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

sillygoose

Trying to book a holiday at the moment last week August & 1st Week September as ours don't go back until the week after, that second week being in September makes a huge difference to the cost (-£1000 to a week earlier), its still all a rip-off - the holiday I have been planning just went up £140 due to fuel charges - bloody Gadaffi!

Curiously its mainly the wealthiest parents at our school that take kids away during term, they don't seem to like to go away when us peasants (who are paying through the nose for the pleasure) are out there. Perhaps thats how you get to be wealthy? hmm!

*Louise*

Bloomin_Freezing2 wrote: »

Just wondered what reason you gave your schools for taking children out for a holiday during term time. (I am not looking for a ticking off or to be told if I can't afford a holiday during the school breaks then don't book one )

I would tell them the truth, kids can't lie to back up any made up story, and I wouldn't expect them to anyway.

Mine are at primary, and our school doesn't have a problem with kids going on holiday, they only ask that we let them know in advance.

At age 6 she won't be missing all that much anyway - just ask the teacher for some work she can do while away - bit of reading/handwriting/spelling won't take too long to get done.

The part that would annoy me though if I were you is if they DARED to tell me off about it!! It's been a long time since anyone gave me a ticking off and I'm damn sure it wouldn't be happening just because I wanted to do something nice for my children

moggylover

littlemissfrugal wrote: »

we have take holidays in school time and the main problem for us apart from cost is that both my husband and i work in retail so its extremely difficult to get time off during the school holidays as they are seen as peak trading weeks and then factor trying to get the same time off its a nightmare, also as we are all quite fair to go abroad during the high summer is useless as we end up staying in the room for most of the day we usually take out main hols in October after they have settled back to school request work to do whilst away and also try and do a topic on the place we are visiting just to keep the brain active. My DD is year 5 and we have done it this way since she started school she is very bright and has only had 3 off sick days in her whole school life so her attendance is otherwise excellent. This year as we will be choosing secondary school for next September we are going late August so as to be around for all the open evenings in Sept/Oct we are aware that is will be difficult to take family holidays once she starts secondary school.

and I feel that I actually do pay for my childs education through my taxes and to be honest it falls way short of giving value for money but thats another topic

Indeed, we do all pay for our childrens education through our taxes, but also with the added input of other people taxes (the vast majority of us are not paying £18/£20K per year in tax, which is the minimum it might cost to actually put them into a private schoo and actually, a large proportion of the people paying £18/20K plus tax per annum probably DO go private) which makes state education a great deal cheaper for parents with even only one child than directly funding it would be.

I still believe that if we did actually have to direct fund instead of through the back-door of taxation we would see less parents wanting to take their children out of school in term-time:) Sometimes it is only by actually handing over the cash that we truly appreciate something properly (and I say that despite being a staunch socialist who would fight tooth and nail to prevent our state education system being privatised/adulterated in any way:)).

diddyangel

My daughters school will authorise up to 10 days for term time holidays as long as attendence is above 95% for the rest of the year.

We usually go away for a week over the May half term but fly out the Thurs/Fri before or fly back on the Mon/Tues after so she only misses a day or two. I don't like doing it but it saves so much money that way.

Last year we went to Zante on the Tues of half term for £1036 - for a family of 4. The exact same holiday flying out on the Saturday was £1982. I just could not justify paying over £900 extra - almost double - and to be honest, I don't think 2 days education is worth the extra £900!!!

Bloomin_Freezing2

*Louise* wrote: »

I would tell them the truth, kids can't lie to back up any made up story, and I wouldn't expect them to anyway.

Mine are at primary, and our school doesn't have a problem with kids going on holiday, they only ask that we let them know in advance.

At age 6 she won't be missing all that much anyway - just ask the teacher for some work she can do while away - bit of reading/handwriting/spelling won't take too long to get done.

The part that would annoy me though if I were you is if they DARED to tell me off about it!! It's been a long time since anyone gave me a ticking off and I'm damn sure it wouldn't be happening just because I wanted to do something nice for my children

Exactly! What I'll do is see what their topic is the week after oct half term and get a book from the library to take with us. We can read it whilst we're away. I'm the sort of mum who enjoys colouring, cutting and sticking so she could always put together a little scrap book on her return to take into school with my help.

kendalls_cave

When I was at secondary mum always took me out of school in May for our holidays ( not abroad just to seaside) cos she couldn't afford it in the holidays (single parent)

It was OK, but I remember every year been called into the deputy head's office to explain why we couldn't go in holiday time instead of school time

summerday

*Louise* wrote: »

I just ask the teacher for some work she can do while away

Because obviously we teachers don't have enough work to do! I know parents who ask for work for their kids to do while they pull them out of school for holidays mean well, but expecting teachers to sort out work in advance (the work that the rest of the class may well not be photocopied or prepared yet) like this creates an extra burden for us. Imagine if the parents of all 30 children in a class asked for catchup work in this way at different times during the year...

I really do sympathise as the prices are so much higher in school holidays and means that families have to sacrifice more to be able to afford it, but taking a child away for even a week means they could miss a whole unit in Literacy or Numeracy, which can mean gaps in knowledge for even brighter children.

There's no easy solution, and while I'm NOT advocating term time holidays, the end of a term is far better to take kids out, when things are winding down, rather than at the start of a term, usually I go straight into normal work regime at the start of each term.

pollypenny

pigpen wrote: »

I think children gain so much more from a holiday than a week in school obv. unless exams etc.


I have known teachers go on holiday in term time (though usually they pull a sicky I know a lot of teachers) but shush they pretend they don't do that.

/QUOTE]



Your first point is way off; the introduction and teaching of a topic is actually far more important than the exam which tests it. I know to my cost having missed the intro of algebra - pleurisy, not a holiday!

Secondly, I don't know how a teacher could go off on holiday, while pulling a sickie. In North Wales we are expected to phone in work daily.

pupsicola

Ive done it twice. Once said we were attending a wedding and the other time a funeral. Got a tad embarrassing when the teacher asked ds for any pictures of his aunties wedding!!! Its amazing how many kids do take time off during the school year not just at the beginning or end of terms.

Both times we have done it was right towards the end of the school year. All they do in the last couple of weeks is wind things right down and concentrate on school sports day. So they are not missing anything vital. There is also a cut off time on the records that they dont list the childs attendance. If you look on your childs report and the attendance page it stops 1 or 2 weeks before the end of term.

milliebear00001

Bloomin_Freezing2 wrote: »

Apologies if this is better suited in the actual holiday thread, feel free to move.


Hello all

Just wondered what reason you gave your schools for taking children out for a holiday during term time. (I am not looking for a ticking off or to be told if I can't afford a holiday during the school breaks then don't book one )

Currently our holiday is booked for during the summer hols at the start of august, the deadline for paying it off is approaching, although I have spoke with the travel agent about extending it for another month.

I'm thinking of changing our travel date to late sept, this brings down the holiday price by a fair bit, plus gives me longer to clear the balance. Lots of parents at our school have gone on hols towards the end or start of terms. Having spoken to the school about holidays in term time they said they only allow if if it's for a wedding/once off family gathering/funeral etc.

my daughter will be 6 when we go, will missing a week really damage her education that much?! I don't think so but wondered what fib I can tell the school. Can't say she was off sick and she returns with a little bit of colour, telling everyone she's been on a plane.

What reasons have you given for term time holidays, or am I the only terrible parent here?

I am a teacher (primary) and have taken my own child out of school for holidays. I think there is a lot to be said for spending time together as a family, and recognise that it's very difficult for parents to afford holidays in school holiday time. There are things you can do to minimise the disruption.

I would suggest you are straight with the school - there will be no repercussions for a six year old taking a few days off - especially (and these are crucial) if their general attendnce is good, and they are doing well at school. If you have the choice, I'd suggest you take her out at the end of the summer term (so July) rather than the beginning of the new school year. This will be far less disruptive to her, as she won't miss the imprtant getting to know her new teacher ans settling in, plus most classes are winding down in the last week of term anyway, so she won't miss as much content.