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

Zoetoes

I agree we seem to be going round in circles.

As a parent, I am saying that there are reasons for not taking children out of school for a holiday, such as they are less bright than the other children or their attendance has been poor or they are in an 'important' year etc.

I don't see that it is a problem if the child is bright and has good attendance.

It does seem though that the teachers commenting only seem to think they are right and won't even consider any other views.

gratefulforhelp_2

Well speaking for myself only, you clearly haven't read what I have posted.

candycow

I was just talking about this very thing to the head at our primary school this week, who firmly believes that primary education is just as important as later on as it is the foundation for everything else.

Anyway, her view on it is that without exceptional reasons, she can't be seen to condone it, but unless the government steps in and changes things within the travel industry, she does sympathise with them.

HappyEnough

I have been reading these posts with interest!
I was the school Attendance Officer for my local secondary school up until recently, so can give you a little "insight" into the schools point of view perhaps.
The Education Welfare Officer visits schools regularly (weekly or monthly, dependant on size of school, etc), and discusses childrens absences on their visits. If parents had submitted a holiday request form, then I would be required to check upon their attendance to date before deciding as to whether or not it was to be authorised. ANY pupil with an attendance of less than 94% would automatically have their request refused, as would any student that had reached Years 10 & 11.
If students were in school years 7 - 9, and had attendance of 94% or more, they would have their holidays authorised.
It was then recorded that the student had applied for, and been refused, holiday leave so that should the child be absent that particular week, through "sickness" (a sign that the parents had just gone ahead anyway) or simply non-attendance then the Education Welfare Officer would be advised at his regular meeting, and a penalty notice would be issued by the school. The parents then have the option of paying the penalty fine (currently £50 per child) or go to court to appeal.
In general terms, we were happy to authorise holidays, of up to 5 school days (so one week, not two) so long as the student had no exams and were prepared to attend catch up classes.
I myself am taking my children out of school at the end of June (one in year 7, one in year 9, and DS in year 11), the day after my son legally finishes school. They did send me a letter saying basically how irresponsible i am being, but we havent had a holiday in 7 years, and sometimes being together as a family, and building memories to keep a lifetime, beats the hell out of sitting in lessons for 5 days!!
Hope this helps explain a little.

Spendless

Thanks for the info HappyEnough. When you mention the £50 fine per child. My council webiste used to say that the fine was £50 per child per parent. So me taking my kids out and receiving a fine would get one for £100 and so would be husband, so £200 from our household. This info has since dissapeared from the website. I wonder if you can give any clarification.

HappyEnough

:oAs a rule we would issue penatly notices to each parent IF THEY LIVED IN SEPERATE ABODES. So if parents were together, then it was a £50 fine, if apart then £50 per parent. That may be differ across the regions though.

kelloggs36

I would say that was even more unfair - what if the other parent didn't even know that their child was going on holiday?? I would rather fine those responsible for taking the children on holiday ie the parent/step parents individually than the other parent if they lived apart. The liklihood is that they weren't going!

Zoetoes

Well I thought I'd revive the thread as the school have just rang me to say they can't authorise the holiday request :eek:

shellsuit

Is it a junior or high school Zoe? Did they give a reason why?

Zoetoes

Juniors. Because we had one authorised in September so fair enough, same school year. Thing is though, it was only a week then and is this time, they can authorise 2 weeks but only seem to do that if it's 2 weeks in one go.

She was very nice, more of a courtesy call to say sorry that they couldn't actually authorise it so just to take it unauthorised.