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

fannyadams

or use someone elses...
I mean it won't be the first time someone's claimed to be of one religion or another to get something from a school now will it?:rolleyes:

We follow the Pagan faith and there are some 'festivals/celebrations' that I think are important enough to request my children's presence at them. I always let the HT know in writing, and so far they have obliged.


On the OPs note about her eldest doing a project on a foreign country that she had vistied on holiday. My DS#1 did HIS foreign place study thing at school about Wales! :rotfl:. we got loads of books from the library and info from the visitwales tourist info site and it was very informative. His teacher was very impressed

Paparika

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2005_0137

I'm sure you can get fined for taking your child out of school on holiday

apples1

Surely the first thing to do is talk to the school. Explain that you understand why they have published the new policy and that you are fully committed to ensuring your children miss as little school as poss (mention here that they have never been out in term time before)

I would then say that you had however already planned (before new policy came out) to take them out next year (giving your reasons). You would much rather do this with their approval and would they support it as a one off. Say you would be happy to be guided by them as to which weeks to avoid (e.g first weeks of new terms etc) and which weeks would be less disruptive (last week of term etc).

I would bet they would respect your commitment to the school policies and the fact that you have politely come in and spoken to them and it will not be a problem. As I have said in another post today - most problems between schools & parents and parents & schools come about because people assume the worst and don't talk. It's not them and us - we are in it together.

JimmyTheWig

kizzykizzywizzy wrote: »

I feel as my children have a very good attendance record, that if I decide I want to take them on a 3 week holiday every 3 or 4 years in term time, I should be allowed

The trouble is that a child can suffer socially from having such a long time off in term time. Friendship groups can change in a matter of days at such a young age. You may find that your child goes back to school to find things different to when they left and will take some time to adjust and "fit in" to the new scheme of things.

I personally feel that, as long as you understand the implications, a parent with their kids' best interests at heart should be allowed to make that decission for themselves. Understanding the implications would probably involve talking it through with the school. Determining the parents had the kids' best interests at heart may involve social services, etc. But I do believe they have that right and an automatic fine or other punishment is not appropriate.

DaisyFlower

Children get 13 weeks off school so plenty of time for holidays without taking them out in term time. I dont see that getting a holiday cheaper is a valid reason for them missing school.

Our school dont authorise any term time absence but it doesnt bother me.

A holiday is nice but not an automatic right. They can be done very cheaply and dont have to be abroad. Like another poster has said, if you cant afford to go this year in the school holidays then perhaps look to go the year after.

bestpud

Mrs_Pepperpot wrote: »

Bestpud - sorry for worrying you! At the end of the day you know your kids better than anyone else so your judgement will be sound.

The problem with being off at the beginning of the school year is that this is when all the bonding and "this is how we are going to run our class" stuff happens. For some children this is incredibly important - particularly if they are doing a really important move like from foundation to year 1 or into year 6.
It can be hard for children to go into a class after 6 weeks+ out of school and feel like they have missed out on the beginnings of things. It can also affect friendship groups etc...

That said, children are very adaptable and most cope pretty well.

Hope this helps a bit!

Mrs P x

Ah right, thanks for replying.

I'm not worried about dd as she is a confident child anyway and will be staying in the same classroom. They have two years per class and she will just be in a different year iyswim?

When we booked the holiday, she would have had the same teacher but we have since found out she is leaving. The new one already teaches at the school though, and is well known to, and liked by dd, plus they have had 'taster sessions' already.

I can see what you are saying though. I would not have wanted to do this when she was starting school, or going into year one.

liney

Mrs_Pepperpot wrote: »

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Teachers don't actually get paid for their holidays - they just have their pay spread out so that they don't go six weeks without any money.

Everytime i hear this it amuses me. Teachers are paid a salary, like me, and i am paid each week, like them. I get a set number of holidays each year i am paid for, and so do they. Teachers are paid for their 13 weeks off each year, in the same way i am paid for my 4 1/2 weeks.

Conclusion: teachers are paid for their holidays, because the are salaried, not hourly paid.

Unless your child has lots of other time off, telling the school you are going on holiday and having them mark it as unauthorised won't get you into any more trouble than a fine i think?

Personally i think we should be allowed to take children away during term time, but only if their attendance is otherwise maintained at say 95%. If attandence drops below that then permission is not given. It might discourage parents from letting their children stay home without real reasons too.

woozywendy

I take my children to Haven in the summer holidays and it costs us less than half price for a caravan. We do budget the spending money. This year I let my youngest choose where we are going and she chose pontins. I managed to get a week in august for £280 and we get £60 in pontins money to spend while there. The school does allow 10 days authorised leave (at the moment) but I try not to take school holidays if I can avoid it. I would do if I had no choice as I want to enjoy their childhood while I can.

misty

Belnahua wrote: »

Just tell them your children were sick for a week? You can self certify for a week as an employee, so why can't the children?

Say they had flu or something communicable, and it was silly wasting the doc's time on something that's trivial and could be self treated at home?

and teach your kids that lying to get your own way is the way to go.

I can see both sides and it is the holiday companies that are to blame for hiking up the cost out of school term and not the schools. The schools are under pressure from the lea, who are under pressure for the govt who are trying to reduce truancy/unauthorised absence and improve standards.

How do you feel if the teacher's time or TA's time is spent catching up those who have been away on holiday instead of focusing on those who have attended? With class sizes of 30 - if the schools didn't do something than potentially there could be children away on holiday all the time.

In primary and secondary school they cover a variety of topics an across two weeks especially in primary they miss a lot. I can however see when families are on a low income that it's difficult not to take advantage of a cheap break for a well deserved rest.

Those who comment on how long teachers holidays are - could enjoy the same long holidays by becoming teachers themselves.............

Sassa

The school are doing their job which is to ensure that all children are in attendance and receiving a high quality education. If you are looking for someone to blame, blame the holiday companies who are making a fortune from families in this predicament.

It's up to you what you do, but I wouldn't recommend taking out your anger on the Headteacher. He/ she's only putting your child's education first. That's hardly a crime.