Taking children out of school in term time

Murphy_The_Cat

Going on from a very popular, but sadly closed thread in this section................................

We've just asked for 'permission' to take our 6 year old out of school for a week in October. To which we got this reply
" Dear Mr Cat
I am happy to give MTK permission to have a weeks absence from school from Oct 18th to Oct 22nd. It is not always possible to take your holidays at a time that fits in with the LEA calender, I authorise his absence and hope you all have a fantastic holiday.

Yours
The Head.

So, even in 2010, common sense is still alive and kicking in some parts of the country.

melb

my god that is unheard of in my school

Moonchild

Our lil one starts school in January, and we're lucky enough to be on the doorstep of a highly sought after primary school.

However I noted the OFSTED reports weren't quite as glowing as i'd expect for such a popular school. Upon enquiring why I was told it's results were affected by a policy that allowed parents to remove children from school for up to 10 days a school year for holidays. This apparently is a policy enshrined by the head and at odds with the Local Authority, and apparently has a baring on some of the measurements used against schools.

I'm very happy and fully support the school, and will probably utilise this (obviously if I can take our daughter away during the holidays I will).

Anyway, Murphy, here's to having well rounded and worldy educated children :beer:

(Sits back to watch it all kick-off).

balletshoes

OFSTED reports on schools are only an indication of the school on the day the inspectors turned up really, along with exam results and attendance records, which obviously are affected if the school allows up to 10 days off in termtime (as my daughters school does).

Good on your school for sending such a sensible letter OP, I don't even get a response, except for the office manager at school who always asks where we're going, and to have a lovely time .

Murphy_The_Cat

Moonchild wrote: »

However I noted the OFSTED reports weren't quite as glowing as i'd expect for such a popular school. Upon enquiring why I was told it's results were affected by a policy that allowed parents to remove children from school for up to 10 days a school year for holidays. This apparently is a policy enshrined by the head and at odds with the Local Authority, and apparently has a baring on some of the measurements used against schools.

I'm very happy and fully support the school, and will probably utilise this (obviously if I can take our daughter away during the holidays I will).

Anyway, Murphy, here's to having well rounded and worldy educated children :beer:

(Sits back to watch it all kick-off).

It could be the same school that me lad attends

From the previous thread, I make no apology for repeating this

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Yesterday, I booked my holiday for next year, which will mean that I need to take MTK out of school for 4 days, in the Spring & I asked for permission/informed the Head.

"No problem" she says.
"Family time is crucial" she says
"The schools record for permitted abscence is very poor,(as in, it is a lot) and I'm getting my ear bent about it all the time, but the authorities have got to realise that there are some things in life that are a lot more important than ticks in a column" she says
"Its only a small school and we have a very high percentage of parents who are self employed, own small businesses or who work in agriculture, and a lot of time, for those people, it is impossible for them to take holidays in school holiday time" she says
"I'm not going to be the one who stops a family having some holiday time together to keep the penpushers happy" she says

etc, etc, etc.

For me it was a truly refreshing change to hear someone talking absolute common sense AND matching her words with deeds.

Moonchild

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

It could be the same school that me lad attends

"Its only a small school and we have a very high percentage of parents who work in agriculture

Not many farms in this part of North London

So that's at least 2 sensible schools out there then!

BillTrac

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Going on from a very popular, but sadly closed thread in this section................................

We've just asked for 'permission' to take our 6 year old out of school for a week in October. To which we got this reply
" Dear Mr Cat
I am happy to give MTK permission to have a weeks abscence from school from Oct 18th to Oct 22nd. It is not always possible to take your holidays at a time that fits in with the LEA calender, I authorise his abscence and hope you all have a fantastic holiday.

Yours
The Head.

So, even in 2010, common sense is still alive and kicking in some parts of the country.

I really, really hope you typed the reply in incorrectly, because if a head teacher spells absence like that I would think a godsend the child wasn't there...:rotfl:

Murphy_The_Cat

BillTrac wrote: »

I really, really hope you typed the reply in incorrectly, because if a head teacher spells absence like that I would think a godsend the child wasn't there...:rotfl:

that particular typo is all mine :o:o:rotfl:

delwynshd

well thats a cheaper holiday for you this year lol

Murphy_The_Cat

delwynsholidaydeals wrote: »

well thats a cheaper holiday for you this year lol

the cost is irrelevant to me.** For me, its all about basic parental control, rather than slavishly following a Diktat foisted on you by the State.




** our holidays are a big deal to us, regardless of where we go and how much they cost :beer:

delwynshd

Good, you get what you pay for so they say

Hope you find something nice

Del