Feel really down as DD4 goes to school and Head says no holidays

[PoppyAnna]

Eldest DD4 starts school full time in January The borough and the Head used to allow up to seven days holiday outside school term, according to the Head from the new school year no holiday days are allowed.
We really enjoyed our trip to Orlando in May and want to continue going, maybe not every year but probably every other year. I feel so rescricted now. I have little desire to go in the hot humid summer months and even less desire to go any later in December than the first two weeks. Easter is too busy to. It makes me sound really miserable but we've been spoilt the two times we have visited the parks when we've been to Florida as in May they have low crowds and short wait times, couple this with perfect weather and I just don't feel like going at any other time.
Am I right to feel like this? Or will I just get used to it?
What do you all do? Do you only go in school holidays?

 

[jns]

we go in the school holidays
but but are going in the oct break taking a few days off before and another few days after the break
my way of thinking well they are not missing a full week
at 4 years are they really missing that much from school
now the year they have exams thats another matter

you can aways say it is booked already for next year and play dum

 

[PoppyAnna]

In addition - is everybody's school having their easter half term in April even though Easter is in March next year?

 

[TinkTatoo]

We go in the school holidays - their education is important and as we go every year I couldn't justify regularly taking them out of school.

I agree with Jackie though at 4 your DD wouldn't be missing too much so you could always say you had a holiday booked

 

[emily1982]

I work in a school so i see it from the other side, im not allowed holidays in term time so i can understand where the school is coming from. People say 'oh well you knew that when you took the job', yes i did, but im also on a very low pay as a nursery nurse and i still have to find the money to afford holidays.

I work in a reception class and they do miss out. We assess through their everyday play, so if there not there to assess its their profile it affects.

 

[Maza]

In addition - is everybody's school having their easter half term in April even though Easter is in March next year?

My kids are off at Easter. Easter is quite early this year. Easter is a great time to go to Florida or California. My work commitments sometimes make it difficult to have holidays in the summer school holidays (we have to take turns ) so we frequently have our big family holiday at easter. The parks are generally quiet...its not too warm (but better than here!lol) and the kids have 2 weeks off...occasionally an inset day, so make the most of it! You get used to actually having your holidays dictated for you by school..but education is important, not just in exam years. They miss so much by being off at the end of the year...the fun things...sports days..day trips etc. I wouldn't take mine out! And they are only at school for 14 years...!

 

[PoppyAnna]

Thank you all so far, I'm not looking for justification to take her out, my DD4 is quite shy and quite attached to me and after settling her in school full time I think any time away would be noticed.
Her half term is from her birthday Friday 4 April even though Easter is in March (they are just having the Bank holidays off in March). Maybe I've exposed a loophole for 2008 if others are having their two weeks Easter hols in March - it could be less busy and cheaper for us!
Off to check Virgin's M+M fares.......

 

[mark&sue]

Due to my work comitments I can only take a few days at Christmas and only one week at Easter. The only two week period I am allowed to take in the school holidays are the last two weeks of August.

So we will be going in August this year and if it is too hot and humid will not be back to WDW until 2010 when DD leaves school. Anyone interested in renting my DVC points for 2008 and 2009???


Susan

 

[PoppyAnna]

This is the thing, we were considering a hefty DVC investment too....

 

[tennisfan]

A few of the education authorities are going over to the new term structures where you have Good Friday & Easter Monday off when it is Easter and then have the 2 weeks off at the beginning of April except when Easter falls in April. The education authority who my sister works for has been doing this for a couple of years now.

I'm also pretty sure that the travel agents are aware of this and price accordingly.

 

[theb52s]

I'm surprised your DD's school will not allow any holidays in term time. My children's school allow up to 10 days every year for family holidays and it's the same throughout our area. Have you checked with your local education authority on the position in your area despite what your head says? I also thought legally in this country children don't have to attend school until they are five although most do start school at 4. You may want to check that out.

 

[wils]

from Kent C.C. website

Family holidays
A headteacher can grant up to two weeks absence in any school year for a family holiday, but only if this is unavoidable and the absence from school will not harm your child's education. Always speak with the school before booking a term time holiday.

Have I the right to take my child out of school for a holiday during term time?
The simple answer to this is No.

Pupils absence during term time can seriously disrupt their continuity of learning. Not only do they miss the teaching provided on the days that they are away, but they are also less prepared for lessons after their return.

This can create the risk of poor results for your child. If you want your child to be away from school on a family holiday for up to two weeks (10 school days), you need to ask the school to approve the absence, at least two weeks in advance. This can however be refused and, if not agreed by the Headteacher will be classed as unauthorised absence.

It is particularly important that you do not plan for your child to be absent during the run up to SAT's and examinations at 16+. Such absence would mean that your child is not assessed and this may affect your child's progress.

We plan to take DD out of school next Autumn when she is 5. Our school says it is preferable not to take holiday in term time (it is certainly not something we intend doing every year) but its a trip we have been planning with the in-laws for many years and I hope it won't be a problem )

Sending you a

 

[PoppyAnna]

I'm surprised your DD's school will not allow any holidays in term time. My children's school allow up to 10 days every year for family holidays and it's the same throughout our area. Have you checked with your local education authority on the position in your area despite what your head says? I also thought legally in this country children don't have to attend school until they are five although most do start school at 4. You may want to check that out.

It was the head that was flexible and it's now the local authority (Bromley LB) that have pulled in the reins! Didn't really want to take her out but would have felt better about it if it were allowed.

 

[T16GEM]

I am sure that if you were to talk to the head about the type of holiday that you are planning to take and explain that it is educational as well as a holiday then I am sure that they will let you take the time. Otherwise I would act dumb and say it was already booked, what are they going to do if you do take her? Not let her come back?

 

[jtlover]

I think that the rules should be changed for primary schools - it should be that you cant take them out of school at secondary school only!

What is annoying is when they have loads of teacher training days during the term time!!!!!

Agree the place is very education, especially if you take them to Epcot

 

[emily1982]

I think that the rules should be changed for primary schools - it should be that you cant take them out of school at secondary school only!

What is annoying is when they have loads of teacher training days during the term time!!!!!

Agree the place is very education, especially if you take them to Epcot

Teacher training day are exactly that- training days! If their mid-term you might find it's because theyve been organised by the council. Sometimes the only time u can have them is mid-term, due to people coming in or schools joining together to have an inset. When else do you want teachers to have them? During their holidays!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

When else do you want teachers to have them? During their holidays!

YES!

Teachers, like the majority of the workforce should have only 25 days a year off from work, not the months they currently have.

Training days, i.e. extra days out of school cause no end of problems for the families of the children they teach. Come back a week earlier from yoour 6 week summer holidays and have your training then.

 

[pixiepower04]

YES!

Teachers, like the majority of the workforce should have only 25 days a year off from work, not the months they currently have.

Training days, i.e. extra days out of school cause no end of problems for the families of the children they teach. Come back a week earlier from yoour 6 week summer holidays and have your training then.

When I was working it caused no end of probelms when teachers had their training days and inset days and it meant that I had to take annual leave.

My children go back to school after the summer holidays on a Tuesday because the teachers are training! So I guess it's okay for them to make your child miss school but not the parents!

I am really quite lucky with my childrens school and they are quite accommodating. I now work for myself as a Wedding Cake Designer and so my busiest months are from April to September with the odd one or two in the other months so they have let me for the last two years take them out of school for a week in March to go to DLP but next year when we go back to WDW we will be going in September for 3 weeks but two of those weeks are the October holidays so actually they will be missing only a week.

My children will be 10 and 8 then and after that I may have to consider going in the holidays but the school understand why I take them out and are quite good about it, they gave DD8 school work to do while she was away which was good but I do think that they learn so much when they are away, social skills, cultural awareness etc and I think schools really should embrace this.

 

[emily1982]

YES!

Teachers, like the majority of the workforce should have only 25 days a year off from work, not the months they currently have.

Training days, i.e. extra days out of school cause no end of problems for the families of the children they teach. Come back a week earlier from yoour 6 week summer holidays and have your training then.

It also causes no end of problems when people take their children out of school when their doing SAT's, we've had to accomadate 5 sets of parents during various nights of week as they were away during parents evening. I know not everyone is like that.

Well if your allowed to take YOUR child out of school whilst we're teaching the rest of them why on earth would i take time off my holidays??Also most people get paid for extra time, i work about 42 hours a week and only get paid for 32.5, i do that because things need to be done. I dont get paid for parents evening, induction evenings, the residential im going on with 29 5 year olds this week...i do them so the children in my class have a good quality of school life. I enjoy my job and i knew what i was coming into when i started the job, but it annoys me when they think teachers are having 'all these holidays'. Yeah i am, but im not paid for the either!

Besides i work as a nursery nurse in a school, i probably earn half of what the parents in my class are earning

 

[tashasmum]

YES!

Teachers, like the majority of the workforce should have only 25 days a year off from work, not the months they currently have.

Training days, i.e. extra days out of school cause no end of problems for the families of the children they teach. Come back a week earlier from yoour 6 week summer holidays and have your training then.

Well said Obi.

DD's school has three teacher training days coming up. 2 days before they should have broke up and one day on the day should return from the holidays. But ask to take them out a week early and its a major problem.

However the school can send them enterprise days (3 school days wasted), Work experience (2 weeks wasted unless you can get them into somewhere decent) or sit in the school hall watching Pirate DVD's.

DH is an Engineer and is working on a new school, the scheme has been delayed due to the weather but the head said no problem about the move being delayed till half term as he would tag a couple of teacher traning days on before hand. So they seem to be used for anything they want