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

flimsier

Quite. I don't care, but you seemed to get offended because I replied to your question. "how about...."
You took it down that direction and then got offended when I point out that it means the school is doing so badly. Would you like a NC document so that the teacher can use a teacher assessment at Level 6? If the school is the sort of school where she does stuff that doesn't stretch her "for months" (direct quote) I think you should be meeting the head and raising merry hell. It's unacceptable, and of course it means that at least in that subject it makes no difference at all if you take them on holiday in term time. It sounds like months off wouldn't make a difference, based on what you're saying.

Oh and

My previous post as you quoted again said that the teacher had told me she believed she had reached level 6. She however couldn't test her at that level to confirm it because they didn't do it at the school.

That's not actually what your post said. It may be what you wish it said, but it's not what it said at all. It's there in black and white. Given you're capable of making this mistake, and I suppose many people are, maybe you could have made a few other mistakes while getting so wound up at text on a screen.

grumblybum

squashy wrote: »

Seems a bit odd to get an unauthorised absence for a funeral. Be interested to know what "code" it is showing as on your child's attendance certificate.

Did you inform the school before/on the day? Did you go overseas or take a prolonged period of absence? Were you sent any kind of letter from the school querying or ackowledging the absence? Have you since queried this with the school?

The reason I ask is that if you think in an average primary school of 300 pupils that is 600 little crosses, circles and symbols that need entering electronically every single day, it's not unknown for one to go astray every now and then-I'm sure they'd put it right if you spoke to someone.

I will dig out report and look. It was only 1 weeks notice, but she died very unexpectedly. It is a tiny village school with less than 100 pupils, had no letter from them acknowledging, I just accepted it. My mum is a headteacher :eek: so I should know better, but when I spoke to her this week querying (mum, not the HT) she put it down to LEA crackdown making the head overzealous. As it was last academic year I'm not too fussed now, but was annoyed at the time.

grumblybum

Kaz2904 wrote: »

DH's family have been after going on holiday at Christmas for years and can't comprehend that I am not allowed to book holiday at Christmas/ New year. We are only allowed 6 registered Nurses off per week (of 90) so it's a real struggle. I've got 2 weeks next year though because they have decided to do it fairly now. Many of us went in, incredibly angry that some people had 5 weeks off over July/August and others off us had none. We're going to Florida and I can't wait! (Now gotta work loads of extra shifts to pay for it all!).

I know what you mean with this! We are only allowed 2 staff off at a time and no one is allowed to book off xmas/new year, as the manager and dep manager are off as they are more expensive. Also all the OT staff etc are off over xmas and the bank hols.

poet123

[QUOTE=flimsier;47249719

Poet - my point about changing the parameters is that your argument can be used to argue a patently absurd position. I know you weren't arguing the absurd position. But if that's the case (that it can be used to reinforce that absurd position), surely you can see that the argument cannot hold and needs revisiting. It's a version of counterexample (not strictly, but I'm sure you get the point).[/QUOTE]

If it is a patently absurd position (weeks off, exam time off, huge gaps in attendance for holidays) few parents would argue it.

Your underlying assumption and implication is that the schools and their officials are somehow more responsible and capable of deciding the welfare of any given child. That may true in a small percentage of cases (which I would argue would then require interventions) but in the overwhelming majority of cases the parents do have the best interests of their child at heart and are realistic about their capabilities. It is seen as patronising, paternalistic, and hypocritical when allied to schools' predilection for picking and choosing when core subjects are vital and when they are less so (as in the instances already stated)

You will note that schools are deemed to be in "loco parentis" to those in their care, not vice versa.;)

ash28

flimsier wrote: »

Quite. I don't care, but you seemed to get offended because I replied to your question. "how about...."
You took it down that direction and then got offended when I point out that it means the school is doing so badly. Would you like a NC document so that the teacher can use a teacher assessment at Level 6? If the school is the sort of school where she does stuff that doesn't stretch her "for months" (direct quote) I think you should be meeting the head and raising merry hell. It's unacceptable, and of course it means that at least in that subject it makes no difference at all if you take them on holiday in term time. It sounds like months off wouldn't make a difference, based on what you're saying.

Oh and



That's not actually what your post said. It may be what you wish it said, but it's not what it said at all. It's there in black and white. Given you're capable of making this mistake, and I suppose many people are, maybe you could have made a few other mistakes while getting so wound up at text on a screen.

Our grandson goes to a decent school and is in Year 6 - the two Year 6 classes are split into three ability based sets for English and maths - GS is in set 1 for both subjects (he must have had a motivation transplant over the summer holidays). There are 3 or 4 children who have maths lessons outside the three sets - they are the brightest.

GS and about 5 other children have one English lesson a week outside the English sets - the rest of the English lessons they have are with the set.

The children who have maths lessons outside the sets are taught seperately for every maths lesson. They would probably be bored out their skulls if they were doing the maths even the higher set was doing.

The school is pretty good at stretching the children - including the brightest, but that is what I would expect from a decent school - to try and help all of the children.

We are moving shortly to another area and I would like to think that GS's current school is the norm - perhaps I'm in for a rude awakening.

FBaby

flimsier wrote: »

I think you should be meeting the head and raising merry hell. It's unacceptable, and of course it means that at least in that subject it makes no difference at all if you take them on holiday in term time. It sounds like months off wouldn't make a difference, based on what you're saying.

Thankfully (for the school!), I don't have your incline for arguments (neither the time)! The school did what I expected them to do, teach my child a varied curriculum and make her happy. They did that so I'm satisfied. If I wanted my child to be pushed to her limit at every lesson, I would have chosen private schooling.

thatgirlsam

poet123 wrote: »

If it is a patently absurd position (weeks off, exam time off, huge gaps in attendance for holidays) few parents would argue it.

Your underlying assumption and implication is that the schools and their officials are somehow more responsible and capable of deciding the welfare of any given child. That may true in a small percentage of cases (which I would argue would then require interventions) but in the overwhelming majority of cases the parents do have the best interests of their child at heart and are realistic about their capabilities. It is seen as patronising, paternalistic, and hypocritical when allied to schools' predilection for picking and choosing when core subjects are vital and when they are less so (as in the instances already stated)

You will note that schools are deemed to be in "loco parentis" to those in their care, not vice versa.;)

And that is the absolute crux of the matter!

I find it quite unprofessional for teachers to be so judgemental in this matter - If I were so judgemental at work someone would be having words with me!

janninew

thatgirlsam wrote: »

And that is the absolute crux of the matter!

I find it quite unprofessional for teachers to be so judgemental in this matter - If I were so judgemental at work someone would be having words with me!

Do you think all teachers are judgemental? I work in a school and I would say the majority aren't, they just want kids in school and be able to teach the curriculum!
If every parent in a class of 30 took their child out for a 2 week holiday at different times, I can imagine it would be hard work for the teacher constantly having to use time in the next lesson to catch the missing pupil up.

thatgirlsam

janninew wrote: »

Do you think all teachers are judgemental? I work in a school and I would say the majority aren't, they just want kids in school and be able to teach the curriculum!
If every parent in a class of 30 took their child out for a 2 week holiday at different times, I can imagine it would be hard work for the teacher constantly having to use time in the next lesson to catch the missing pupil up.

No, of course I don't think ALL are judgemental, just the ones on this thread Except from Poet

I think if the parents take their child out for a holiday then the onus is on the parent to make sure the child catches up and not the teacher

The advice is that children shouldn't be taken out in term time, thats fair enough - What I think is that it is advice and should be left for the parent to decide what is best for their child

onlyroz

thatgirlsam wrote: »

No, of course I don't think ALL are judgemental, just the ones on this thread Except from Poet

I think if the parents take their child out for a holiday then the onus is on the parent to make sure the child catches up and not the teacher

The advice is that children shouldn't be taken out in term time, thats fair enough - What I think is that it is advice and should be left for the parent to decide what is best for their child

The trouble is that it will be the teacher, and the school, that will be judged lacking when the kids fail to reach their potential due to low attendance and difficulties catching up.