Missing school to go to WDW?

[shellbell]

Our school allows up to 10 days off (with permission) and from what I've seen many parents take advantage of it to get cheaper holidays. [/QUOTE]

We thought all schools allowed 10 days off with permission but this is a myth. The schools schould only be letting parents take their children out of school for extreme circumstances as we have just found out.

The 10 day rule is a myth curculating the country apparantley. DDs school sent a home a letter from the government 2 weeks. Far too many parents are taking advantage of this now and from September the permission will only be given in extreme circumstances.

We are taking DD (she will be 5) out of school in October for 2 weeks leading up to half term. DUe to My DHs problems with his leg and the frame just being removed we could not go away any sooner than this. But we alos feel after having a bad five years due to his accident that family life is very important! Lucy will wite a sentance at the end of every day about what she has done and will tkae pictures to take in and show the class. I wouldn't take her out of school again, unless i really had too. We didn't realise it was frowned upon so much in infant school. I am sure she will learn just as much other there as in the class room.

We wrote a letter to the head to explain this last wednesday but we haven't heard back from them yet so we don't know what there going to say.

If theres any teachers on the boards who could let us know if the 10 day rule is real or a myth that would be great.

Sorry to rant on

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

No,dont feel guilty.Im a Teacher and I get 4 weeks unpaid parental leave.So Ill be taking my 4 year old son out for the first two weeks in Dec (hopefully) to visit again.

Regards,
Lynn

That's very nice for you, but very hypocritical of the school to allow this for the teachers who also have a responsiblity to the children they are teaching to be there consistently for them. I can't even get one day off unpaid, I had a very unpleasant letter from my boss saying they still had to cover my job in my absence whether I was unpaid or not.

 

[alisonbestford]

That's very nice for you, but very hypocritical of the school to allow this for the teachers who also have a responsiblity to the children they are teaching to be there consistently for them. I can't even get one day off unpaid, I had a very unpleasant letter from my boss saying they still had to cover my job in my absence whether I was unpaid or not.

I'm assuming that Lynn's unpaid leave is to do with the rights of working parents to take, up to 4 weeks, before their child's 5th birthday

Personally I'm glad to see that somewhere is actually honouring the policy

 

[kkymmy]

well through junior school my parents often took me out of school for a week or two to go abroad. In fact I was on holiday with my grandparents the day of my high school interview, my parents had to come and pick me up from the caravan!

When I got to senior school however everything changed. Loads of people had time off to go on holiday but I never did, in fact between 11 and 16 I only had one day off school to have an operation.

Then in 6th form (possibly the most crucial time in the world for students who want to go to uni), I was whisked away for two weeks to Florida to celebrate my 18th. I'm not complaining because I had an amazing time. I got into lots of trouble when I got back because there had been a lack of communication before I went and apparently I was supposed to take work with me. The school didn't exactly welcome my absence with open arms, but they let me have the time because of my previous attendance record and because it was an occaision and not just a normal holiday.

Maybe if i'd have been there for those two weeks I could have scraped a grade higher in each A Level but i'm at uni and im happy and there are people here that didnt do as well in their a levels....so surely it wasn't the end of the world.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

I'm an Admin Officer at a junior school. Before Katie started at secondary school and myself at a school, we always went for 2.5 weeks, one week of which was tagged onto either May or October half term. We are blessed with an able child, so this was never a problem with the teachers - who I ALWAYS spoke to before booking the holiday.

Last week at work in the school office, a parent "demanded" to see me - on inviting her in she thrust a piece of paper at my face and told me that her kid was going on holiday "whether I liked it or not". Gee, what a kind offer.

Sadly her child has special needs (behavioural problems, no surprise there given the example as a parent) and needs an awful lot of help with the school work. She is taking him out the week before Year 6 SATS next year . THe child is already worrying about them, what help is this going to be?

Her attitude was downright rude to me, there was no need. It was only when I pointed out to her that perhaps when parents come in beligerantly demanding their child be given authorised time off because they can't afford to go on holiday during school holiday, that they consider people like me - don't earn a lot but have to go on holiday during school holidays because I CAN'T get time off during term time.

Last August was our first trip to florida in the summer and cost us double the amount it usually does. We can't justify paying that again this year, so are having to leave it a year, again going next summer since we want to go with friends for three weeks (friend is a teacher, so she's stuffed as well).

Please spare people like me a thought when you're having a pop at people who work in schools. Yes, the "perks!" having school holidays off are marvellous, but boy do we have to pay for that priviledge!

 

[misspickle]

hi there i have a 6 year old and we will be taking him out of school during xmas and i don't feel guilty its only a few days.
and near the holiday terms they kids don't do much work well i've noticed that up here.

at the end of the day your the parent and you know best , don't worry .

 

[jna]

We wrote a letter to the head to explain this last wednesday but we haven't heard back from them yet so we don't know what there going to say.

I wouldn't leave it too long before you chase them up on this. I wrote in January. Despite reminders I still await a response. Obviously I find this attitude unacceptable, but I don't want to rock the boat as I'm sure you will understand.

We are set to go in October for various reasons. I really don't know what to do if school closes for the summer holiday and an answer has not been forthcoming because the main bulk of the payments are due during August.

Whatever the rights or wrongs of what we are doing, I do believe we deserve more respect.

 

[alisonbestford]

We wrote a letter to the head to explain this last wednesday but we haven't heard back from them yet so we don't know what there going to say.

Eve's school is shocking at this too!
Both times I've requested authorised abscence (months in advance) the authorisation hasn't appeared until the week before we've been travelling

I spoke to the Head, as well as the office staff, and was told to go ahead and not cancel (as if........ ) but that they were always last minute at sending letters out

 

[patdavies]

If theres any teachers on the boards who could let us know if the 10 day rule is real or a myth that would be great.

Sorry to rant on

Not a teacher, but a Governor.

There is no right to 10 days holiday per academic year.

A Headteacher may grant up to 10 days authorised absence for a pupil at his/her discretion. This can, for example, be for family holidays. The decision is the Headteacher's alone; neither the Governors, the LA or the Government can overule this - although pressure may be brought.

A Headteacher cannot legally authorise any discretionary absence greater than 10 days.

 

[Cyrano]

I'm sure you will make the best decision for you and your family

 

[donny g]

i always miss about a week of school sometimes 2 but i always seem to make up all of the work i missed somehow

 

[CHRIS F]

We always made the decision by default as both my wife and I have to book summer holidays over one week more than 18 months in advance with our employers due to factory shut downs where we live also due to my companies accounting calendar.
In the past we have taken our boys out of school every year in what we thought were quiet times, the school tutors always gave them work to do, which we insured was done, which is not that easy when you are at WDW but it was a stipulation from us to the boys.

They are aged 13 and 17 now and this year we are taking them out for 5 days while incorporating 8 days out of their half term holiday in October, have we ever felt guilty? sure we have but it was a choice of going away as a family or not, and luckily it does not appeared to have harmed them.

My only rant is to do with holiday companies, I suppose supply and demand comes into it, but the prices they charge over school holidays are criminal, one year we went to Lanzarote in August we paid £2,800 if we had gone in school term the holiday would cost only £1,600.

Personal choice I know but I would not worry about it, it did not harm my childrens education but we were lucky their schools were helpful and understanding and we never abused the system over the year.


Go and enjoy.

 

[Nubbedy]

I'll be damned if it has to fit in with the three and a half months the "poor" teachers get.

(Blood pressure returning to normal)

Felt my own blood pressure rising when I read this.

Firstly, as a part time teacher, yes I do get six weeks holiday in the summer, but as you have already pointed out, the prices more than double as soon as the school holidays start and for non-teachers and part timers like myself, this takes up a great bulk of my wages.

Secondly, I don't know a single 'poor' teacher who does not spend time every holiday preparing things ready for the next term, going in during the holidays to paint, move furniture, clean up after vandalism... I could go on.

Please do not criticise teachers for the fact that we are forced to take our holidays during the summer months when the prices, crowds and heat are much higher. I chose my profession because of a love of children and a desire to work with them and provide interesting learning opportunities for them. I did not choose it for the 6 weeks summer holiday.

Sara.

 

[gilld]

Felt my own blood pressure rising when I read this.

Firstly, as a part time teacher, yes I do get six weeks holiday in the summer, but as you have already pointed out, the prices more than double as soon as the school holidays start and for non-teachers and part timers like myself, this takes up a great bulk of my wages.

Secondly, I don't know a single 'poor' teacher who does not spend time every holiday preparing things ready for the next term, going in during the holidays to paint, move furniture, clean up after vandalism... I could go on.

Please do not criticise teachers for the fact that we are forced to take our holidays during the summer months when the prices, crowds and heat are much higher. I chose my profession because of a love of children and a desire to work with them and provide interesting learning opportunities for them. I did not choose it for the 6 weeks summer holiday.

Sara.

I quite agree but what you've forgotten to say is the hours and hours teachers put in every night in preparation for the next days lessons.

My son is a Maths teacher, and he spends several hours each evening - after leaving home at 7.30 and not getting in until after 5.30 - preparing lessons and at least half of every Sunday, marking work and setting tests etc. So although there are decent holidays, taking into account the hours worked, it equates to a "normal" 9-5 job!

 

[minnie29uk]

That's very nice for you, but very hypocritical of the school to allow this for the teachers who also have a responsiblity to the children they are teaching to be there consistently for them. I can't even get one day off unpaid, I had a very unpleasant letter from my boss saying they still had to cover my job in my absence whether I was unpaid or not.

Hi Wendy,
Its only till my children are 4 years old.
It was a governement intiative to allow parents a little more time with children who have gone back to work - police,hospital staff etc are entitled too.
Everyone has a choice in the career they chose.
Clearly some of you dont realise how many days in the Summer holiday Teachers do spend working in and out of school-common sense would dictate that the inviting classroom for new children starting the term-did not spring up out of nowhere!!

Come on - we need more Teachers in this country.So now you can enjoy this profession too

Regards,
Lynn

 

[Nubbedy]

My apologies to the OP for ranting when I have not even contributed an answer to the original question. In my county, you can have up to 10 days authorised at the discretion of the head. In my own school, requests for time off are dealt with straight away and the standard letter about amount of absences and form to be filled in are sent home.

Especially for younger children, the impending introduction of the foundation phase in Wales will place more emphasis on learning through experiences. What better experience for a child than to visit a different place, see the sights, find out about differnet cultures, relax and enjoy themselves, as they would on holiday? Hopefully English schools will follow the foundation phase and this will not be such a hot issue.

This is of course my personal opinion. I am not in a position to take DS out of school because I am in work myself, but if circumstances changed would not think twice about taking him for a fortnight outside of 'peak' times.

I hope you do not receive too much grief over this - children are not children for very long.

Sara.

 

[SimonV]

I am a little disappointed to see this thread move towards an attack on the teaching profession, and would remind people to stay On Topic. Opinions are perfectly justified, but please let's not resort to personal jibes or anything similar.

This is an issue which crops up at regular intervals, and it is a very real and valid one. It is a difficult decision in many cases, and some schools don't make it easy (while the tour operators also could make things easier).

IMHO, the continental system of more breaks (i.e. 5 terms) and a shorter summer holiday would be preferable. The more we can move away from these 'peak' seasons of holiday demand, the better it should be for all concerned.

And, as a parent with two boys at school and therefore equally restricted, I do also take them (asking for permission first) out of school for a few days either side of the main holidays (either a day before or after a half-term, or up to 4 days before or after the Easter or Summer holiday). But, this never exceeds 7 days in a school year and certainly doesn't happen near an important school time (e.g. 11-plus exams), which is probably just common sense. It does seem that many classes are winding down in the last few days before a major holiday anyway, so they don't actually miss anything important in going away a few days early. And the all-round education value of travelling, be it to Orlando or anywhere else, does help to make up for any school time they miss.

On a personal note, my family travelled a lot in Southern Africa while my brother and I were still at school (we lived in Zambia and Botswana for 7 years), and we did miss a few weeks' term time here and there. But the overall education we got through seeing countries like Rhodesia (as it then was), South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland was invaluable.

Once again, this is a very personal debate, and different people have different perspectives on the topic, but please let's keep things civil and not make it an anti-teacher or anti-anyone thread.

Right, back to your normal service.............

 

[THE COLONEL]

I quite agree but what you've forgotten to say is the hours and hours teachers put in every night in preparation for the next days lessons.

My son is a Maths teacher, and he spends several hours each evening - after leaving home at 7.30 and not getting in until after 5.30 - preparing lessons and at least half of every Sunday, marking work and setting tests etc. So although there are decent holidays, taking into account the hours worked, it equates to a "normal" 9-5 job!

I really do hesitate before posting this. I dont mean to infer any disrespect for the teaching profession. They do a remarkable job for scant reward. My point of issue is that whilst I follow a "normal" 9-5 job I regularly take work home, go in at weekends etc etc. I suspect I am not alone in this and that there are very few people who work to the letter of their employment contracts.

Thats why God invented Disney (and families). To make us forget the treadmill of our daily lives.

 

[jna]

Resurrected this thread to say that after a wait of exactly six months we have received a letter from my DD’s school confirming ten days authorised absence in October. Great to receive, but unfair to leave the answer right until almost the last day of the school year. Crossed our minds that they were hoping for a change in the criteria from the authorities.

Anyway, now we can look ahead with that off of our minds. Quite ironical is the fact that after being worried about not receiving the green light and perhaps changing our plans, I discovered a couple of weeks ago that an inset day is planned during that same fortnight, hence she only misses nine days, and if we had chosen still to go in the face of a refusal we wouldn’t have run the risk of any penalty.

So, now to plan an itinerary, buy park tickets and look at some ADRs etc., see if there any good concerts at the HOB and try and get a ticket to see the Buccs play the Eagles. No hope with the latter I think, just a dream!

 

[jonkatony]

If your children can cope and will not miss important subject or fall behind then take them out of school.
If they will not cope, do not. What will be the real cost of your cheap holiday?