Our kids refused time off school during term time - please advice

Nessun_Dorma

FBaby wrote: »

Sorry don't understand the 'that's a child absent every week'. Not all parents take their kids out every year just because they can. Many do it for as a one off opportunity not make it an annual event.

In reality, what happens is that parents take children out of school during the months of March, June, July and September. In some schools, some classes can be cut in half, by irresponsible parents taking their children out of school during these months.

Jagraf

FBaby wrote: »

Sorry don't understand the 'that's a child absent every week'. Not all parents take their kids out every year just because they can. Many do it for as a one off opportunity not make it an annual event.

It depends though doesnt it? Some of those who have agreed with you that it is a good idea are giving reasons like shift patterns, inflexible holidays, only time together as a family etc. I'm not sure how you know how frequently people would use this 'opportunity', and surely their working or personal circumstances don't change that frequently. Why wouldn't you do it the next year, and the next, and the next.

FBaby

In some schools, some classes can be cut in half

Really, where is that? It's a lot of holidays for many kids. Certainly not something my kids have experienced and they go to a middle class school where you would expect it to most of an issue . Is it specific to a class/a geographical area?

FBaby

Why wouldn't you do it the next year, and the next, and the next.

As above, my kids certainly haven't experienced anything like the above and speaking on behalf of my friends, I can say that all if not most of them have taken their kids off school at some point, but not one of them do it every year. It is almost always because it involved other people and therefore were limited to certain dates, or involved a specific holiday that couldn't be taken at another time.

By the way, I have taken my kids off school three times, but never more than 2 days at a time. I can't say I wouldn't take them out for 5, but there would have to be a good (to me!) reason to do so and certainly wouldn't contemplate doing it every year.

bylromarha

Nessun_Dorma wrote: »

In reality, what happens is that parents take children out of school during the months of March, June, July and September. In some schools, some classes can be cut in half, by irresponsible parents taking their children out of school during these months.

My classes have never been halved due to kids taking holidays.

Max no. of children I've had off together due to holidays is 3 - in classes of 30-35, thats a tenth. And even then that was the last week of the summer term when its parties, DVDs and nothing substantial educationally.

I've only ever known 1 child in my class take holiday in September in 15 years of teaching. It was the first week back at school as well. Not the most sensible decision IMO, but they're the parents, their choice. As it was, child settled into the new academic year + class just fine when they got back.

FBaby

Some schools are also showing some initiative when picking their inset day. My school has always has the first day of back at school in September as an inset day. It will be the second year that we come back from our hols on that day, and the second time that we are saving 2/3rd on the cost of the return flight....only because we are flying 12 hours later. It's no wonder parents can't help but be tempted.

Jagraf

FBaby wrote: »

Some schools are also showing some initiative when picking their inset day. My school has always has the first day of back at school in September as an inset day. It will be the second year that we come back from our hols on that day, and the second time that we are saving 2/3rd on the cost of the return flight....only because we are flying 12 hours later. It's no wonder parents can't help but be tempted.

Schools have to provide a certain number of hours teaching per year, and its great if inset days can be incorporated onto the end of holidays, everyone's a winner. Parents get cheaper flights, individuals don't miss lessons, and the rest of the class aren't at school so no one falls behind.

Whereas this is a completely different scenario, its a good idea IMO.

WestonDave

FBaby wrote: »

Some schools are also showing some initiative when picking their inset day. My school has always has the first day of back at school in September as an inset day. It will be the second year that we come back from our hols on that day, and the second time that we are saving 2/3rd on the cost of the return flight....only because we are flying 12 hours later. It's no wonder parents can't help but be tempted.

That works because its the exception to the rule - if every school did it the demand for flights on that first day "back" would rise and prices would go up.

missbiggles1

WestonDave wrote: »

That works because its the exception to the rule - if every school did it the demand for flights on that first day "back" would rise and prices would go up.

It wouldn't be feasible for all schools to have the same days off training.

FBaby

First day of start of school year is best, but any inset that is the first day back of any hols is still quite good. I have discovered that first day back (usually Mondays) are most of the time a better bet price wise than the day before the first day of hols (usually Fridays).