taking kids out of school

zippybungle

I can see why people would need to take Kids out of School for a Holiday, for example I have 3 Children and if I wanted to take them on Holiday somewhere during the 6 weeks Holidays it would cost me an absolute fortune (luckily for me my Grandparents have a Holiday home which we can use for free, so that isn't a problem for us).

My 2 Boys are in Primary School and if you want to take your kids out of School, you have to fill a form in, which the School will either approve or decline. Factors like sick abscence, SATS, previous days off School etc are all taken into consideration.

Zippy x

Lunar_Eclipse

lisaloo1977 wrote: »

Children learn in the classroom, but they also learn through their parents and world experiences and as long as the two can meet in the middle i believe i will be providing the best for my childs future.

I agree 100%. Your son is going to be the product of his overall upbringing; these experiences will shape the man he becomes.

However, I have found that most people don't see the world, travel and education in this way. The three headteachers we have had seem incredibly supportive of education beyond the classroom and our current Head views positive family time as paramount to a child's happiness and success in life.

Re: the OP. I wouldn't hesitate to take children out of school for emergencies. I would also take them out for special/educational holidays (not Disneyland Paris) before they reach their GCSE + curriculum years.

We have actually taken ours out three times for long haul trips visiting DH's immediate family. It's not ideal, but it's a trade off concerning other aspects of our lives that are also very important given our personal family circumstances.

LJM

unless it was for an emergency or a appointment for them i couldnt rearrange then i wouldnt do it as i feel they would miss out

sueeve

Crisis, no problem.
Planned absence for leisure is something else, and I think you just have to weigh it up. Family wedding (close family) I would take mine out for, or possibly a few days of a holiday after negotiation with the school, especially with part of the family the other side of the world. But in general education does suffer. It's not just the actual lessons, it also sets an example to the child of priorities. (I had a year 12 in my tutor group go to the S of France for a week , with her parents, the week before her retakes!) The staff had worked hard to try to get her up to scratch. Why?

Of course this is an extreme example, but at some point it becomes wrong.

FatVonD

I wouldn't plan a whole holiday during term time but DS missed the last 2 days of term as it made a huge difference to the cost of our holiday to go the Thursday before rather than Saturday to Saturday.

As a working mum the worry is sometimes more that you've sent them to school when you shouldn't than the other way round. They should be tucked up in bed with a hot water bottle and instead you've sent them off to school with a couple of Paracetamol and a pat on the head:(

*Working mum guilt to the fore*

Mojisola

Of course your child benefits from two weeks' family holiday - we can all understand that.

What is harder to see is the effect on the progress of the whole class. In a 14 week term with a class of 30 pupils there will always be some unavoidable absences due to sickness. When you add to that the number of children missing because they're going on holiday or to family events, it can be very disruptive to the children's education. What if the parents of half the class took their children out for two week family holidays during term time?

Much of the learning in primary education is based on sequential progress. If the lessons taught in week 6 and 7 are missed, those have to be taught before the work in week 8 can be understood.

While the parents of the child who missed those weeks are no doubt happy that their child benefited from a family holiday, are you happy that your child's progress is slowed down while the teacher copes with helping yet another child catch up?

pollypenny

Obviously an emergency is just that and may mean taking your child out of school.

However, going for cheaper holidays in term time will cause problems. Often the teacher is expected to give up time to help the child catch up - but there's no way 3 or 4 hours of a particular topic can be made up.

Newly_retired

Emergencies- no problem.
Holidays and other optional absences ? Consider how you would feel if the teacher took such leave of absence in term time. S/he can't go on holiday just because the spouse has some leave or because it is cheaper.
As I teacher I was given compassionate leave when my elderly father was dying and I needed to be with Mum and take her to visit etc. I was very grateful but hated missing school. Fortunately someone was found to cover some of my classes but there was still admin to catch up after the funeral.
In my opinion that is how extreme it has to be for a teacher to take leave in term time and I believe parents should consider it just as seriously.
Progress is sequential. A child cannot just catch up with a text book. S/he will be missing practical work, oral work, listening to and participating in class discussions, then there are tests and assessments.

Jewel_2

I can't understand why people think it's less of a problem taking a younger child out of school than an older one. A senior school child is able to catch up and do extra homework, but primary schooling is the absolute foundation for a successful 'academic' future. Taking your own child out for a week may not be a problem, but imagine the class if someone was off on holiday each week.

I wouldn't take my daughter out during term time for holidays - and of course it is just as expensive for me as anyone else. We go camping instead, and the argument that 'you learn a lot of other things' still rings true if you go in the holidays - even camping!

My DD is in senior school and it is her primary education that will get her through to 16 now. Don't do it! It is detrimental, whether you go to Rhyl or Easter Island!

Jewel_2

eezer wrote: »

I have no problem in taking my kids out of school for a holiday. With two working parents and difficulty planning/taking leave in school holidays, the family time we spend together is very important. They'll be grown up and gone all too soon. Their education hasn't suffered and they meet all their targets. We have quite an understanding head, although ultimately, I'd go anyway.

We are in the same position as you - both working full time, at least. I would never do it - we manage family time at weekends and try to take holiday during summer time, at Christmas etc, although it is difficult. You have to weigh up 'family gone too soon' with 'family cannot be independent because they didn't get a formal academic education'. If you go anyway without permission your kids can be thrown out of school, can't they?