children or parents because they have a disability is very, very wrong because it will lead to the child concerned being bullied and singled out by other kids who have had their parents ram stuff into their head not to talk to him and crap like that as they have not been given permission to take the same time off. Children with disabilities already suffer enough at the hands of some awful kids let alone tarring them for some more.

I wish you and your child nothing but happy times together. As you say i am sure you all have to deal with stuff that others don't.

My point I was making (and will leave now) had nothing to do with the reasons you have now posted

jeferey

jackieblack wrote: »

Lucky you!
My point is, not everyone is as fortunate.
I know lots of people whose employer has shutdown periods and no-one can have any holiday outside of those times.

Legally they can, and many do.
Believe me - we have been there and have the scars to prove it!

Where I work, I get 10 weeks holiday a year but every single day is fixed (not public sector - manufacturing, disciplinary offence if you choose a different date) and as I am in a different area to where we live, the weeks don't always correspond.
I am very forunate to have as many holidays as I do and always TRY to keep the kids in school, however it is necessary sometimes to ask for an extra day off for the kids. We have recently got back from Turkey and the flights were Monday to Monday so we asked for (and got) 1 day's authorised absence. I had 2 weeks off, they only had 1. For our next holiday we are staying in the UK and no extra time will be required. I personally think 10 days off school through choice (illness is another matter) is way too much but sometimes it is necessary to have some time off in term time even if it only to preserve the parent's sanity :rotfl:.
It has been very interesting reading this thread and everyone's different viewpoints.

littlemissbossy

blue_monkey wrote: »

But that would not stop someone taking under 5's on holiday would it as they do not have to go to school. You could be stuck next to someone with 4 kids under 5 during term time. What would you prefer, kids playing or babies crying? This is very true, I've just come back from Las Vegas,10-11 hour flight and there were 2 very young children on board maybe 3 years and 6 months, they did a lot of crying.

If you don't want kids around you then you could quite easily go to an 'adults only' resort or a resort that only caters for couples then you would not have that 'risk' of having your holiday 'ruined' by someone else's children. I do, try Warner Holidays great!

It's like people who go to family restaurants and them complain that there are too many kids. There are plenty of pubs/restaurants with no play areas, people shouldn't complain if they choose the wrong one.

Thanks I agree, answers in red.

Murphy_The_Cat

jeferey wrote: »

For our next holiday we are staying in the UK and no extra time will be required.
It has been very interesting reading this thread and everyone's different viewpoints.

Like you, I take quite a few breaks in the UK (never had a bad one yet:j) and I prefer cottage holidays. The cottage industry seems to have changed in these last few years, with more and more of the cottages renting from Fri-Fri rather than Sat-Sat.
Its a real PITA, as unless your staying very close to home, you've the option of losing the best part of a day of your holiday, or taking your child out of school.
Neither of which is ideal.

blue_monkey_2

I wonder why that is? Butlins used to do Sat-Sat but now do Fri-Fri too. A Friday never feels like a 'holiday day' to me. I wonder if it is so that people get a full day Saturday when they tale a weekend break.

jeferey

blue_monkey wrote: »

I wonder why that is? Butlins used to do Sat-Sat but now do Fri-Fri too. A Friday never feels like a 'holiday day' to me. I wonder if it is so that people get a full day Saturday when they tale a weekend break.

Is it so they can get people in on long weekends (Fri - Mon) and mid-week breaks (Mon - Fri)?

sunshinetours

jeferey wrote: »

Is it so they can get people in on long weekends (Fri - Mon) and mid-week breaks (Mon - Fri)?

As you say fewer change over days means less staff days presumably for cleaning etc. However at the bigger places it also means more queues checking in I would guess!
Not ideal for half term holidays and such though as the first day is likely to be last day of term etc

flossy_splodge

sunshinetours wrote: »

Thanks for your concern over my naivety, but there is no real need. Also sorry you overreacted to my post and got your blood presure up

Quite clearly your own children have had a rather different upbringing from most and I am sure it has suited them well. Shame you feel the need to generalise about "the products of todays schooling"
Comes from being firstly a teacher, then a governor and then an invigilator and finally a tutor.
If I had to approximate a figure I'd say over 50% of schools need serious attention, teaching standards are poor, class discipline is dire and the outcome is ill educated ill disciplined youngsters who think they have 'rights' because for years now that's all they've heard and do not appear to understand that with 'rights' come responsibilities.
My posts have mainly been directed at the (IMO) rather self centered and selfish parents who value their own week on a beach in an AI resort / week at a holiday camp in term time purely because its cheaper

If that doesn't teach blatant flouting of the rules for one's own purpose then I don't know what does??

Some of your other points I agree with but they have very little to do with this thread

I have tried to teach my DD's that no-one needs to slavishly follow someone else's dictats, that they are entitled to examine rules and then to raise questions if they feel the need (albeit politely and courteously) and then they are entitled to make their own decisions.
If more people were aware that they have the freedom to question and examine the parameters around them we might have a happier nation instead of one, IMO that is made up of large numbers of lovely folk who are frustrated beyond belief by the strictures laid down but somehow don't seem to think they 'ought' to question things.
I am constantly in demand to sort out issues with 'authority' because so few people feel confident taking on the dreaded 'AUTHORITY'.
My children, I am pleased to say feel free to question anyone and anything at will, including me.:rotfl:
Long may it continue.:T

poet123

flossy_splodge wrote: »

I have tried to teach my DD's that no-one needs to slavishly follow someone else's dictats, that they are entitled to examine rules and then to raise questions if they feel the need (albeit politely and courteously) and then they are entitled to make their own decisions.
If more people were aware that they have the freedom to question and examine the parameters around them we might have a happier nation instead of one, IMO that is made up of large numbers of lovely folk who are frustrated beyond belief by the strictures laid down but somehow don't seem to think they 'ought' to question things.
I am constantly in demand to sort out issues with 'authority' because so few people feel confident taking on the dreaded 'AUTHORITY'.
My children, I am pleased to say feel free to question anyone and anything at will, including me.:rotfl:
Long may it continue.:T

Are we related? I have raised 2 Lawyers!! and my career path, and my conclusions about education are in accord with yours.:D