Holiday in school time - what to tell school

full-time-mum

Hapless wrote: »

It's more than just armed forces that have no say over holidays. When OH worked on the buses he was given his holiday dates and that was it. No changes unless organised between him and another driver, which was hard as most of the drivers had children themselves.

This is exactly the sort of exceptional circumstances that the rule has been provided for.

For the record, armed forces was the first obvious answer I thought of.

Taking your children out of school is not a good idea but there are times when it is unavoidable and, as a previous poster has said, the responsible way to do it is to talk about it with the teacher about the best way to minimise disruption.

full-time-mum

tulketh wrote: »

The message however you are sending to your child about 5 days holiday in school time is that you think its ok to take days off school. that may come back to haunt you when they are older.
The OP says her parents took her out of school every September hence we have it passed on from generatin to generation that its ok to miss school.
I was never allowed to miss school and now never take a sickie from work.

This is how I was brought up too. I suffered from quite severe migraine from the age of about 7 and the rule (agreed in conjunction with the school) was that if I was ill in the morning, I would go in as soon as I was better. If I was ill at school they would send me home - if it only lasted an hour, then I went back again.
I used to work about an hour away from home, but I'd still turn up at 2 o'clock if I was feeling better. I think that they thought I was a bit mad and it was the first time it ever occurred to me that it wasn't just the done thing.

It is an attitude that I now pass on to my children - they go to school even if they have a mild headache or tummy-ache and I tell the teacher that I will come and get them immediately if it develops. I don't have any, "I've got a tummy ache" when its PE or Maths or whatever they don't fancy - I just won't stand for it. Luckily, the schol supports this attitude although my nieces school will send them home at the first little cough or winge - not a good example.

jem16

shockingmoment wrote: »

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.

Sorry it does make a difference. If every parent thought the same as you, we'd end up with 30 weeks where the teacher is trying to catch up on work missed.

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.

I have to pay inflated prices to take my holidays during term time. I take it you won't mind if I just tell a little white lie and take a fortnight off in the middle of term?

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

Why is it any more difficult? Perhaps because you now have your eyes on the child getting good exam results?

I think some of these posts are from Travel Agents!

No they are from responsible parents and concerned teachers.

It's part of life - you can't always get what you want. I'd love to take a holiday during term time when it's much cheaper and quieter. However I chose to teach and this is one of the drawbacks.

full-time-mum

shockingmoment wrote: »

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

I'm afraid you kid yourself.

My DD has just finished reception where they were learning 2 or 3 letters/sounds each week. 2 weeks out means missing six of the foundations of reading and writing and thats without considering the numeracy, social skills etc that they will have missed.

shockingmoment wrote: »

I think some of these posts are from Travel Agents!

Quite possibly but a lot are from parents and those involved in education.

TITEASCRAMP

Mumstheword wrote: »

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.

On the one hand the op thinks its worth paying for private education, next penny pinching over flights,(therefore their childs education now isnt as important coz they want do save money). Double standards.

pinkshoes

Mumstheword wrote: »

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.

I don't get it! either you've just contradicted yourself, or you're agreeing with me?! so you choose to spend what money you have on education rather than holidays, then take your children out of that education (which you've spent your hard earned cash on) just for a cheap holiday?!?! HUH?!?!

My Dad worked all summer and my mum was a teacher so we didn't have family summer holidays. The only option would be my mum asking the headmaster for a week off during term time... now wouldn't that go down well!?! "Sorry kids, i know it's only a couple of weeks before your GCSEs/A Levels, but I'm going on holiday..."

Eagle_1

meester wrote: »

DS has just started at posh private school (aged 5). According to school you need to write to headteacher for permission to take time off in school time, which will only be given in "exceptional circumstances".

Posh school, state school............who cares to be honest, I cant see why you brought that into the equasion :cool:

Oh yes, tell the truth cos you are gonna look right bonny parents if little un goes back telling them different story to you.

Spendless

Would your 5 year old even know the reason why you are asking to take a holiday in term-time? Maybe I've read the thread wrong but I hadn't noticed you saying you were thinking of saying child was ill instead, when I can see that you'd be caught out. I'd either tell the school you got dates wrong or have pre-booked holidays from your employer/s.

amandada

I've followed this thread since it started and have had about 10 changes of opinion!!!
My gut feeling would be to tell school the truth about not thinking about term dates-I bet you're not the first parent who's done that and you won't be the last!

Voyager2002

pinkshoes wrote: »

I don't get it! either you've just contradicted yourself, or you're agreeing with me?! so you choose to spend what money you have on education rather than holidays, then take your children out of that education (which you've spent your hard earned cash on) just for a cheap holiday?!?! HUH?!?!

Thank you for putting it so nicely: you have just confirmed what I always thought about the intelligence of people who pay for "independent" education.

The only explanation that makes sense is that the OP does not really care about education, but about ensuring that her son's accent, table-manners and general demeanor will not be tainted by contact with chavs like me (educated from reception to PhD and beyond in state-funded institutes). Hence the mention of the "posh" character of the school involved, which is otherwise completely irrelevant to the problem.

Anyway, no need to worry. The OP is a paying customer of a business, and the school will surely agree to your holiday rather than risk losing the fees that you pay.