Ok it's just a moan, but really... school holidays

kunekune

It is frustrating though, if your job and the school year don't mesh. I am not allowed - seriously - to take time off during the university teaching year. Basically, that means I cannot take time off during any of the three half terms, and the two sets of holidays didn't coincide at easter either. We don't have mid-semester breaks. At Christmas, I had obligations right through (dealing with emails on christmas day itself, believe it or not) because my students had assignments due on 7 Jan. We did go away but I took work with me. I am expected to help once Clearing starts in mid-August. I am supposedly entitled to 7 weeks leave - sounds nice, but it's actually really hard to take that and spend the time with the children!!!! I could have taken a couple of weeks at the end of June - oops, school - or mid Decemeber - oops, school.

last_chance_3

Holidays in term time - what a can of worms!! I'm a primary teacher and currently I am four kids down on extended holidays - Hong Kong, Hawaii, etc. If only!! Why did I chose the job or I would take advantage of cheaper term time deals for sure! You should all be entitled to at least 10 school days off authorised by school, schools can be very accomodating when approached with the mention of the positives of your trip - cultural learning, holiday projects etc.

something_girl

after reading all this, it's made me re-think that perhaps taking kids off school for a day or two, isn't as bad as I thought. I've never done it before, but I see the Sun are doing their £9.50 holidays and I've thought of taking my two girls to a caravan somewhere, for a little hol, just us, perhaps the fri,sat,sun, mon one. I got the Sun on Saturday and the NOTW today for the tokens. Never done one before, anyone done them?

Carmina_Piranha_3

we do the 'sun' thing quite a lot. we've got a weekend at butlins in the school holidays, it's only about £125. it doesn't affect school this time because they are allowed to leave early on the friday, and on the monday it's school holidays anyway. my husband will take the friday afternoon and all of monday off work.

sometimes our sun breaks cover the october half term or the weekend before they go back to school (i think that coincides with the blackpool illuminations and international fireworks competition).

but other times they've only offered us dates when they're in school. if you have a list of term dates for next year maybe you can find a sun break for a weekend when school has a teacher training day on the friday and/or monday?

when you apply for your sun holiday you might be told you can't have what you asked for, and they will send a list of which parks and dates are still available.

bank_of_slate

Well I've just booked Center Parcs again for 10th October with no qualms!
My kids will have the Friday and the Monday off school (with permission)
...Linda xx

DeeDee74

i took mine out just last week for a weeks hol in north wales free hol of here lol

school did make me fee bad though and i did consider not going but then thay wouldn't have had a hol at all...

think as long as your sensible can't really hurt that much can it?
dee

Carmina_Piranha_3

the free pontins holidays didn't include school holidays so i bet lots of kids went on those during this term. we went on a weekend, and although my son's school had training days the other schools didn't, so everyone else in our group took the friday and monday off school.

lots of children go away in the final 3 or 4 weeks of term - my son has more no than yes replies to his birthday invites because so many kids are on holiday.

Surfbabe

Spare a thought for those of us who work in schools and have OH who are prohibited from taking a holiday in the summer (beginning of July to end of September as they work in the Agricultural Sector) my kids have never had a holiday out of school term nor have they ever had a summer holiday. Our holidays when they were in yr 5 - 8 were maybe two weeks over Easter in a mobile home - not good when Easter is really early. Otherwise its a few days over half term somewhere - never even a week !!!!!