Taking Children out of School in Term Time

pollypenny

supersaver2 wrote: »

I find any type of absence a nightmare. I teach secondary science, maths and further maths and if I had pupils off for large chunks of time they really would miss vital work and this would have a knock on effect on future learning. I don't mind spending time doing extra lessons after school if the pupil has been off for illness, but would find it galling using my time to teach 2 weeks worth of work to a pupil that has been sunning themselves on a beach!

Absolutely!

From my own experience, I missed three crucial weeks of the first year of grammar school through pleurisy and never, ever caught up in maths. This was in 1959. No chance of any catch up help, then.

As a teacher, I know that it's hard for even the brightest pupils to catch up totally.

neneromanova

Have you asked your DD's father if he's ok with the kids going? He'll have to write a letter saying he's allowing them out the country as sometimes, security won't let you through as you could be "abducting" the kids.

fivesquare

Jagraf wrote: »

You mean just go and not inform the school of the absence? How does that work? What will your child say to the teacher on their return? :eek: isn't that AWOL?

I used to love the last day of term at school. My DD now 15 never wanted to miss school - specially first and last days.

I informed them on the day - in the morning - but not asked for permission. Just told them 'we're flying today and the child is not coming to school'. Two years ago when I did this the flight cost was higher by over £200 on Saturday vs Friday (before Christmas). I can't afford that kind of cost, so the choice was between not going to meet family at Christmas OR taking the child for one day (short day, they finish at 2pm) out of school.

This February half term* we're going skiing and we're flying to an airport where you can only fly on Tuesdays and Fridays. We picked this destination because normal ones e.g. Austria or France are out of reach - costs double during half term. So once again, the choice is between not going at all OR taking the child out of school for one day. I will request permission this time but I doubt I'll get it.


*Re these artificial price increases for flights around half term. On one hand the airlines increase costs in school holidays, on the other hand you get fined as a parent for taking your child out of school. Something has to give... so as long as I'm sensible about this - and I think I am - we're talking about one day per school year, if that...

pollypenny

Airline prices are not 'artificial' in a market economy. They are cheaper when fewer people want to fly.

We travel to see family in the USA regularly, often on grandparents' duty. This means we have little choice of when we fly, as we go when needed.

Our little saving is to fly midweek.

pollyanna24

neneromanova wrote: »

Have you asked your DD's father if he's ok with the kids going? He'll have to write a letter saying he's allowing them out the country as sometimes, security won't let you through as you could be "abducting" the kids.

Oh, I hadn't thought of this. He knows they're going, but didn't of asking his permission as such.

He takes the kids out of the country every summer, but then they do have his surname. I was just going to bring their birth certs in case I encountered any problems as my parents were questioned when they tried taking my eldest to Barbados when she was 10 months old.

fivesquare

pollypenny wrote: »

Airline prices are not 'artificial' in a market economy. They are cheaper when fewer people want to fly.

I think it's the other way around - prices are more expensive/inflated - when airlines know they'll sell them anyway.

Perhaps staggering school holidays is one solution to this, as they do in other countries (e.g. Germany).

pollyanna24

It's pretty much been decided that we are going for the shorter time, so they will miss four days of school. Not ideal, but hey ho. It's four days in Reception and Year 2, not sure if there'll be much catching up to do.

neneromanova

You could always talk to the new teacher before you leave and say we're going, but do you have any work they could do while on holiday so they don't fall behind. My teacher always used to do this for people who went on holiday.

pollyanna24

neneromanova wrote: »

You could always talk to the new teacher before you leave and say we're going, but do you have any work they could do while on holiday so they don't fall behind. My teacher always used to do this for people who went on holiday.

I get this, but in Year 2 and Reception?

In year 1, all my daughter gets is a book to read each night and I'm fairly sure Reception was learning through play.

pollypenny

pollyanna24 wrote: »

It's pretty much been decided that we are going for the shorter time, so they will miss four days of school. Not ideal, but hey ho. It's four days in Reception and Year 2, not sure if there'll be much catching up to do.

Oh, yes, we understand that. It's settling in was your first concern I think.

Hope it all goes well and the little ones play their roles in the 'wedding'.