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

seven-day-weekend

iclayt wrote: »

Life is short, so let him go. It will be special for him and his grandparents.

Ask the teachers to give you worksheets he can use to catch up when he gets back, if they're that bothered about what he will miss.

My husband, a retired Secondary School teacher, would have said 'fine, take your child out for a holiday if that is what you want, but don't expect me to help him/her catch up when they return. The other 29 children in the class will have moved on and I haven't got time to do one-to-one tuition with a child whose parents considered the holiday more important. You take the responsibility for the holiday, so it is your responsibility to help your child catch up with the work.'

(He would have found time to help a child who had been away through sickness).

Edwardia

I travelled with my parents and lived abroad and I think that was really useful. But ten days in Torremolinos or a trip to Disneyland is hardly educational.

However if grandparents are getting on and might not be around for much longer, the bonding trip to Disneyland would live in the grandchild's memories all his life.

gayleygoo

I agree with the others who've said to let him go, but be honest with the school and try to cooperate with them. I understand why fines are issued for unauthorised absences, education is a childs right (in this country anyway) and fines and the threat of prosecution are there to discourage parents from neglecting their child's education and welfare. imho, a holiday away in this case is not neglect, but an opportunity for your child and I hope his school agrees.

I missed many weeks of school due to illness, but I usually got homework to do while in hospital and was expected to make an effort with it to make it easier when I got back, and my grades didn't suffer. perhaps your sons teacher could give him some work to do while hes away,or have him do a little project about his holiday? actually, as he' s only six, that sounds a bit much, but if he gave a little talk about where he was and what he did, or drew a picture for the teacher, that could be considered as some education. I really don't think he'll miss much at his age.

education takes many forms, and school is just one of them. a holiday doesn't have to be jam packed full of "educational" stuff just to be worthwhile. there are countries who believe their under- sevens benefit more from practical family life than academic teaching anyway!

Faith177

My friend is taking her 5 kids to Florida in Feb and she is being charged £50 per day per child (3 are school age) if her partner was going they would both be fined.

Yet it was fine for the kids to only be in school for about a week last April what with the Easter holidays and teacher training days ect.

Provided the children aren't off constantly then I think 2 weeks a year during term time is a good idea. I was taken out of school for 2 months in my first year of seconday school after being attacked by an older pupil both at school and outside. My mum was not happy with how it was dealt with so removed me. The teachers supplied me with work that my mum collected every week and she would give them the work I had completed. Maybe you could suggest to the school he takes some work with him? I also had a lot of time off my last year during my GCSE's and I got really good grades still.

I agree with many here a holiday with grandparents is a possible one time only deal. Me & my brother often stayed at our grandparents in the school holidays but they actually took us away properly once and we loved it and I learnt so much from them in that week.

He is only young he won't be learning anything so difficult that he won't be able to catch up quickly when he gets back

janiebquick

Faith177 wrote: »

My friend is taking her 5 kids to Florida in Feb and she is being charged £50 per day per child (3 are school age) if her partner was going they would both be fined.

Yet it was fine for the kids to only be in school for about a week last April what with the Easter holidays and teacher training days ect.

Provided the children aren't off constantly then I think 2 weeks a year during term time is a good idea. I was taken out of school for 2 months in my first year of seconday school after being attacked by an older pupil both at school and outside. My mum was not happy with how it was dealt with so removed me. The teachers supplied me with work that my mum collected every week and she would give them the work I had completed. Maybe you could suggest to the school he takes some work with him? I also had a lot of time off my last year during my GCSE's and I got really good grades still.

I agree with many here a holiday with grandparents is a possible one time only deal. Me & my brother often stayed at our grandparents in the school holidays but they actually took us away properly once and we loved it and I learnt so much from them in that week.

He is only young he won't be learning anything so difficult that he won't be able to catch up quickly when he gets back

Are you seriously saying that the school is charging your friend £50 for each day each child is off school?