Real-life MMD: Term-time truancy for a cheap hol

madanna

School says no. so that means a fine. surely this cancels out any savings made to go with the grandparents?

that aside, i'm not sure if your fine also means a criminal record.

term-time truancy is a prisonable offence, and if your local education authority is one of the ones that persues everyone, it won't be a pleasant stay.

yes, time with family and grandparents is important. we have taken our children out for an odd day here and there where school holidays for different schools haven't quite matched. also to travel to a funeral; but we've always been given a yes. i worry for the time they say no, as we work in the tourist industry & get little time off during school holidays.

go back to school and perhaps explain face to face with the decision maker why you want this exception allowed. when presented with the background they may change their minds. i suspect your school has a blanket ban and may enforce "no" to everyone.

alittlemadam

I would say dont take your son out of school for the holiday but then that it only my opinion.

This is something I have never done with either of my kids, but then i suppose I am fortunate because I have my own caravan near the coast we go every weekend between April and October and school holidays, so I dont really have to take them out of school.

Holiday companies really should change the way they cater for people and should split the cost of all holidays over a 12 month period and not over charge people with school age children so we end up paying more during school holidays.

I'm sure that what ever you decide will be the correct decision, however given that your son is 6 he will be able to catch up, its not like he is sitting exams.

Fujiko

What a lot of fuss about something which in the context of the school year is relatively unimportant. A week off school for a holiday at this age is not going to damage his future education, any more than having a week or more off through illness. Don't lie to the school which apart from anything else is a bad example for your son and you would be found out anyway. If they are inclined to be difficult a gentle reminder of days lost through teachers going on strike might be appropriate, given the difficulties these cause to parents as well.

AnturCynhyrfus

My daughter's junior school allow children to have up to two weeks out of school a year as long as they are notified in advance and the break is for something worthwhile. A holiday of a lifetime with the grandparents would almost certainly be considered worthwhile!

KimJongun_2

Take the child away. If the school complains then next time the child's lesson is in terrrupted by the acivities of some badly brought-up scumbag complain to the school about this.

flossy_splodge

I'm really puzzled that ANY school can fine parents for this, so if they CAN, just say you are trying home schooling with the assistance of Grandparents and will make your mind up for sure in 2 weeks time after they get back from traveling.
I home schooled one of my daughters for a year and a quarter towards the end of her primary schooling because the school was doing such a bad job. We went all over the place, wrote to the Prime minister as an English exercise etc etc.
The only reason I put her back into school was absolutely NOT the value of the so called 'education' she missed but for social reasons and then only when I found a school that was genuinely 'child centred' and could cope with bright kids as well as the other end of the spectrum.
When I took her out she was about 1 and a half years behind in most things as she was bored rigid and when I put her back in she was about 2 years ahead; all in the space of about 15 months.
The REAL difference between meeting a child's needs and just 'processing' another number through the system.
Go for it - the holiday I mean, your child will benefit enormously in so many ways.
Best of luck.:D

danielle006

Another opportunity for 'bash the teacher'. I am a high school teacher and I would say two weeks isn't going to make your child a school drop out and failure in life. However it does make an already hard job even harder when a child has been missing and they have missed a significant chunk of work.

If a child HAS to have two weeks off school then fair enough. That's fine. But if every child took two weeks off as and when they wanted it would be chaotic. I'd say just go in the school holidays and go somewhere that is cheaper. Everyone else manages.

To all those teacher haters you may believe a teachers job is all fun and games. If you do believe that then there is plenty of space for you to come and join us if you feel like you are missing out. :rotfl:

onlyroz

A few points:

- It is not OK to teach your kids that it's acceptable to lie if it means that you get your own way
- It is not OK to teach your kids that school is unimportant
- It is not OK to expect the teacher to spend extra time helping your child catch up with the missed work
- Children get approx 13 weeks off school a year. Surely it must be possible to find an affordable holiday at some point during this time?
- Most holidays (especially the sort of trip you might take a six-year-old on) are not cultural extravaganzas and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. If it could be genuinely demonstrated that you were providing an educational and cultural experience that absolutely could not be missed then you might have an argument that the holiday is more beneficial than school. However, if you're just going to sit on the beach in the sun then your argument doesn't wash.

jago25_98

Morally, no question. Nobody should be detained at school.

Practically,
sounds like the holiday is not of the educational lose-your-passport hitchhiking-kind so not worth the benefit of losing the term time - maybe better to spend on alternative education

JayD

Holidays with grandparents, while they are well enough to take the your 6 year old child, are invaluable. They provide a unique opportunity to develop an insight into older people and a different way of experiencing new surroundings. It is an opportunity to educate the social and emotional side of your child and to enrich his relationship with your parents. Make your excuses to the school to avoid the fine - they are only white lies for the benefit of all concerned (yoursleves too). And I speak as a retired teacher.