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

danthemoneysavingman

If this is taken on by schools it may shake up the demand/pricing issues coming up here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-23129472


Thoughts?

Shoshannah

During my school years we went on one holiday. My parents couldn't afford holidays. I was six and it was Cornwall for a fortnight, during holidays. We never went on holiday abroad.

I don't have children, and maybe my opinions will change when I do, but I'm not convinced a holiday is a good enough reason to take them out of school. I voted for the option that said: Yes, BUT only for a strict maximum number of days (eg, 1 or 2 weeks a year), booked in advance, not in a crucial time.

Seems to be the most popular answer so far.

Carl31

As far as I know, this whole situation hasn't ever changed, so current parents knew that holidays were expensive when they decided to have kids

In my opinion, as well as the affect on the children and their education, taking kids out of school is also a burden onnthe tax payer. We all pay for those schools to be run, and hence should expect them to be treated and used as intended. I wouldn't take my kids out of school for a holiday, as i feel it takes away the view of it being the priority it should be

We manage to take holidays, generally camping, UK or abroad. OK its not the Maldives, but we can do that when the kids have finished school

disney_cjd

A good pal of mine over on Discuss Orlando FB group posted this comment to the article pasted below....

"20 years from now your kids won't remember what they did in school that week, but they will remember your trip."

So true!

disney_cjd

And of course, I am in favour of it BUT we are not cavalier... the kids catch up on their work... they work bloody hard and deserve a holiday as well... it widens their life skills and travel is a geography lesson! And we do it at times when the kids are at end of terms and combine with a half term so they are at a theme park or beach rather than watching a DVD in class!

Flossy1974

I have a child in year 2 primary and two older step children one of whom works as an aircraft engineer having studied very hard at school and college and the other is in year 11 and lives in a different county to us.

• What was wrong with the old process of the head master deciding if the pupil can take the leave from school?
• Should the system not be that if the leave is declined by the head teacher and you then go against his/her decision you are then fined?
• Teachers striking – this is out of my control. I still have to take time off work to look after my son or pay someone else too, does this not amount to the same thing?
• I agree that holiday companies do charge over the odds for holidays in term time but this will never change.
• Changing holiday dates across schools or counties will only make planning holidays more difficult. If my stepchild is to holiday with us and his holiday dates were changed to a different time to my sons, not only would the children not see each other but we would not be able to holiday together as a family. Should the 6 week summer holiday not be split down into smaller chunks?
• I don’t agree that you should take your child out of school for a holiday just sun and sand, however, should you be going somewhere educational and perhaps you require a few additional days/week to that of the school holiday time, why should you be penalised. For example we would like to take our son to Africa to a game reserve. Having been to one in the past and knowing his love of animals, however we wouldn’t want to go until October time. We would be willing to go in the school holiday but this is only 1 week and would not want to travel all that way for 1 week. This under the old ruling would probably been signed off by the head teacher however now we would be fined and in some cases if more than two weeks was taken, be excluded from the school!
• There are also places in the world that you would not necessarily want to visit in the summer holidays due to weather, too hot, too cold, monsoon etc.
• I spend a lot of time with my son on his reading and homework and give him a lot of support. Should additional time be required to get him back up to speed when going back to school, I would be prepared to do this.
• I also feel that although schooling is important at any age it is more appropriate to take him out in the younger years when I am able to offer him more support with his learning.

Why should our children miss out on opportunities to see the world if we are financially in a position to offer it to them? You may then say well if you can afford the holiday then you can afford the fine, and yes you are probably right, however, isn’t it about a balance and our right as parents to choose. I would like to know once these fines are paid where the money goes?

Catriona_P

Carl31 wrote: »

As far as I know, this whole situation hasn't ever changed, so current parents knew that holidays were expensive when they decided to have kids

What a ridiculous thing to say. As if any prospective parent ever factored the cost of holidays into a decision to have children - the fines for this only came in last September for a start. The 'well you knew what you were getting into' mentality about anything related to raising children is dismissive and ignorant and strays too close to the 'you shouldn't have had them at all' brigade.

The problem isn't solely related to foreign holidays - look at the prices for any UK centre parks in and out of term time. The difference is huge. But this is capitalism.

When I was growing up (the 90's/early 2000's) we never had foreign holidays and our annual holiday in the UK was always during May half-term so I have no personal experience of this. But at this time there wasn't a huge difference in holiday pricing - what has changed to put us in the situation we're in now?

My daughter is still a toddler so this is an issue we're only just starting to think about - there isn't a solution that solves this problem completely.

Jem12345

There is a flaw to the governments plan.

Day before holiday:

Dear Mr Headteacher
With immediate effect, I will be withdrawing my child from school, I have decided to home school my child.

Day after holiday:

Dear Mr Headteacher
I have changed my mind and I will be sending my child back to school.

Every parent has the right to home educate their child. Every parent has the right to change their mind and send them back. Home educated children are also allowed to take holidays when they feel like it and can also study part time.

Galaxy68

Jem12345 wrote: »

There is a flaw to the governments plan.

Day before holiday:

Dear Mr Headteacher
With immediate effect, I will be withdrawing my child from school, I have decided to home school my child.

Day after holiday:

Dear Mr Headteacher
I have changed my mind and I will be sending my child back to school.
Every parent has the right to home educate their child. Every parent has the right to change their mind and send them back. Home educated children are also allowed to take holidays when they feel like it and can also study part time

The problem with that is that by withdrawing your child from school you remove them from the school roll.
The school is under no obligation to keep that place open and if upon return they have admitted another pupil, you could be left trying to find a school that does have a place. You will not be guaranteed a place at the original school.
Is a holiday really worth that risk?

Jem12345

It is unlikely that the place would be filled that quickly (IMO) but you are right, it could happen.

This legislation is just going to encourage parents to call in sick for their children. I personally don't want to see only 'rich' kids getting an annual family holiday. Again, it is the Kids from lower income families who are more likely to lose out. Very sad.