Booking a holiday in term time ?

Jagraf

Cash-Cows wrote: »

These £60 fines aren't working as parents are just taking the hit. They need to be increased to £500 then there wouldn't be a saving.

I think its more about people understanding why its disruptive, not just to the child concerned, but the bigger picture.

A bit like my mind changed after a speed awareness course (embarrassed face)

fluffnutter

surreysaver wrote: »

The other side of the argument is if the laws were reasonable, then people wouldn't feel the need to break them.

Do you feel that way about drink driving? People drive their cars drunk because the law's unreasonable?

surreysaver

fluffnutter wrote: »

Do you feel that way about drink driving? People drive their cars drunk because the law's unreasonable?

We're not talking about drink driving. We're talking about taking children, that parents have parental responsibility for, out of schools, which do not have parental responsibility, during term time. And the unreasonable laws that prevent adults using their autonomy, or at least negotiating, and preventing headteachers using their professional judgements in those negotiations.

Headteachers are finding ways around these laws to prevent absences being recorded as absences, so even headteachers are lying because they are of the opinion these laws are unreasonable, or at least inflexible.

pinkladyof66

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

Is this a general comment on term-time holidays or one specific to this thread? As if it's the former, I'll duck out of the inevitable discussion.

I certainly won't be asking my son to lie, but I'd be pretty darned well amazed if he did considering he's non-verbal :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Yes, we're saving over £500 by going on holiday in June rather than waiting until the holidays in July. That's for one week, and it's in the UK.

my son has limited speech but could say the words beach and plane
so i think this would give it away... We tried uk last year and had awful weather my son suffers from terrible eczema and we are hoping it will help
hope you have a great time have you put in the form/letter yet and if so what did you say

Jagraf

surreysaver wrote: »

We're not talking about drink driving. We're talking about taking children, that parents have parental responsibility for, out of schools, which do not have parental responsibility, during term time. And the unreasonable laws that prevent adults using their autonomy, or at least negotiating, and preventing headteachers using their professional judgements in those negotiations.

Headteachers are finding ways around these laws to prevent absences being recorded as absences, so even headteachers are lying because they are of the opinion these laws are unreasonable, or at least inflexible.

I'm really sorry, but I don't understand. Are you implying that a parent can break a law on behalf of a child, if they don't agree with it? But I can't break a law on behalf of myself (as an adult) if I don't agree with it?

fluffnutter

surreysaver wrote: »

We're not talking about drink driving. We're talking about taking children, that parents have parental responsibility for, out of schools, which do not have parental responsibility, during term time. And the unreasonable laws that prevent adults using their autonomy, or at least negotiating, and preventing headteachers using their professional judgements in those negotiations.

Headteachers are finding ways around these laws to prevent absences being recorded as absences, so even headteachers are lying because they are of the opinion these laws are unreasonable, or at least inflexible.

Valid points. But so is mine. You don't get to decide what laws are 'unreasonable' then choose not to follow ones that don't suit you.

I'm actually not hugely bothered whether parents choose to take their children on a fantastic-holiday-abroad-actually-it's-not-a-holiday-it's-a-life-experience-lying-on-a-beach-for-a-fortnight-what-do-teachers-know-I-have-autonomy-and-know-what's-best-for-my-child-yadda-yadda and don't want to pay August prices for it. What gets my goat is when they then go moaning to the media afterwards about how hard done by they are having to fork out for the fine. Suck it up. Your choice. It's a good lesson in consequences for your kids.

Mojisola

surreysaver wrote: »

We're talking about taking children, that parents have parental responsibility for, out of schools, which do not have parental responsibility, during term time.

When you decide to send your child to school, you agree to the school having responsibility for them during those hours and you agree to sending them whenever the school is open, not just when you want them to go.

Parents always have the option of home-schooling if they don't want others to be involved in their children's lives.

Tigsteroonie

I have no idea how our son would even be on a plane, he certainly wouldn't understand sitting in one seat for three hours People have enough to say about children on aeroplanes, goodness alone knows what they'd make of an autistic child having a meltdown.

pinkladyof66 wrote: »

hope you have a great time have you put in the form/letter yet and if so what did you say

I won't be sending a letter until a month before, though I'll mention it in passing at his Annual Review in March.. It's not as though there are any lesson plans to be disrupted by his absence.

And yes, we'll probably pay any fine if one is imposed, though it would be slightly tempting to let the situation go to court and try to fight the system on behalf of children with special educational needs.

surreysaver

fluffnutter wrote: »

It's a good lesson in consequences for your kids.

Also a good lesson in standing up for yourself, and protecting individual rights. And standing up to the establishment and questioning what they dictate. Do people get criminal records for this as well? No one seems to mention the consequences of that - they're just worried about the money!

surreysaver

Mojisola wrote: »

When you decide to send your child to school, you agree to the school having responsibility for them during those hours and you agree to sending them whenever the school is open, not just when you want them to go.

You do not relinquish parental rights for the hours which you send your child(ren)to school.