Holiday in school time - what to tell school

Rikki

Private schools have longer holidays.

They normally break up a week or so before state schools. You get 4 weeks at Easter, 4 weeks for Christmas and 8 for the summer holidays, plus the two half terms are nearly 2 weeks long.

There is plenty of time to fit a holiday in without taking a child out during term time, without incurring the high holiday prices.

At the age of five it doesn't matter so much, you've paid and lost your money.

BUT.........children in private schools work differently to state schools in pre prep at this age children can fall behind very quickly.

rammy007

Sometimes its not possible to go on holiday during the kids school holidays,a lot of people are unable to get time off during these, so people shouldnt be so judgemental ,we havent been away for the past 5 years because of this and the kids childhood is passing by quickly as long as it isnt done time after time i cant see anything wrong with this.

jem16

As a teacher I would have to say that a week, even at age 5 or 6, can make a huge difference, except for perhaps the last week before the summer holidays. During the course of one week I get through a lot of work with my class and a child returning after holiday often feels rather lost for the first few days after coming back.

Of course the most important thing to consider is the fact that if everybody thought it's only a week then the teacher would never be finished catching up work of someone who has been on holiday. This time has to come from somewhere and usually means something else has to be put on hold.

We are only back 4 weeks and I have one child who left for a 2 week holiday yesterday and another who is going on holiday on the 28th for 2 weeks. I will no sooner be finished catching up one child when I have to start again and catch up the next.

I realise that there are some situations that are unavoidable but please remember your child is not the only one in the class.

ChasingButterflies

You just need to tell them the truth.

The school our little people attened "request" that parents keep holidays outwith term time, however many do not.

tbh not much in terms of work seems to happen in the last week, more the end of term concert and the prizegiving.

babyblooz

Not all parents are honest about why their children have been away from school for a week or more. I work in a class with littlies, and sometimes parents tell their children to say they were ill. They forget that the children tell the rest of the class all about their holidays, even when parents have lied to school that their little darlings have been absent with poorly tummies, chickenpox, weird and wonderful viruses etc. etc. The other little darlings who have been in class all along can't wait to tell their teacher that little Mary wasn't really ill, she was away on holiday. It's so sad when the children don't know what to say, because the parents have told them to play along with the lie, and it takes a lot of the pleasure out of the actual holiday for them. One little chap was in tears because he didn't know what to say when the class told Miss! What an unfair pressure to put on children, just so parents can save money and what a moral lesson to give them to live by.

How would parents like it if their childs teacher took a week off in term time, because their hubby could only have particular weeks. I think they would have plenty to say about that! Especially if the teacher airily waved a hand and said, 'oh they will soon catch up, they're not missing much anyway'.

Just be honest. Schools may not like it, but please don't put your child in a position that you as an adult would hate to be in.

beefcarrot

One week in the child's school life is probably OK, so be honest with the head. There are a core of parents in the school where I work that take their children out on a regular basis and this does cause disruption to their learning, no matter how young they are.
A common misconception about Infants is that they don't do much. I am always stunned, both as a teacher and a parent with how much the children do and understand each day at school.

inkie

TBH - if I was paying private fees, then I would want my money's - worth! And we don't take our DDs out in term-time.
Just be upfront and tell it for what it is - an oversight, and that you don't intend it to happen again.

Mumstheword

To answer a couple of points -

Our school has 18 weeks hols instead of the usual 13

quote:If you can afford a private school, why on earth would you take your child out of school just to save a few quid on flights??

ROFL!! what on earth makes you think i can any more afford private school than you, or peak holidays!! I choose to spend my money in a certain way, ie on school, doesnt make me rich lol!!!! I save a few quid on flights....I choose to spend money on education rather than foreign hols.

shockingmoment

JennyW wrote: »

to be honest I think there are far more important things to be worried about in life. I doubt a week out of school at the age of 5 is that damaging!

Absolutely right.

Our children went to private schools till they were 11, we took them out from time to time.

At this age (5) it makes no difference what so ever.

Do what you think is right.

We refuse to pay inflated charges for holidays during term holidays. A little white lie - 'Holidays are set by work' or something similar - that doesn't compromise the kids.

Just do it and have a great time. When they get older it does become more difficult. Make the most of it now!

I think some of these posts are from Travel Agents!

meester

sooz wrote: »

Can I just say, in defense of the OP, that when your first child starts school, it is really hard to remember that you can never take an unplanned holiday again!

Several years down the line, I'm sure it becomes second nature, but I keep being sent lovely offers, and seeing some on the travel board....and get very tempted. It's only when I get out the calendar that I realise we can't go :mad:

I'll never be able to go on a 1p Ryanair flight again...well not atleast until they have left school, or I can trust them to stay home alone (hmmm, 2 boys, empty house, full drinks cabinet....NEVER)

Yep, this is what happened. Unbeatable bargain flights, snapped them up quick, then someone said 'what about your son's school'.

Oh yeah, what about my son's school.

Oops.

Well the school holiday (New Year's Day) flights will cost £400 more, plus £60 or possibly £80 to change.

Which actually is only a little more than I'm paying for the period he will be off school (it's 19 weeks holiday at my son's school, mostly added on at Easter).

Unfortunately the hotel will cost an extra £550 as well.

A grand all in, but then, I'm paid on a daily rate and New Year's Day is a bank holiday, so going then saves a day's wages as well - I used to always go on bargain holidays, but probably can't any more really.

Maybe I'll just find a cheaper hotel.