Should parents be allowed to take kids out of school for a holiday?

squashy

How can any parent guarantee their child won't need another fortnight off some time later in the year with an illness? Is missing a whole month ok?

Naf

To anyone who cites the hiked up holiday prices during the summer - get out. I can't accept this as a justification for taking kids out of school, just to save some cash. Just because you want a fancy holiday abroad, doesn't justify it. There are so many available chances to take perfectly good and affordable holidays during the summer holidays.
The only reasons I see as justified are when there's no other options for a holiday (I.e. Both parents can't get time off together any other time), or if really is likely to be the only chance to visit family members.

David_e

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

Parents should be able to take kids out of school if the holiday itinerary and project work handed in could be deemed to be educational.

So a trip to Paris could include a history of art project, some engineering learning (how does the tower stay up), some RE, (there's enough churches), some French History, and the joourney back to Calais might include a detour to war graves.

A trip to germany might include a trip to concentration camps,

A trip to a beach, would include The Biology of Sea Creatures, Rock Formation, and arcitechure (sand castles).

A camping trip would include an extreme home ecomonics (sorry food tech) module.

So who monitors, sets and reviews this bespoke "holiday work"?

(I'm not a teacher, by the way.)

fractured_rainbow

I would love to take my child out of school in term time and take advantage of cheap deals but as I work in a school I can't. Ok I won't get a fine but I also won't get paid for that time either so it's close enough! I agree holidays are a privilege and a luxury. I had my first family holiday in 6 years last year and saved hard for it. Otherwise we grab small economical weekend breaks and have day trips together. My husband will take off a week or two for us to spend as a family. When did this "rule" that you have to go abroad come into force? Yes we have and will go abroad but only if we can afford it. Can't afford it, don't go, don't make it the school's fault that your child will be marked as an unauthorised absence, their hands are tied by legislation. They cannot authorise absence of that nature. It was my understanding however that fines would only apply to families where attendance is already an issue and had fallen below the 85% mark. That's when schools start monitoring a child's attendance, send letters home, have parent meetings etc and try to work with and family to help prevent it dropping lower. If it continues to fall that is when the school is legally obligated to involve the LEA educational welfare officer who will, again, write letters and hold meetings to help the family. Then if it drops further court proceedings have to be instigated. That system has been (and still is) in place for many years. The "on the spot" fines I understood only applied to families already being monitored by the educational welfare officer. school's don't issue the fines and certainly dont write letters informing the LEA of every family holiday. so the absence may not be authorised but it is certainly not prevented. It is the choice of the parents still and if your child already has poor attendance there will be consequences, if they don't chances are that all will be fine.

DiggerB9

It boils down to money for us. Case in point; we got married in July and had booked our honeymoon for a week on our own.

We then wanted to take our three children (9, 5 & 2) away on an all inclusive holiday. The difference in price anywhere in Europe incl the likes of Benidorm etc was a minimum of £7500 but in the first week in September the same holiday was £3500! This was booking last minute too.

Even the travel agent said, I'll have a look at where I'm taking my family as its really good for kids but when it came up it was £9500.

We met the Headmistress who sat with us for 1.5hrs and then declined us the chance to take them away in school time and in the end they missed three days as we wrote to explain this was the best we could do. Luckily we didnt get fined.

The best part is my eldest daughters teacher has been off sick since the holidays with stress but her supply teacher couldnt beleive all she learned about Greek Gods etc and that she'd dive off a ship etc.

To me this is just a way for schools etc. to make extra money. Restricting you to 2wks max could and should be amicable and surely it is against our human rights not to have a holiday!

zzalsar4

I don't think that children should miss out on education for a holiday in the sun, but at the same time, such holidays should not be reserved for those without children and the elite (especially given our climate).

I did wonder about an alternative which could give everyone the best of both worlds - affordable holidays for families (including teachers) and no reduction in schooling. I have put these ideas in an epetition - visit the government epetitions site and look for (sorry can't link it here):
"Allow children and teachers to take up to two week holiday in a single block during term and extend term by two weeks to compensate"

Please sign this if you think it's a good idea (and share it with your friends)!

Indie_Kid

DiggerB9 wrote: »

To me this is just a way for schools etc. to make extra money. Restricting you to 2wks max could and should be amicable and surely it is against our human rights not to have a holiday!

Um, children get plenty of time off school. They don't need a holiday. My parents never took me abroad and I've survived.

Human rights my !!!!.

Torry_Quine

sh1305 wrote: »

Um, children get plenty of time off school. They don't need a holiday. My parents never took me abroad and I've survived.

.

I rarely had any holidays even in this country never mind abroad. Staying off school would never have been even considered.

PlymouthMaid

I really don't like it when different authorities have different holidays for schools as it makes it even harder to do things with family in other counties.

I think allowing a week or two at sensible parts of term on the understanding that the child will catch up at home is fair but only for those children whose attendance and behaviour is good. If the catch up work is not done then permission can be refused the following year.

That said, children do not 'need' an annual holiday but maybe the family as a whole do need it. We didn't have fancy foreign holidays when I was a kid but even our weeks spent camping in Wales, Devon and Cornwall have formed some of my strongest and fondest memories and probably helped to give me my love for nature, walking etc.

WarwickMum

I appreciate how hard teachers work and the good job they do. both my husband and I work full time and my gripe is schools can say you can't have holidays in term time, yet expect us to find an extra 6/7 days annual leave per year on top of school holidays for teacher training days. I am happy to take my children out of school, but do try to work around school holidays, ie: have 10 or 11 days break over half-term - I couldn't take them out entirely in term time, my conscience wouldn't let me. Also, we can only save for a family holiday over a couple of years so this doesn't happen annually. I believe the children benefit from having family time together where we are all relaxed as much as getting an education - even in school holidays they only get one parent off work, or are in holiday schemes so our 10 day breaks mean a huge amount. If we waited till departure dates were wholly in school holidays we could only afford a family break every 3/4 years - I enjoy seeing my kids enjoy themselves while they are young.