Taking children out of school in term time

julie2710

jackieblack wrote: »

Surely the laws of 'supply and demand' dictate that prices will be higher at peak times, when demand is greatest.

If it were up to me I'd stagger the school holidays, county by county, to avoid the peaks of demand.:D

As long as people continue to pay peak-time prices (and some people do just accept that if they want to have a holiday during peak times then they have to pay peak prices) tour operators will continue to charge them!

More the laws of supply and demand along with maximising profit margins!!!

Accepting the peak prices is fine if you have the money to do so! Unfortunately we're not all in such a financially comfortable position.

Murphy_The_Cat

maemaesmummy wrote: »

no its the LEA :mad: it came into force last year

ouch, that seems ridiculously OTT nasty to me.

Time to join an 'alternative' religion that 'requires' you to worship at certain times of the year ;);):D

jackieblack

julie2710 wrote: »

Accepting the peak prices is fine if you have the money to do so! Unfortunately we're not all in such a financially comfortable position.

That's a whole other discussion!

Someone who scrimps and scrapes and goes without other things in order to be able to afford to occasionally do something they consider more of a priority, is not the same as 'financially comfortable'.:)

stargazer59

I am taking my son out of school in two weeks time. I booked our holiday when we lived in another area that has 2 weeks holiday in October half term.

I informed the head by letter and received a reply stating that it is LEA policy not to allow any holiday during term time, so he was unable to authorise it .He went on to say he was sure it would be educational for my son,( we are visiting Caribbean Islands)
then at the end of the letter he stated that we are allowed to take 10 days a year family holidays.CONFUSED? Me too!!!

Murphy_The_Cat

stargazer59 wrote: »

I am taking my son out of school in two weeks time. I booked our holiday when we lived in another area that has 2 weeks holiday in October half term.

I informed the head by letter and received a reply stating that it is LEA policy not to allow any holiday during term time, so he was unable to authorise it .He went on to say he was sure it would be educational for my son,( we are visiting Caribbean Islands)
then at the end of the letter he stated that we are allowed to take 10 days a year family holidays.CONFUSED? Me too!!!

thats when it makes things damned difficult !!!

you try and do the 'right' thing and you get very mixed messages from the school.

jackieblack

maemaesmummy wrote: »

no its the LEA :mad: it came into force last year

Are you sure? That's not what their website says - http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/atoz/a_to_z/service.asp?u_id=1164&tab=3&siteid=258&pageid=400&e=e#anchor2427

Authorised Absence

If your child is ill or unable to attend school for some reason, you need to contact the school by telephone and/or letter to inform them. The school may then "authorise" this absence.
The following may be authorised by the school:

• Close family wedding
• Entertainment (see Children in Entertainment)
• Holiday in term time (Parents should ask permission first ....by law, the school can refuse)
• Short term emergency
• Certain days for religious observation
• Bereavement
• Dentist or doctors' appointment (try to make appointments outside school time)
• Hospital treatment

Please note that the decision to authorise absences rests with schools and not parents

jackieblack

stargazer59 wrote: »

I am taking my son out of school in two weeks time. I booked our holiday when we lived in another area that has 2 weeks holiday in October half term.

I informed the head by letter and received a reply stating that it is LEA policy not to allow any holiday during term time, so he was unable to authorise it .He went on to say he was sure it would be educational for my son,( we are visiting Caribbean Islands)
then at the end of the letter he stated that we are allowed to take 10 days a year family holidays.CONFUSED? Me too!!!

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

thats when it makes things damned difficult !!!

you try and do the 'right' thing and you get very mixed messages from the school.

My understanding is that headteachers can authorise up to 10 days per year in certain circumstances, having considered the guidelines. ( http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/SchoolLife/DG_4016103 )

Discrepancies can and do occur because it is up to each headteacher's judgement and some headteachers interpret the guidelines more sympathetically than others.

There is no 'allowance' or 'entitlement' for parents to take children out of school during term time

Murphy_The_Cat

jackieblack wrote: »

Discrepancies can and do occur because it is up to each headteacher's judgement and some headteachers interpret the guidelines more sympathetically than others.

& do you think that some headteachers abdicte their responsibilities, by
claiming that there hands are tied by LEA policy, rather that giving a yay or nay off their own back ? I suspect that some will quite happlily do this.

jackieblack

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

& do you think that some headteachers abdicte their responsibilities, by
claiming that there hands are tied by LEA policy, rather that giving a yay or nay off their own back ? I suspect that some will quite happlily do this.

As with a lot of things in life, it pays to do bit of research, get your facts straight and know exactly where you stand.

It's a good idea to find out your LEAs policy before approaching the child's headteacher, then parents can word their letter 'appropriately'.

kelloggs36

jackieblack wrote: »

Surely the laws of 'supply and demand' dictate that prices will be higher at peak times, when demand is greatest.

If it were up to me I'd stagger the school holidays, county by county, to avoid the peaks of demand.:D and the holiday companies will just extend the peak period in order to cover the holidays - they will always win

As long as people continue to pay peak-time prices (and some people do just accept that if they want to have a holiday during peak times then they have to pay peak prices) tour operators will continue to charge them!

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