Term Time Holiday

farmerboy

Well we're happy. Emailed school stating that we want to take daughter out for a week in May 2014, explaining the reasons. Got a reply back the next day ok'ing it. Cue one very happy family here and we can now book our special holiday

Richard53

angelil wrote: »

But when you enrol a child in a school, you agree to that school's terms and conditions - including term dates. If a parent doesn't like it, then you're right - they should take them out. Permanently. Children need to learn that school is not a pick and mix - just like work is not a pick and mix when those same children grow up and leave school.

That's a fair point. What I was getting at is the attitude that schools or local authorities can make stipulations that are way outside their competence. We sometimes forget that schools are there to serve parents, and ultimately society, not the other way round. I was a secondary teacher for 18 years, and I was as guilty of this attitude as anyone. 'School' laid down the rules, and parents had to comply. Any parent who questioned this was labelled as 'awkward' or 'unco-operative', when in fact they were just managing their own children's time and education as they saw fit.

I have been out of education for a while, and needless to say I see things differently now. If a school tried to 'fine' me for the choices I made about my own kids, I would be apoplectic.

Janepig

jellyhead wrote: »

I like Sillygoose's idea of staggering the holidays. There would be some clashes where teacher couples worked in different counties, and maybe some where divorced families might be in different counties, but that happens anyhow with holidays varying by up to 2 weeks between my county and the neighbouring one, and Scotland and Ireland are very different too.

I also like this idea. Where I work, including myself and my colleagues we have children in schools in three different LEA's. There have been odd occasions when half terms haven't been on the same week, but more often than not they are. It would certainly be better for our employer (and colleagues) if they were staggered because we wouldn't all want time off on the same week. But I'm sure you can't please all of the people.... etc...

Jx

jellyhead

Janepig wrote: »

I also like this idea. Where I work, including myself and my colleagues we have children in schools in three different LEA's. There have been odd occasions when half terms haven't been on the same week, but more often than not they are. It would certainly be better for our employer (and colleagues) if they were staggered because we wouldn't all want time off on the same week. But I'm sure you can't please all of the people.... etc...

Jx

No, I live near Alton towers and there was outrage on their facebook wall because of the half term special events they put on being only during one week - the one where it was half term for the county. I think people wanted it to run for an entire month due to differing half terms.

I try not to take term time holidays. My eldest is now is 6th form and he has had 2 days holiday leave in his entire school life. However, somebody mentioned a funeral earlier. There are weddings too, and other important family events that are a one-off or infrequent and are very important to the child. I know one child who had a month off because the trip to see family was long haul, somebody was dying, and it was such an expensive trip that it would probably only happen once in that child's school life. 2 of those weeks were school holidays, but the other 2 needed holiday leave.

Our primary would grant leave for these, but then it leaves them having to grant 2 week's leave every year just so people can holiday with their own household for less than it would cost to do it in school holidays. Children need a bit of leave though. Funerals happen every day of the week, for starters.

maman

fawd1 wrote: »

So if they're not going to be training in those days, they should allow the children to be at school. It's not just a nice day off for the kids. Working parents have to organise childcare. So whilst I'm sure it's lovely for the teachers, it wouldn't go down too well with me if I was having to pay 100quid for 3 kids to be looked after and the teachers were just having a day off.

I find the hypocrisy of statements like these unbelievable. Schools are looked at as places to provide childcare until it suits some parents to take a term time holiday!

I think the reason that many schools don't impose fines is that they want to focus on managing students' learning without becoming debt collectors on top.

What I find odd is that parents seem to think that it's ok to take children out of school to fit in with the rules on holidays set by their own employers but it's ok to teach their children that rules don't matter. The government/employers want to ensure that schools prepare pupils for the world of work. Fat chance if their own parents teach them that taking time off against the rules is acceptable.

Zoetoes

clairey1208 wrote: »

The rules change in September 2013 & head teachers are no longer allowed to authorise any holidays during term time!

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/behaviour/attendance/a00223868/regulations-amendments

I am taking my son out for 2 weeks on 23rd September after the rules change but I asked for permission in February for it (although I didn't actually get an answer anyway!). I wonder what will happen!

Zoetoes

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

I think the main implication is that your child learns that you think rules don't apply to you.

The 'rules' are that the head can agree to up to 10 days.

Gloomendoom

My sister-in-law takes my nephew out of school during term time every summer. The school gives her work for him to do while he is away.

msb5262

Zoetoes wrote: »

The 'rules' are that the head can agree to up to 10 days.

As pointed out in post #8, that will no longer be the case from September 2013... http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/behaviour/attendance/a00223868/regulations-amendments

Zoetoes

msb5262 wrote: »

As pointed out in post #8, that will no longer be the case from September 2013... http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/behaviour/attendance/a00223868/regulations-amendments

Yes I saw that and commented on it.