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

The_mangler

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- I agree that there will never be agreement ! .. .. .. however

The law says :

- parents do not have the right to take their child out of school for holidays during term time
- parents cannot demand leave of absence for the purpose of holidays as a right
- they are asked to consider seriously the educational implications for their children before making application
- the headteacher does not have to authorise holidays in term time other than in exceptional circumstances
- exceptional circumstances can only cover a maximum of 10 days in a school year
- taking an unauthorised holiday could result in each parent receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice costing up to £100 for each child

Many people in this thread have spoken of their selective choice to break the law and defraud the taxpayer of their collective contribution to the education of other peoples children. I see nothing by the way of honest defence of their actions just a selfish self-interest in ignoring the law of the land .. .. because in this case it suits them.

- its a choice people make to call burglars thieves and lawbreakers, but breaking this particular law is ok ?
- you have no legal right to take your child out of school without authority, that makes you no different to muggers and thieves
- you just choose to call a burglar a lawbreaker whilst calling yourself a good parent, what a sad pseudo interpretation

If I did not manage to take 7 days break away from full time caring for my husband, I too would end up in hospital, meaning my children would then be in care. Would that make me a good parent?

I accept I have no right to a holiday during term time, however thankfully the head teachers at all my children's schools accept and understand the situation I find myself in, and have never questioned my decision. I have kept my side of the deal by ensuring my children are up to date with school work, their results have been above average despite "defrauding taxpayers" (oh purlease) and we are going away for the last week of term this year again with the blessing of the heads.
For us, it is nothing to do with cost and everything to do with needing a break from 24/7 caring. But hey, dont let facts get in the way of your holier than thou attitude.

Ellejmorgan

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- I agree that there will never be agreement ! .. .. .. however

The law says :

- parents do not have the right to take their child out of school for holidays during term time
- parents cannot demand leave of absence for the purpose of holidays as a right
- they are asked to consider seriously the educational implications for their children before making application
- the headteacher does not have to authorise holidays in term time other than in exceptional circumstances
- exceptional circumstances can only cover a maximum of 10 days in a school year
- taking an unauthorised holiday could result in each parent receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice costing up to £100 for each child

Many people in this thread have spoken of their selective choice to break the law and defraud the taxpayer of their collective contribution to the education of other peoples children. I see nothing by the way of honest defence of their actions just a selfish self-interest in ignoring the law of the land .. .. because in this case it suits them.

- its a choice people make to call burglars thieves and lawbreakers, but breaking this particular law is ok ?
- you have no legal right to take your child out of school without authority, that makes you no different to muggers and thieves
- you just choose to call a burglar a lawbreaker whilst calling yourself a good parent, what a sad pseudo interpretation

It isn't like you Richie to not defend disibility...
Rules do sometimes have to be broken to keep families together...

I'm sure by now everyone knows my situation, I have three kids my partner left me when I was pregnant despite awaiting major surgery, he then returned for the birth and went again...
I am also disabled, I don't mean ill I mean I have major spinal problems which affect my arms and legs..

Apart from my dear sister there is no one to help with the kids, my ex hasn't seen them and his mother is useless..
I have no parents...

I don't care if I have to break every single rule going, if a weeks holiday is going to help, then i'm going to do it...
I make sure they are model pupils the rest of the time...

Richie-from-the-Boro

I'm a even handed sort of fellah who will fight to the death for the disabled, but right is right and wrong is wrong, wrong doesn't stop being wrong just because the majority share in it. The only wrong thing that is ever right is a broken clock - its always right twice a day.

Not one post has given a reason, not one, not even one single post, shame on you! Everyone responding has offered invalid excuses for taking a non-term week out of the education year. Every single fabricated excuse given would be equally the case if the week was taken during the normal school break. The only truth here is you want a benefit you are not entitled to have .. .. and you will cheat - lie - and steal to get it.

- to those who admitted it was wrong and agreeing you had no valid reason - only 2 out of 10 possible points for at least telling the truth.

- to all the remainder - no points at all - not only were you doing wrong - but you were / are not even moral enough to own up to doing it.

This Government is using benefit claimants, the vulnerable and the disabled as a scapegoat for the country's financial problems. The Sun claims to be “Partnering” the campaign with the coalition Government" [ under unspecified terms ]. The Sun frequently labels every benefit claimant and disabled person as undeserving and guilty of fraud until proved innocent.

The country is now convinced that its true and the disabled and most vulnerable in our society are known as cheats, as benefit scroungers, the REDTOPS and the government are out to get disabled people in the meanest way possible.

Read the hash numbers in this thread again .. .. and consider who is cheating / stealing / benefit scrounging etc .. .. does no one see what's writ large in this thread and connect up what said in this thread with what is said by the SUN etal when they accuse the disabled of lying and cheating and getting unfair benefits ? Sort your own house out !

Look I understand why this group finds it upsetting to be proven wrong, particularly when you are really right and the person who is really wrong is proving you wrong and proving himself, wrongly, right, but please do consider the paragraph above this one and see what others see.

Ellejmorgan

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

I'm a even handed sort of fellah who will fight to the death for the disabled, but right is right and wrong is wrong, wrong doesn't stop being wrong just because the majority share in it. The only wrong thing that is ever right is a broken clock - its always right twice a day.

Not one post has given a reason, not one, not even one single post, shame on you! Everyone responding has offered invalid excuses for taking a non-term week out of the education year. Every single fabricated excuse given would be equally the case if the week was taken during the normal school break. The only truth here is you want a benefit you are not entitled to have .. .. and you will cheat - lie - and steal to get it.

- to those who admitted it was wrong and agreeing you had no valid reason - only 2 out of 10 possible points for at least telling the truth.

- to all the remainder - no points at all - not only were you doing wrong - but you were / are not even moral enough to own up to doing it.

This Government is using benefit claimants, the vulnerable and the disabled as a scapegoat for the country's financial problems. The Sun claims to be “Partnering” the campaign with the coalition Government" [ under unspecified terms ]. The Sun frequently labels every benefit claimant and disabled person as undeserving and guilty of fraud until proved innocent.

The country is now convinced that its true and the disabled and most vulnerable in our society are known as cheats, as benefit scroungers, the REDTOPS and the government are out to get disabled people in the meanest way possible.

Read the hash numbers in this thread again .. .. and consider who is cheating / stealing / benefit scrounging etc .. .. does no one see what's writ large in this thread and connect up what said in this thread with what is said by the SUN etal when they accuse the disabled of lying and cheating and getting unfair benefits ? Sort your own house out !

Look I understand why this group finds it upsetting to be proven wrong, particularly when you are really right and the person who is really wrong is proving you wrong and proving himself, wrongly, right, but please do consider the paragraph above this one and see what others see.

I did I was playing by the rules the holiday was booked then the head said 'new rules you can't go in September'..It was too late by then it couldn't be changed, I'd paid extra insurance for my medical condition and would have lost a lot of money...

whitesatin

In response to post No. 84. OMG, even though I feel strongly about keeping children away from school, even I have some sympathy for those who feel that it is their only option.

kingfisherblue

Richie, I have taken my children out of school once for a holiday. Last year, we were booked to go to the Calvert Trust for a weekend, with a group of friends. The coach was leaving at lunchtime on a friday.

I contacted both schools and explained that I wasn't able to change the time of the coach, and was requesting the afternoon off for my children (one in special school, one in mainstream secondary). I gave the schools information about the Trust, which is a centre that specialises in helping disabled people to participate in a variety of outdoor activities.

Both schools said to take the full day off. The special school granted one day holiday. The mainstream school marked it as an educational activity.

It was an educational activity for both my children, giving them opportunities that they would not otherwise have had (canoeing, climbing, horse riding and trap riding, etc). If it had been an 'ordinary' holiday, I would never have booked as I do not want to take my kids out of school during term time. However, this was an exceptional circumstance.

We had a great time, even if it wasn't relaxing (which I feel a holiday should be!). I don't anticipate any similar occasions occuring, but it was quite refreshing to see that a mainstream school decided to mark this as an educational activity, especially as it was primarily aimed at disabled children. It was definitely a great experience, even though I wouldn't go in a canoe as I am terrified of water

savagevixen

Oliver14 wrote: »

So a Holiday is more important than your child's education?

Hilarious! Actually a holiday is as important as your child's education... It is very valuable to a child, and the last week of the summer term is not.

I have taken my children out of school for holidays. Until last year our school authorised up to 10 school days holiday every school year, provided you asked at least 1 month in advance. The school managed to get it's 'outstanding' ofsted last summer and immediately changed it's policy! I totally respect and understand this, I am not out to give schools a hard time.

Research your area carefully. The school has to apply to the local authority to fine you, so it's the school you need to correspond with first. In January, I took my 5 school age children away for 1 week. I wrote to the head and explained why we were taking our children on holiday at that time. (Mainly the cost of holidays in the holidays means that our family actually can't afford to go- why we go rarely and don't take the mickey, and 2 of our children are -shock horror to the disability bashers- disabled and find crowds/busy places etc very stressful, this is not just difficult for us but for other holidaymakers btw). As the school know our family well, they did not apply to fine us and we were given permission at their discretion, to go. We also mixed in to our time away some very interesting educational experiences-very old churches/jails/mountains etc. The school knew we weren't just of to get sloshed and ignore our kids!

It is worth researching, as when fining, most LEA's take into account your child's attendance and if their attendance is very good (i.e 90% or above) and you do not have 10 UNAUTHORISED absences, they do not usually fine.

Do not feel bad for wanting your child/children to have a holiday, it is something very pleasant for a child to enjoy (and often harder work for the parent than staying home!) it is a valuable life experience.

covlass

Like many have said as long as the children are young there should not be an issue. When my girls were young I would take them out of school for a weeks break. Once my eldest started her GCSE's then holidays are taken in school holiday time. It does make me laugh though when i read some comments regarding education and how parents are putting this at risk by taking them out of school, what bad parents we are !! So does that mean the teachers are bad when they disrupt children's education when they go on strike.

NAR

covlass wrote: »

It does make me laugh though when i read some comments regarding education and how parents are putting this at risk by taking them out of school, what bad parents we are !!

As usual covlass it is the few that abuse the system and do put their children's education at risk that spoil it for everyone else. I am certain over the last 30/40 years (when foreign holidays became more common) that most parents have been responsible when in the school year and at what stage in the children's education that they were taken on holiday during term time. Unfortunately the few irresponsible parents have forced the government/LA's into laying down the law to protect some children's education, at the expense (literally) of everyone else.

SingleSue

We used to go in school term time, right at the end of the summer term due to my youngest son most especially. Not just because it was easier for him to cope without it being so busy while we were away but also because he coped even less well in the last week of term where they were moving things around in the classroom and the normal timetable went out of the window.

So it became part of his teaching routine if you will, it was pretty much the same in the run up to Christmas, he would break up a few days before the other children as the stress he suffered at all the changes going on was having an adverse impact in the new term and beyond.

We gradually moved it though so he was breaking up later and later and got him used to things with the increasing crowds whilst away and now we only holiday in the school holidays...took a while to get there though! Plus now being at high school, they tend not to do the Christmas parties and break from routine he had such difficulty coping with in primary school, so he breaks up at the same time as all the other children in all terms.

As a child though, we always had our holiday in term time (first 2 weeks of July)..didn't do me any harm, I was the top student in the year with the best exam results in all subjects!