Taking children out of school a week before summer hols as I am disabled.

duchy

The school may make an exception on the grounds of your disability -it's entirely at their discression but in all honesty I see little benefit on health grounds (althugh there will likely be a financial advantage -although if you're fined that'll probably be wiped out.

Personally having worked in schools in recent years I do think the last week of term is a wipeout in many schools. I don't see the need for learning to be suspended for the last week in favour of sitting the kids in front of DVDs which has become the norm in many schools now and the only people who benefit are teachers who are freed up to complete administrative tasks before the term ends.

soolin

I echo some of the posts above, I would seriously consider whether or not you are benefitting the children by getting them to miss the last week of term.
Younger children in particular look forward to thAt last week, they usually clear the classrooms of the displayed art and have small parties and prize givings. It is also a chance to arrange visits with friends , I wouldn't have wanted my children to miss that social side of school.

Aso as someone with a disability is a holiday where you are going to be tense about traffic and queues going t benefit you at all? it is hard enough anyway with young children and the people I know with ME could not possibly do anything other than cause themselves harm by trying to Achieve this.

Maybe explain to the children that whilst mummy is still a. Little poorly the trip may have to be nearer home this year, or a shorter duration. Find nice things to do locally and try and stagger days out with rest periods for yourself.

In the long run watching your own health and knowing you have a condition that will get better in time must be better than forcing yourself to do something that may delay your recovery. You are more important than a holiday

whitesatin

Personally having worked in schools in recent years I do think the last week of term is a wipeout in many schools. I don't see the need for learning to be suspended for the last week in favour of sitting the kids in front of DVDs which has become the norm in many schools now and the only people who benefit are teachers who are freed up to complete administrative tasks before the term ends.[/QUOTE]

I really didn't see much of that going on in my recent years of teaching. It may happen but it is certainly not the norm. These days, as mentioned above, schools can be inspected at short notice. My friend is an Ofsted inspector and is kept busy with inspections right up to the end of term. Yes, things can appear to be more relaxed but this time is still accountable and Head Teachers are unlikely to sanction anything that is not seen to be educational.

whitesatin

I think most people know that it can rarely be right to keep children out of school to go on holiday. I have heard the whole range of excuses/reasons over the years, the usual being that the children will learn more whilst in a foreign country, or wherever, than they would at school during that period. Without a doubt, many experiences can be educational but they are just as educational in the school holidays, presumably. In reality, most holidays are just that, holidays, chilling out etc.

Oh, I really shouldn't get started on threads such as these.

The_mangler

We have always taken our kids out of school for a week's holiday in the UK - my husband has serious mental health issues amongst other physical problems, he cannot cope with crowds and this one week is a life saver for my kids, all young carers. It has not done them any harm, eldest is predicted 3 grade A's at A level with a place at Uni awaiting her. We make sure we visit interesting places and encourage a little learning along the way - castles, museums and last year Techniquest at Cardiff, a fantastic hands on science place. Beside which, living in a seaside holiday resort most people take their holidays in term time because they are unable to take time off work during busy periods. I think people should consider personal reasons before making a blanket judgement - I wish we could holiday in non-term time but we cannot, so I don't think we should be penalised for matters out of our control.

The_mangler

sangio wrote: »

So did I!!!

Drugged up to the nines with a cocktail of anti pyscotics.
Getting violent when in a crowded envoirnment.

Loss of the use of one leg.

But this still didn't mean that my kids hadto lose valuable education in school.

How I am so surprised to have heard over the years, all of the excuses bar one - 'we aren't paying those prices'!

Having kids means that you do and should have to pay those prices - it's called responsibility towards your children and not yourself or your pocket!

I dont think I actually mentioned cost anywhere did I? My kids have been through the mill for one reason and another, I cant get Respite care for my husband or we would go away in the holidays. But I value spending time with them, I take them along with another member of my family who normally lives away, she gets to spend more time caring for my husband while I spend time with my kids.

Just because you can manage, dont judge everyone by your own standards. And please give people the respect of actually reading their posts before jumping in with your own blinkered selfish views.

Oh and how would you like my daughter to actually better her education? or did you omit to read that bit too?

whitesatin

When I was teaching, how I would have loved a week in a resort when there were fewer children around but, no, I did the responsible thing, of course, as you would expect.

I suppose I could have phoned in sick but it never entered my head. I rarely took time off even when I was sick.

Ellejmorgan

I took my daughters out of term time 2 years ago but I discussed it with the headteacher first..my kids are allowed 10 days holiday per year

My sister and I booked the holiday as it was for her, myself and my 2 kids at the time, I then found out I wasn't allowed to take them in September which is when it was booked for...
I made the decision to go ahead regardless, the kids deserved it, they'd had a rough few years for various reasons...

I explained to the headteacher and promised to ensure my kids were punctual, and attendance perfect the rest of the time...
Although not authorised there were no consequences from the LA

I'm also disabled and I am on benefits....

whitesatin

Ellejmorgan wrote: »

I took my daughters out of term time 2 years ago but I discussed it with the headteacher first..my kids are allowed 10 days holiday per year

My sister and I booked the holiday as it was for her, myself and my 2 kids at the time, I then found out I wasn't allowed to take them in September which is when it was booked for...
I made the decision to go ahead regardless, the kids deserved it, they'd had a rough few years for various reasons...

I explained to the headteacher and promised to ensure my kids were punctual, and attendance perfect the rest of the time...
Although not authorised there were no consequences from the LA

I'm also disabled and I am on benefits....

Things have, thankfully, tightened up since then.

As I mentioned before, what message does it give to the children taken out of school?

I now have 3 grandchildren and it would be cheaper for me to take them away in term time but I wouldn't dream of it.

I always make a point of saying my bit to parents when the are thinking about taking their children out of school. I consider it to be my duty.

It is all about values, in my opinion. When you think about it, nobody really "needs" a holiday. I could count on one hand the number of holidays I had in total when I was a child. I still enjoyed my school holidays.

Ellejmorgan

whitesatin wrote: »

Things have, thankfully, tightened up since then.

As I mentioned before, what message does it give to the children taken out of school?

I now have 3 grandchildren and it would be cheaper for me to take them away in term time but I wouldn't dream of it.

I always make a point of saying my bit to parents when the are thinking about taking their children out of school. I consider it to be my duty.

It is all about values, in my opinion. When you think about it, nobody really "needs" a holiday. I could count on one hand the number of holidays I had in total when I was a child. I still enjoyed my school holidays.

Don't agree about no one needing a holiday, imagine being put under imense stress and being able to rest after, holidays can be beneficial..
In my case my kids had been away from me for a while, I took them away when they came home...

I taught my kids a lot by saving hard for something very rewarding, they had a good time and caught up on their schoolwork, no one will convince me I did the wrong thing...