Holidays with kids in school time, have you done it?

kelloggs36

I would say that the very last week in the summer term would be the least disruptive week -lots of wind down activities as a general rule (in primary schools certainly) and no new stuff being brought in. Any other time is a nightmare for the school and other children.

bestpud

I've never expected a teacher to help my child catch up but I guess some parents do and I can see that makes life harder for teachers.

However, I would argue parents who do nothing to help their child read at home, or support them with homework etc are worse than supportive parents who take their child out for a week.

My eldest daughter had to share a computer every week in her ICT class because they were one short and they couldn't do it with a rota because there was only two of them who didn't kick off and disrupt the entire lesson!!!

Therefore, a child on holiday was great as far as we were concerned.

My son was also left to get on with it because he was quiet and I had to listen to the parents of the worst behaved children telling me how great they were doing! Well, yes, because the teacher gave them pretty much one to one attention just to keep the little bar stewards happy!!

I really wish they'd been taken on holiday more as my children would have received a better education!!!

It's not black and white so it is entirely wrong to say it is perfectly acceptable to take a child out of school at will BUT it is also wrong to say they are the selfish parents for doing so!

There is just too much to consider before anyone can judge whether someone is selfish or a bad parent for doing what seems right for their child.

Jinx

kelloggs36 wrote: »

Those things don't disappear during the school holidays though - you can always give them the pleasure of visiting these places when it is least disruptive to the school and your child by saving up for longer if you can't afford to do it in the year you want to!

Of course you are correct, these fabulous places dont disappear outside the school hols.

But why should I not take my daughter out at a time that suits me as the parent; suits my work and suits my budget? It may be disruptive to the school but thats not my only consideration; you have your work to consider, I have mine. I dont have 23 children to consider, only 1.

I can of course only speak for myself but it worked for us and I have no regrets at all. My daughters education didnt suffer and shes a hard working, well-travelled young woman who is now at Uni.

I was always fully supportive of my daughters teachers and none of them ever raised her holidays as an issue, nor did her Head.

gratefulforhelp_2

Jinx wrote: »

I can of course only speak for myself but it worked for us and I have no regrets at all. My daughters education didnt suffer and shes a hard working, well-travelled young woman who is now at Uni.

That's lovely and very pleasing news, but it doesn't mean that in general, taking kids out of school is a good idea.

At our school, the kids have to get a form signed by all of their teachers before the absence is "authorised" where we can record any disadvantage the child will suffer - coursework missed, tests/exam prep missed and so on...then at least the parent has a clear idea of any disruption caused.

Mojisola

bestpud wrote: »

I've never expected a teacher to help my child catch up but I guess some parents do and I can see that makes life harder for teachers.

How do you think it happens then? If a child has missed two weeks of school, they have to be given extra teacher time to go over all the new lessons that were dealt with in their absence.

TheSaint_2

I was never taken out of school for a holiday as a child - but I would do the same for my children if I felt it necessary - and that it was not at a critical point in their education.

Lets face it - there are only a couple of critical points in a childs education
Children are very adaptive - does a child suddenly lose all prospects of getting a job because it was in bed for a week ill? no... So a holiday would have even less effect.
I wouldn't hide the fact that i was taking my child out for a week's holiday, nor would I pay any fine if one were to be levvied.
Having said that the fines that I have heard about have been given to council trash parents that let their children roam the streets rather than go to school every day - so I don't think you have anything to worry about there.

As far as the teachers argument goes - some teachers are very good, some are very bad, but it doesn't really have any bearing on the OP's aim of this thread.
If work was missed I would consider it my responsibility as a parent to ensure my children caught up quickly - not the teachers. But they invariably do anyway

shellsuit

I have done in the past with the older 2 and I would again with the little man.

I wouldn't take them out in years 9-11 though, nor revision or exam times.

Spendless

Mojisola wrote: »

How do you think it happens then? If a child has missed two weeks of school, they have to be given extra teacher time to go over all the new lessons that were dealt with in their absence.

Do they? I can't say that's ever been the case with mine. The last time my DS had a week off school it was with swine flu, shortly after his return I went to parents evening and said he has a weakness in literacy and the teacher said "yes, unfortunately we spent the week he was off sick covering this so he missed out and we've now moved onto another topic".
There was no question of her going back over it, she hadn't time and I accepted that, so if they don't do it for illness, why would they do it for holidays?

bestpud

Mojisola wrote: »

How do you think it happens then? If a child has missed two weeks of school, they have to be given extra teacher time to go over all the new lessons that were dealt with in their absence.

We find out from other children or parents what has been covered and I do it with them. Sorry to be rude but it's not rocket science!

Mrs_Arcanum

If you have approval from the Head Teacher I cannot see any problems with holidays in term time. Head Teachers will consider attendance and achievement and decide accordingly. Parents who care about their children's education will respect the HT decision. Those who don't will probably not bother to ask in the first place and claim some spurious illness.

Our holiday to Florida would NEVER have been affordable for us in School Holidays as as fast as we saved the prices go up/children get charged at adult rates. At least they have some fabulous memories.