Taking children out of school in term time

Murphy_The_Cat

Spendless wrote: »

Because as I have pointed out on another thread, just like school staff can't take their holidays to suit a different industry, so too are the situations reversed.

The other thread being in the families board, and Murphy you chicken I see you kept away from there.:p;)

I don't venture into the families section - there be dragons over yonder :beer:

malkie76 wrote: »

But not impossible. Alternatively, have you considered changing jobs or industries? I'm just pointing out that it's not a valid explanation for taking your child out of school.

Mrs Cat & I own our Company & support quite a few local families & a use the services of a lot of local businesses, via that Company. Its in a very relevant trade to the holiday trade and that's what what would make it difficult. So given the choice of losing my business, my home & my employees, as well as contributing to the employment of quite a few other people, I'll stick with Plan A. Besideswhich, the Had is perfectly happy with us sing what we are doing, so its win win all around.



This is entirely at odds with the point you are trying to make about education being dynamic and not necessarily conventional. I'm aware that the final week of term is less 'maths-and-english', and more 'games-and-fun'. However, isn't that social interaction with other children exactly the sort of 'different' education that is important for all children, rather than memorising a '9-times-table'

I don't think that keeping him in school for the last week doss, so that he can play with his mates is a good enough reason to keep him in school, especially when he has (IMO) a much better alternative on offer.
Its not all good news taking that particular week however. He's going to miss an away Rugby match and he's disappointed about that.



But this risk (however small) can be avoided - so why do it?

My son is a bright lad who is chugging along ever so fair at school - look at it this way, it'll give the other children an opportunity to catch him up, a bit (typed with tongue FIRMLY in cheek). In fairness, if he was behind, a malingerer, a dosser, or a bit backwards at coming forwards, we wouldn't be doing it.

Murphy_The_Cat

BillTrac wrote: »

I'm a bit of an old git now. But we took our two daughters out of school during term time in 1990,1992 and 1994. Girls of 3.5 and 6 on the first trip. Lots more since then but not so much in term time.

They both learnt so much more about the wider world than they would ever have learnt while in school.

Both now in full time employment, one a restaurant manager and the other a teacher.

And they both remember the holidays we went on.

I reckon that the world is a place to learn about in real life, not limited through reading about it in books.

Mind you, if Spain is your destination I might change my mind...:rotfl:

& like you say, they've turned out well.:beer:

As for Spain, I wouldn't know, as I've never been !

Murphy_The_Cat

stephb34 wrote: »

I didn't check the OFSTED reports when my daughter started infants, i just sent her to our nearest school where there were 12 in her class when she started. The OFSTED reports obviously werent as glowing because the school further up the road had 30 in their class of the same year. Well done to schools with common sense :T

I thought that OFSTED judged on what they saw and that class sizes had nowt to do with it, but I may be wrong.

My son's class has is a lot smaller than 12, the OFSTED reports are good (but they get marked down for permitted absence ) and in most areas they seem to have a common sense approach to things (But a much more competitive, winning, leading ethos would, IMO, be a big improvement)

stephb34

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

I thought that OFSTED judged on what they saw and that class sizes had nowt to do with it, but I may be wrong.

Sorry didn't make myself clear, when daughter started OFSTED not as good as it is now so less children in her class as they went to the other local school that had better ofsted. Now ofsted is better more parents jumping on band wagon of ours being a better school than the other one therefore making the class sizes bigger, i think 22 is the max per class at our school.

jackieblack

Good news for you Murph!

Where you off to this time then? No planning thread this year?

bestpud

DD's school allow parents to take children on holiday but they were sweating a bit last summer as they were due an OFSTED inspection and knew they could only receive a 'Good' rating if attendance was below a certain percentage, no matter how brilliant everything else is.

As it was they were graded 'outstanding' and one of the most positive elements noted is the parent/school relationship.

It makes a huge difference to have a HT happy to 'risk' a common sense approach!

Hope you have a good holiday! :j

morocha

My 3yo started reception... i have to go to school on monday to ask about some holidays we booked 3 months ago. ( 1 time parent i had no clue about school and terms at all.
they sent as a letter saying that we can take up to 2 weeks a year !! it is so great... cos in October we go to Majorca and in April like every year we go to Malaga during the Easter holidays, so we wont be taking time off from school. Great!

sunshinetours

Common sense is indeed often best.

Going on holiday at a certain time just because it keeps parental control with you rather than going in school holidays is not common sense but bloody mindedness (IMO of course) but I may of course have misinterpreted your comments

karenmay33

i always take my son out of school for a few days before or after school holiday, the school allows 10 days a year but do ask if in a certain yr like yr2 or yr6 to avoid taking them out in may because of the SATS

debsy72

We take our 3 skiing in term time mainly because we avoid the english and french school hols like the plague. Far too busy on the slopes and their confidence gets knocked. Plus we have close family in the resort we stay so they are benefiting from that too! (see their cousin)
When filling the 'request for absence' form, I always add that they are having their French, PE, numeracy (albeit Euros), literacy (bedtime reading), geography while they are away. Never had it refused yet!
Also the school closed for a day due to the snow when we were away this yr so only 4 days off!
My 4.5 yr old can already say hello, goodbye, please and count to 10 in French.

Going for Xmas this year for the first time so have to battle the crowds this time in the school hols :D