Holiday in school time - what to tell school

bestpud

This is one of those topics where consensus is impossible - there are just too many factors involved.

We took our dd out of school for a week in January last year (her first year) and tbh I was more concerned about the social impact. I guess that is because it is very difficult for parents to appreciate the impact upon a class. It does us all good to hear both sides I reckon so thanks to the teachers who have posted.

I do find it odd when people automatically jump on the 'it's educational to see different cultures etc etc' bandwagon though! Does this apply to the families who go to a beach resort, all inclusive and only see the swimming pool and bar all week? Or the ones who book Haven type holidays and stay on site - pool by day, bar by night? I realise they are meeting new people and all that but they could do that on a weekend day trip in the UK, or even a weekend in Europe couldn't they?

I'm not convinced a family need a week or they will get no essential time together either. That is more to do with the parents needs that the childs isn't it?

The post that really made me think though is the one about teachers having partners with limited annual leave and how we would feel if they took a week off! Kind of brings it home to me as it would not be acceptable and if they have children too, then they have to manange without this all-important family week away!!

However, as I said, I've done it myself and I can't say for sure I wouldn't again. I definitely would not lie about it though!

To the OP - I would just write a letter stating that you are going away, it's your first year dealing with schools, you made an error and that it is a one off. Say you will be actively reinforcing what your child is learning and will take steps to remedy any issues that may arise through him missing a school week. You can't do more than that. If they object, well, you can take that up then, but if you are determined to go then honesty is the best policy imo.

Hth

Bestpud

PasturesNew

shockingmoment wrote: »

Obviously true.

But wouldn't you rather have a more even spread of costs?

This is only true, of course, until my children leave school.

That would go against all the laws of economics though.

And, speaking as a single person, holidays are always expensive too as there's always a single supplement - which often equates to you paying as if there were 2 people (or more) going.

So the high cost of holidays isn't just an issue for parents/children. But parents chose to have children. Single people don't choose to be single.

jem16

shockingmoment wrote: »

Remember too - the school also has a choice. If it was as disruptive as you suggest - the Head would not grant this permission. If we didn't get the permission, we would not take them out. We do so only with permission.

All holidays in our school must now be marked as "Unauthorised" as this is what the Council tells the Head he must do. This came about in the last couple of years as term time holidays were becoming more and more common. Years ago parents simply did not do this as they valued their child's education and the work the school was doing. However nowadays the chance to bag a cheap holiday seems to be more important. Initially parents were up in arms at being told their holidays were to be marked as unauthorised when they wrote to ask for permission. Now they do not write to ask for permission - they write and simply say we are going on holiday.

As to disruption, of course you will think it's not disruptive as you only see it from a parent point of view. If you were a teacher and a parent (as I am) you would probably hold a very different view.

Nenen wrote:

The time that I might spend preparing extra work for a child being taken out of school in term time in order to get a cheap holiday has to come from somewhere... i.e. time that I cannot spend on the class as a whole. Therefore, my policy is now that if a parent is choosing to take their child on holiday, I choose not to do any extra work for them... I make vague mumbles of 'Just keep a journal and do a little reading or play a maths game every day' (as did the teacher of a PP). This does NOT mean I don't think it matters that they are missing all the work. I am also not prepared to mark stacks of work upon their return. As a PP said we all have choices and my choice is that if you choose (and I'm obviously not talking about forces families etc) to take your child on holiday then I choose not to do any extra work or allow this to detract in any way from the education of the children in the rest of the class. Why should 29 children lose out so that you can take your child on holiday when it isn't really necessary?

Well said. :T

However this is now our school policy.

The only exceptions made are for families of travellers.

PasturesNew

What about friendships though?
I don't know about kids, but surely if your "best mate" is off on holiday, you start bonding with a new kid...
... and when the one on holiday comes back s/he might find that they're Billy No Mates. And get sniggered at in the playground. Ignored. Shunned.

shockingmoment

jem16 wrote: »

As to disruption, of course you will think it's not disruptive as you only see it from a parent point of view. If you were a teacher and a parent (as I am) you would probably hold a very different view.

The only exceptions made are for families of travellers.

As I said - we request permission.

I'm just a parent. No teaching involved.....

Exceptions for families of travellers? Not sure I follow this one

shockingmoment

PasturesNew wrote: »

What about friendships though?
I don't know about kids, but surely if your "best mate" is off on holiday, you start bonding with a new kid...
... and when the one on holiday comes back s/he might find that they're Billy No Mates. And get sniggered at in the playground. Ignored. Shunned.

You forgot 'Social Outcast'

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

jem16

shockingmoment wrote: »

Exceptions for families of travellers? Not sure I follow this one

Sorry, political correct speak.

We have a few children in our school whose families run fairgrounds etc. They travel from area to area often taking the children with them. Sometimes they enrol the children in the school nearest to the fairground. Other times they have their base school and take work with them for times when they are travelling.

SUESMITH_2

shockingmoment wrote: »

I think so too. My point is simple. We (like lots of parents) take our kids out from time to time. We consider the costs and the benefits. We manage the situation. They receive work. We complete the work with them. They get a lot of 1 to 1 time.

Apologies if my posts appear a bit aggresive. Not all parents / children / schools are the same. The fact that this debate is happening show that everyone here cares. Its the ones that don't care do the most damage.


the clue is in the post (GCSE this year, high school entrance exam)


is this the real issue here?


never been necessary


thats a poor attitude

right.... the its only education remark was being sarcastic. obviously your school doesnt follow the same science course as us but i was just giving you an example of what happens where i work. hols in term time? no, i dont mind not having them because I HAVE KIDS. the head where i work is lovely and never had a problem letting people take kids out during term time, however last year he was getting 20 requests a week (we only have 700 pupils) so the policy is now no hols in term time. i dont mind/care where you choose to take your children, i dont mind/care that you spend evenings educating them i was simply explaining what happens if pupils are not there.

shockingmoment

Jem16 - thanks. Its been great having this debate with you. We are both firmly entrenched in our beliefs. I appreciate (more) your perspective. Wont change my mind though!

As I previously mentioned - we should not be your main concern. We are, however, the 'low hanging fruit'.

The main concern should be the regular truants - these are the ones who really miss out on a quality education that as a caring (from your views you certainly are) teaching professional you provide. These unfortunates leave school with few, if any, qualifications, and a poor standard of education.

But these issues are the hardest to resolve, take a lot of time and effort but are the most in need.

As you said - 'Agree to differ?'

BernadetteN

wolfchick wrote: »

Hi I work in a school and Im certain forces personal and out of term holidays are classed as authorised. I know its hard but as the forces dont stick to school holidays you really have no choice, my childrens holidays with their dad were ok as he couldnt argue with the army. Even if its unauthorised its only for league tables. Im sure if you wrote and explained that she/he would be ok.

Authorised absence criteria is set be the governers and management of each school individually. If chidren of Forces personnel are allowed authorised absence for holidays during term time at your school, then you are lucky.

My husband is a diplomat who worked unaccompanied abroad for 5 1.2 months from March till September this year. Our eldest son is losing 1 1/2 days of unauthorised absence to go on holiday in October, our youngest son and eldest daughter get authorised absence for the same holiday because their primary school makes allowances for these exceptional circumstances, unlike the local grammar school.