Holiday in term time not authorised, will I be fined?

poet123

esmerelda98 wrote: »

I know you are talking about your own very exceptional circumstances, but bear in mind that in the vast majority of cases are not like yours, and you do, unintentionally or not, seem to be extrapolating from your own very particular circumstances more widely. Most parents are not education professionals who one would expect to be very in tune with their child's education and attainment, and able to pick up fairly easily when their child is struggling with certain concepts. Also, we are hearing about children going on holiday all through the term, not just the last week, when the formal learning is winding down anyway.

I am not extrapolating from my circumstances merely providing balance to the blanket statement that all children are adversely affected by a short, considered term time break. I think you do parents a disservice, educational professional or not, most parents do have common sense, want the best for their kids and do know about their level of learning. To suggest otherwise is quite patronising.

With regard to the timing of term time holidays, up until recently (when the sanctions began to be imposed;)) end of term holidays, in fact all those taken after 31st May were not counted in the attendance stats. Those stats do actually show that the majority of term time hols are taken a few days either side of a main break (summer or Christmas or Easter) when formal learning is winding down

esmerelda98 wrote: »

. Surely it is common sense that knowledge and skills not being used will deteriorate somewhat. I expect most teachers incorporate brief refreshers into their teaching. In any case, all pupils are affected by this. It is a very different scenario when the teacher's attention is focussed on teaching Jenny X while the class are grappling with Y and could do with more of the teacher's time. Is it fair on a child who attends diligently but generally struggles if this is a regular occurence?.

It is common sense, but it is not referred to with the same approbation as a few short days, nor considered as big an issue.

All children may have the same long break but again not all are affected by the learning loss, studies show it is mainly poorer children from disadvantaged backgrounds who show the biggest percentile losses.

My point is that as teachers we do have a tendency to patronise and think we know best (sometimes we do!) but we really dont want the focus shifted onto the areas which show the biggest cause for concern, and we are quite happy to do those catch up lessons in September after six weeks off.

Is it not a tad hypocritical for us to begrudge the same attention to those who might need a smidgeon of extra input or an extra worksheet because they have a family break which they could not have enjoyed in peak holiday season due to cost or other family issues. I think it is. Again, within certain parameters.

onlyroz

For those of you happy to take your kids out during term time, which of the following apply:

- Sod the rules, I'll do what I want and I don't care what attitude I instill in my children
- My child is brilliant, so it doesn't matter if I take them out of school
- My child is thick as a plank so it won't matter if I take them out of school
- All familes should be able to take holidays whenever they want, even if it means missing school, and even if it means massive disruption to the teachers and pupils
- It's not faaaaaaiiiiiirrrr, holidays during school breaks are tooooo expensive - the holiday companies should be MADE to reduce their prices, and sod the economy or those who work in the travel industry
- I would be happy to pay an extra tax to subsidise those who can't afford a holiday in August, because it's everyone's RIGHT to a cheap holiday

janninew

Poet123 I think I read back that you are a teacher and have taken your children out of school for holidays in term time. How did you manage this when teachers can't take holidays in term time. Or can teacher's have holidays at the discretion of the Headteacher?

shellsuit

sunshinetours wrote: »

You take things very literally don't you! It isn't really relevant what you do or don't do on holiday, lovely as though I am sure it is, its about taking children out during term time by choice.

Life is all about choices and I wish some would stand by those choices and at least say they are what they are, and not hide behind some pretence

I take things literally as I can only respond on what you have posted.

Of course it was our choice to have done that in the past. The price suited us, the time of year suited us more as the weather was better and it wasn't heaving with thousands of other holiday makers.

The way I see it, is we asked for the time off by writing to the head and he granted the children the time off.

If it were so wrong and so bad and so detrimental to the children's education, why didn't the head refuse?

Gavin83

Bufger wrote: »

Spreading the cost of travel over the whole year sounds more reasonable to me, that way its fair for everybody. At the moment people with Kids take a few hundred quid hit per year over people that can travel out of peak times. Teachers also take that hit as does anyone else in that sector.

Yes they can choose a cheaper holiday but why should they not be able to get the same opportunity as everyone else??

It's not just the school holidays which cause an increase in prices though, people just generally wish to go away in the summer because the weather is nicer. I'm not denying it makes a difference but prices will always remain high in the summer.

Unfortunately it doesn't make a difference anyway. People wish to go on holiday when their children are off and as a rule of basic supply and demand the prices will be higher. It's all well and good suggesting the prices are even throughout the year but what are the holiday companies meant to do when everyone wants to go in August and then their hotel or flights are empty in march?

To be completely honest increased holiday prices are something you should accept when you choose to have children.

andrealm

sunshinetours wrote: »

Sounds to me like you are talking about the price !

I would go on a cheaper holiday in the school holidays -camping etc
I would find cheap £10 travelodge deals and visit a few different places
I would try and live within my means

Those who can afford a cheapish term time holiday probably can afford an even cheaper style summer time holiday

Very often this is entirely about wanting flash foreign holidays otherwise it doesn't count as a real holiday - that's my point

Personally, I'd rather stay at home than go camping, especially with young kids. Not bothered about "flash foreign holidays" I'm perfectly happy to stay in a caravan in the UK but even for somewhere like Haven the prices go through the roof in school holidays. We've stayed in Travelodges while travelling but wouldn't wouldn't to stay in them for a week's holiday as it's a nightmare getting kids settled when you're all in the same room and we we want to have our own space after they've gone to bed.

poet123

onlyroz wrote: »

For those of you happy to take your kids out during term time, which of the following apply:

- Sod the rules, I'll do what I want and I don't care what attitude I instill in my children
- My child is brilliant, so it doesn't matter if I take them out of school
- My child is thick as a plank so it won't matter if I take them out of school
- All familes should be able to take holidays whenever they want, even if it means missing school, and even if it means massive disruption to the teachers and pupils
- It's not faaaaaaiiiiiirrrr, holidays during school breaks are tooooo expensive - the holiday companies should be MADE to reduce their prices, and sod the economy or those who work in the travel industry
- I would be happy to pay an extra tax to subsidise those who can't afford a holiday in August, because it's everyone's RIGHT to a cheap holiday

Or how about;

- I exercise my parental right to take my child out of school having given careful consideration to all relevant issues such as timing, school year, number of days, level of child. I then take a calculated risk and decide whether to go ahead, safe in the knowledge that my child is astute enough to understand by dint of our daily words and actions how highly we prize education.

janninew wrote: »

Poet123 I think I read back that you are a teacher and have taken your children out of school for holidays in term time. How did you manage this when teachers can't take holidays in term time. Or can teacher's have holidays at the discretion of the Headteacher?

I work in a college so I have different holidays to our local schools.

**Patty**

*puts hand up*

I got a question:

How come, if your child, in their chosen sport, represents their country.....the school is able to permit time off with no reservation whatsoever......

And yet......put in a request for 6 days for a holiday & it's scorned upon?

Time off is time off.....the reason shouldn't matter.

onlyroz

poet123 wrote: »

Or how about;

- I exercise my parental right to take my child out of school having given careful consideration to all relevant issues such as timing, school year, number of days, level of child. I then take a calculated risk and decide whether to go ahead, safe in the knowledge that my child is astute enough to understand by dint of our daily words and actions how highly we prize education.

So you would be perfectly happy for ALL parents to take the same stance as you, and take their child out of class willy-nilly to suit their own convenience?

onlyroz

**Patty** wrote: »

How come, if your child, in their chosen sport, represents their country.....the school is able to permit time off with no reservation whatsoever.......

I thought such children still had to attend classes etc?