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

shellsuit

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

Really? None of those 13 weeks are available? I can imagine that being true in the forces if you are posted abroad, but other jobs?

I don't know, I take my kids out when I want to, so it doesn't apply to me.

This is just going around in circles.

If I want to take my kids out of school for a holiday, I will and really couldn't care less what teachers might think.

So long as I have approval from the head, that's all that matters.

And even if I don't and they want to fine me, go ahead! It will cost less for a fine than the massive price hikes during school holidays.

I've take my son out in the past and he's taken GCSE's 2 years early, so his holidays in term time couldn't have affected his schooling that much.



If teachers feel that strongly about it, why don't they go to the head to whinge to them instead of complaining to the parents who have had the approval from the head??

alwaysskint96

shellsuit wrote: »

Some people can only take certain weeks off work, so not everyone can book for the school holidays.

True, like a friend of mine who works in a holiday playscheme, obviously shge cant take school holidays off

Mrs_Arcanum

kelloggs36 wrote: »

because it is discretionary it means that the school can refuse, translating as the children should attend school!

This also means the school can approve, translating as an agreed absence where they are allowed NOT to attend school.

gratefulforhelp_2

shellsuit wrote: »

If teachers feel that strongly about it, why don't they go to the head to whinge to them instead of complaining to the parents who have had the approval from the head??

I wasn't whinging or complaining, are you feeling a little defensive?

As far as I was aware I was joining in a MSE discussion like many others, or are you saying teachers shouldn't be allowed to join in discussions on MSE?

Frankly, as I doubtless don't teach your offspring, I don't give a monkey's bum whether you personally take them out of school in term time. This is a general discussion.

:rotfl:

shellsuit

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

I wasn't whinging or complaining, are you feeling a little defensive?

As far as I was aware I was joining in a MSE discussion like many others, or are you saying teachers shouldn't be allowed to join in discussions on MSE?

Frankly, as I doubtless don't teach your offspring, I don't give a monkey's bum whether you personally take them out of school in term time. This is a general discussion.

:rotfl:

I said 'why don't teachers', I didn't say 'why don't you' did I? Are you feeling a little defensive?


I meant for every teacher on this thread and in general, who don't agree with parents taking their kids out of school for a term time holiday, why don't they (note, not you!) speak to the head about it if it is so bad and wrong?

gratefulforhelp_2

Well I think we are arguing about the idea in principle, not individual cases. There are lots of individual cases where the absence will not be authorised, for example in some schools they won't authorise absence for anyone at all in years 10 and 11.

Then the perspective is different depending on whether you are the person in charge of authorising absence, or the person in the classroom who sees the impact it has on the child's education.

As I've said, in our school we have a system where all class teachers record on a form exactly what the child will be missing, so that everyone involved in that decision making process is fully aware of what is being missed (or not), and what the impact will be.

trad_3

I have been reading this thread with interest as I wish to take my three children out of school at the end of June. At the beginning of July, it is my eldest daughters 21st and my sons 16th, he is leaving school and hoping to join army college, eldest daughter is finishing uni to follow her career path. Middle daughter is year 8 and youngest daughter will be 5 in April and is at Primary school. We have gone back and forth for weeks trying to find a week that we can all get together for this (probably last ) family holiday together. Got the letter back today from the comprehensive school agreeing to the absence but the primary school won't allow my youngest authorised absence. I know there is comment on here about people saying their children are bright and how is that always the case but she is 4 and has the reading age of 7 1/2 year old and is bright as a button as many people comment. I have now decided that I will write an appeal letter out of politeness but I will be taking her out regardless of the outcome.

My conclusion of this is they hold high statistics for attendance and don't want to change this but I feel my reason for the holiday is valid and we will be going.

Also my child in reception has never had her teacher for a whole week since she started last september because of courses her teacher attends and I have seen 3 supply teachers this week alone. Am I really unsettling my youngest child, I don't think so.

chalkiesalem_2

Wewill be taking our son out of school in November to go to Orlando (he will be 6 then). The head has already approved the holiday but did advise me to make up a good enough excuse as to why we have to go when we are.

Zoetoes

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

Well the point is...you can have a much-needed holiday in school holidays, you can't schedule, for example, an NHS operation in the school holidays.

But you don't know people's circumstances just like we don't know yours.

Mrs_Arcanum

Just as a biology teachers prolonged absence means my daughter along with most of the class got a B or less in the Biology GCSE so will have to re-sit to ensure a decent university place for the career she wants. :mad: She did get an A* in GCSE chemistry taken during the same period. :T