Schools no longer allowed to authorise holidays

penguin83

We have just had this letter sent home tonight from our local council. It won't affect us as we don't have holidays anyway but I do feel for my colleagues in work. Not everyone gets their summer leave when the kids are off so some people get their 2 weeks in June or September (everyone is guaranteed 2 weeks not consecutive between June and Sept but the managers pick who has when)

My Mum and Dad never kept us off school and holidays were never a big thing when I was growing up. I think that is why I don't see holidays as an importance now. I have still never been abroad but maybe will one day!

My daughter is going on a residential trip in Sept with school for a week. At the parents meeting about it we were specifically told that anyone who didn't want their child to go was not to worry as they would not miss anything that would affect them educationally. One parent then asked if that was the case, could they use the week to take their son out on holiday. Don't know what the outcome of that was as the head asked to speak to them in private! x

jollymummy

The school I work at (and my son attends) is starting zero tolerance on term time hols starting in September. We have to go in the school holidays, either that or we'd both have to call in sick

Spendless

So if schools won't authorise term-time hols and instead hols should exclusively be taken in the school holidays, or not taken at all, does this mean my children will no longer be set homework to be completed during school hols? I surely can't be the only parent this happens to? Neither of mine are yet doing GCSE work,so it's not due to that, youngest is still in Primary school.

snowdrop1967

I work in a high school doing attendance. We also sent a letter out to parents saying no holidays will be authorised from September. If your child has good attendance you probably wont get fined - it is only when the figure drops below 85-90% then it will get looked at. I cant see it making a lot of difference to most families and as people have already said if you can save more money by booking a cheaper holiday the fine probably wont make much difference.

zagfles

There are loads of ways to get cheap holidays in the school holidays. A few we've used:

1. For UK holidays look at differences in the school holidays across the country. For instance where we are, Easter is always the two weeks starting the Mon before Good Friday, whereas down south it tends to be Good Friday and the next two weeks. So the first week of Easter hols is a cheap break.
2. For foreign holidays go somewhere where it's off-peak locally, eg the second half of August is quite cheap in Europe. Don't book a package, book flights (or drive) and hotels separately. Flights aren't really much more expensive in the school holidays, except start and end of half terms as everyone goes at the same time.
3. If you really must book a package abroad, consider flying from somewhere where it's not the school holidays. We've had some cracking deals flying from Glasgow in the October half term. Even with a 200 mile drive, hotel at the airport and parking it's been about half the cost of the same holiday from Manchester.

We've stuck with the school holidays for the last 10 years, usually 2 or 3 holidays a year, never paying the rip-off prices the travel agents want.

iammumtoone

1. For UK holidays look at differences in the school holidays across the country. For instance where we are, Easter is always the two weeks starting the Mon before Good Friday, whereas down south it tends to be Good Friday and the next two weeks. So the first week of Easter hols is a cheap break.

Thanks a good suggestion, thanks. Do you know where you can find the information on everyones holiday dates?

spacey2012

The rope is tightening round our necks.
Soon, fines for farting in earshot.

pigpen

spacey2012 wrote: »

The rope is tightening round our necks.
Soon, fines for farting in earshot.

That'll be OH destitute.. he is a one man brass band... I'll be ok though.. silent but violent ftw!

:rotfl::rotfl:

clairey1208

I came across this e-petition a few weeks ago calling for the changes to be reversed - maybe the power of MSE can get enough signatures!!!

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/49640

katie1812

I work in a school and I'd say about 95% of requested holidays are not agreed. The only ones are, like someone previous to me has said, are due to visiting a family member/family, and any religious events.
Yes, children can catch up but I have to say that those children who are taken out year on year for two weeks at a time, are not at the same academic level as others. Obviously other factors could be involved, but these holidays don't help. In some cases, those parents that take their children out are the first ones to moan when their child doesn't get all their spellings or work right!
This is ultimately down to the individual parent but personally I don't think it should be allowed unless for the above stated reasons!