A question about keeping children off school in term time: to take them on holiday.

missbiggles1

Gloomendoom wrote: »

It doubt it would matter how the school year was rethought. Prices will go up during periods of high demand.

I was trying to look at the bigger picture.:)

FBaby

THe fact that people now view a foreign holiday as a right rather than a privilege is just another example of the Me Me Me culture that has developed.

I totally agree with this, but this is another issue.

So two weeks AI, probably never leaving the complex, wouldn't cut it?

It's not my definition of travelling and probably not the most educational of trip, but I wouldn't judge someone making that decision unless their child was already struggling at school.

Jagraf

Can I just check then that if a child has high grades they should be allowed holiday, but if they are struggling (whatever that very subjective definition might mean) then they shouldn't?

Or are we saying everyone should get 10 days extra hols if they want it, irrespective of how they are doing?

Or should it just be for the extremely subjective "educational" holiday?

And should there be particular weeks they can miss (for example course work) and not others (for example when that coursework they have missed is tested).

With the austerity measures perhaps if so people think missing school is not a problem we should just reduce the attendance hours so as to give every parent more holiday time.

FBaby

By struggling I don't mean just not getting the grades, but yes, I am saying as I stated early in this thread that I do think it should be subjective based on the individual circumstances, so indeed, taking into account the child current level, their mental ability to catch up independently, the time of the year, the type of holiday etc... however, I thought we had agreed that this would be too demanding from an administrative perspective and people would complain of unfairness, hence my saying that if it has to be one rule for all, a compromise of 5 days off was what I thought fairest for all.

Spendless

I personally don't think there was anything wrong with how the rules were prior to Sept 13.

mumps

onlyroz wrote: »

I also think at holidays are tremendously important but if you cant afford them then you shouldn't be getting into debt over them. My mum came from a working class background and for them a holiday meant a week or two in a caravan at Aldbrough (the park has since fallen into the sea). The idea of them taking time off school during term time to go abroad would have been utterly ludicrous to them.

THe fact that people now view a foreign holiday as a right rather than a privilege is just another example of the Me Me Me culture that has developed.

I've just come back from holiday, east coast of England and last week the weather was absolutely great. I can tell you from my observations over two weeks that alot of the people who are taking term time holidays aren't going abroad.

I don't know why people assume everyone wants expensive foreign holidays, holidays in the UK can be great but they still cost more than many can afford in school holiday time.

mumps

Jagraf wrote: »

Can I just check then that if a child has high grades they should be allowed holiday, but if they are struggling (whatever that very subjective definition might mean) then they shouldn't?

Or are we saying everyone should get 10 days extra hols if they want it, irrespective of how they are doing?

Or should it just be for the extremely subjective "educational" holiday?

And should there be particular weeks they can miss (for example course work) and not others (for example when that coursework they have missed is tested).

With the austerity measures perhaps if so people think missing school is not a problem we should just reduce the attendance hours so as to give every parent more holiday time.

I would have loved reduced attendance when my kids were at school. Can't see it being popular with alot of people.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

FBaby wrote: »

I think another consideration in this discussion is that although I don't think anyone would argue that a holiday is indeed a luxury, that luxury is more or less important to different people.

For me, holidays are everything, not just the relaxing aspect of a holiday, but the travelling part of it, discovering new places, meeting new people, and coming home reflecting on the experience. Holidaying to me is all about learning.

Ever since I was a kid I have looked forward to my holidays as a reward for a choice of a hard working lifestyle. As it happens, genes or not, both my kids are just the same and so is my OH. They absolutely love travelling for the same reasons. Of all the various luxuries that one look forward to, holidays always come at the top for us.

I can understand that a family who are very homy and not that bothered about travelling, who prefer to spend their money on their house, garden, TV packages etc..., it is hard to understand that mindset.

I do find it odd that parents who take kids out of school for the occasional holiday are much more looked down upon than those parents who buy their kids a massive huge TV in their room and let them play games until late at night when I would think there is much less to gain from that activity and much more to lose out education wise long term than being off a week on a travelling holiday.

I adore travelling. I can't think of anything better to do than hop on a bus, train, boat or plane. I love being different places, being able to see the stars, skies that go on forever, just watching the world go by on the journey.

But that doesn't mean it's a necessity or human right.

missbiggles1

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I adore travelling. I can't think of anything better to do than hop on a bus, train, boat or plane. I love being different places, being able to see the stars, skies that go on forever, just watching the world go by on the journey.

But that doesn't mean it's a necessity or human right.

It may not be a human right, but if it's good for someone's health (physical or mental) then it's a necessity.

Spendless

missbiggles1 wrote: »

It may not be a human right, but if it's good for someone's health (physical or mental) then it's a necessity.

My area did have that an an exceptional circumstances though it seems to have disappeared from their website now. It was something like 'where a holiday is recommended as part of a parent or child’s rehabilitation from a medical issue. Evidence must be provided by a qualified medical professional'.

We did take a term-time holiday last year, we tagged a week before May half term, because husband had been discharged 5 years after having Cancer. We'd lived with his diagnosis for that length of time and it's affect on our family. Youngest had finished sats and the week was spent rehearsing a play, she'd have been happy to do that, she loves performing but I don't feel she missed anything since she attends a drama club out of school. Eldest had taken options and was dropping all optional subjects at the end of the year in favour of new ones. Pupil Support Officer says she totally understood our reasons for going .