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

Jagraf

meritaten wrote: »

so everything the school does is 'educational' - I beg to differ. but even a holiday to another country with parents can be just as 'educational' as a 'school trip'. I am getting so fed up that parent rights are being eroded here. its ok for schools to waste the kids time - on CHARIDEE events, but the parents cant take the children to another country or even a part of this country on holiday? which surely is educational?


How is 'ski-ing ' educational? most comps take the kids ski-ing. both my kids said it wasn't an educational trip - it was fun. they learned how to ski and !!!!!! all else- don't think that was on the curriculum.
justify that?

It's not particularly what the children do at school, it's what they miss individually.

Jagraf

k12479 wrote: »

Do people not realise that school isn't just to teach pure academics but also some basic life skills like personal discipline, priorities and so on?

No I don't think they understand particularly. It's a bit like me trying to understand an architects office when I don't have a clue about architecture.

Buzzybee90

k12479 wrote: »

Do people not realise that school isn't just to teach pure academics but also some basic life skills like personal discipline, priorities and so on?

But 5 days is going to make no difference.

bylromarha

meritaten wrote: »

so everything the school does is 'educational' - I beg to differ. but even a holiday to another country with parents can be just as 'educational' as a 'school trip'. I am getting so fed up that parent rights are being eroded here. its ok for schools to waste the kids time - on CHARIDEE events, but the parents cant take the children to another country or even a part of this country on holiday? which surely is educational?


How is 'ski-ing ' educational? most comps take the kids ski-ing. both my kids said it wasn't an educational trip - it was fun. they learned how to ski and !!!!!! all else- don't think that was on the curriculum.
justify that?

This is the bit that gets me as a teacher and parent. I'd have no problem taking my kids away during term time if I didn't teach. Especially if I was in a profession where taking holidays from my job during school holidays was banned.

I know the experiences they get on holiday are of such quality that can't be equalled to reading about in the classroom. I know how much time is wasted in schools. I know how my kids are in school every other day of term and illness means other kids miss far more than them. I know they put effort into their learning and homework, so are both making good progress year on year.

Fine me if you have to, but my kids, my family, my choice.

Nicki

I wonder whether the parents who take their kids on term time holidays are also the employees who take a sick day to attend an interview rather than annual leave, and whether their children also grow up to become unreliable employees. Just because the child or the parent doesn't see the value of a school day, isn't a good reason not to attend school on that day. Just like you can't decide not to turn up for work because it's only a stock taking day not a normal retail day, for example

fierystormcloud

Do people actually think about what they're saying before they click 'post?!'

The school may be CLOSED 13 weeks a year, but that doesn't mean that the PARENTS have 13 weeks a year off FGS!

Indeed, many parents cannot GET time off in the school holidays. At the hospital I worked at for many years, mums (and dads!) fought to get school holidays off, and many couldn't; such was the demand. So they HAD to go on holiday in school time. Moreover, it's a up to a THIRD of the price out of school holidays!

As someone highlighted above, the schools think nothing of having days off for daft frivolous things, and PD days left right and centre, but 'punish' you for having the audacity to have five days off out of the whole school year!

When my sisters want to take their kids somewhere out of school holidays, (although this is rare!) they lie and say the kids are ill.

Not much choice really have they, seeing as you're treated like a CRIMINAL if you keep your kids off school for a few days in school time!

To the OP: just go, and to hell with the school.

Nicki

No the parents won't have 13 weeks holiday in a year. They will probably have 28 days if they work full time. And if they genuinely cannot take any of those 28 days in the 13 weeks of school holidays and their employer will confirm that in writing, this counts as exceptional circumstances under the rules and term time holiday can be legally authorised. Wanting to take advantage of off peak prices however does not count.

If the parents take the child out in school term for holidays and then work through the school holidays, they will end up paying more for childcare, as they will need it for the full working day not just before and after school, so the savings made by going away off peak aren't necessarily as big as they appear.

gettingtheresometime

I can't think of one occasion when my son had a day off for red nose day etc ...he may have had non uniform days but that didn't stop him sitting at a desk learning.

I'm glad that my son isn't of school age anymore and if the parents that I work with want the school holidays that's fine by me.

Personally I think this is a wind up ....I mean you can't post one day about getting your son (who I swear was 14 in the thread about DoE and yr 10 in the thread about sixth forms) into the sixth form and pressurising him to do the DoE so that he looks better for Unis and then not give a toss about missing school the next

Nicki

The state spends on average £4,500 per pupil per year on state education for children in mainstream education without statements. Or about £125 per week. I say the state but I actually mean those of us who work and pay taxes. That's quite a few hours I need to work to earn that kind of money. The fine for throwing that back in the tax payers face is £60 per parent if paid within 21 days.

I just don't get why I should be working hard to pay for a school place for some posters children which they aren't appreciative of and won't use. Don't begrudge the hardworking kids a second of my working time but don't see why I should be paying to keep places open for kids sitting on a beach in wherever.

bylromarha

Nicki wrote: »

I wonder whether the parents who take their kids on term time holidays are also the employees who take a sick day to attend an interview rather than annual leave, and whether their children also grow up to become unreliable employees. Just because the child or the parent doesn't see the value of a school day, isn't a good reason not to attend school on that day. Just like you can't decide not to turn up for work because it's only a stock taking day not a normal retail day, for example

Kids don't get duvet days or the option to take annual leave - it's dictated to them, and their families, when they are permitted to be in school and off school. Is your holiday dictated to you in your job? All year? Every year? For 12 years of your life? Without being allowed to change job? Thought not. Granted, home education is a way out of this, but unrealistic for the majority of families.

Most primary schools now give 100% attendance prizes to encourage kids into school every day. My poor daughter was mortified at this up to year 3, as she had regular heart appointments in a hospital an hours drive away. They only gave appointments 9am-3pm. And didn't have many school holiday appointments as the consultants were on holiday with their families. If she'd had "annual leave" to use up from school, she'd have used it. But she was made to feel bad because she wasn't at school every day.

It's crazy to suggest there is a link between a parent who takes a child on a term time holiday and unreliable employees. Of the kids I teach, I'd much rather have a parent who regularly supports in homework, in reading, in being engaged with school and who has a week's holiday from school tacked onto a half term than a parent whose child is in school every day but is too busy at work to ensure homework is done, or where no daily reading happens at home, or PE kit is never in school, or who makes their child feel rubbish day after day after day as they are consistently late in picking them up. Doesn't take a genius to work out which child will do better in their education.