School letter....

[kristieuk]

I always write a letter explaining that we have to go away in term time, and offer to take away any work for DD to do if the school would like, although this has never happened. It may be worth just adding a sentence that if a holiday form is necessary, could one please be sent home.

It's lovely to see this thread is a really open and realistic one about children enjoying proper family time. I just wanted to echo all that has been said - we are a long time dead, and my daughter still talks about things that happened on holidays going back to being 2 and 3, and she is now 9. That to me is way more important than anything she may have learned during a missed week in school that would have been long forgotten by now.

Don't be surprised if you get a printed form back from the school discouraging holidays - it's something they are told to do, and it's nothing personal. I think your concern about how to handle things shows how much you care and how much you take your childs education seriously, and the school will realise that too. Have a great time

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Ultimately most (and I do believe its the majority) of parents want to do the best for their children. I am a firm believer that children need a good education and I will ensure both of my sons attend school regularly and do their homework promptly etc.

But they grow up very quickly and I know from my own childhood - my best memories are of our family holidays - and these gave me the very best part of my education. My geographical, historical and cultural knowledge of the States remains with me to this day - long after most of what I was taught at school has been forgotten.

Yes, taking children away during school holidays is ideal - but when we do go away we go for at least three weeks, and we do not cope well with the august weather in florida.

I will offer to make up any work at home that my son misses, so that he doesn't fall behind - but in all honesty, unless it is exam time - I really think special family time is vital to my children's well being and we will continue to take them out of school.

 

[craigs bride]

i'll be asking for permission to take DD,15 out of school next yr when we head off to florida but they will must probably say no due toit being her last yr at school......but we are getting married there and she isnt missing that ! her time out from school is at the very beginning of term so she will be able to catch up with the work when she goes back..

 

[alibeau]

Thanks again guys

I will ask her teacher on Monday, as it is only a tiny school and I'm sure she will know the 'right' way to go about things and I now have some great feedback if she does indeed ask for a letter thanks.

IMHO at my DD's age (5) she will not suffer at all for taking the time off and will benefit greatly from the whole family-time/holiday experience. I am thinking I will buy her a disposable camera and she can take photos of the things that interest her most and perhaps take them into school to show everyone, if her teacher agrees. I'm just not sure how I will feel about taking her out of school as the years go on, I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it......

Thanks again

Ali

 

[wils]

We just had a holiday form to fill in and it came back 'authorised' the same day. I was talking to a friend who is a teacher the other day and she was telling me that their school do not authorise any holiday requests made during term time at all!

 

[irongirlof12]

you are all so much more polite than i...

she's 5 years old....what could she possibly learn at the age of 5 during a week or two that will mean anything in the long run?

we could all be dead tomorrow...

family time trumps everything else in my book...

schools take themselves far too seriously....

over the years, when i took the kids out of school (when we had to travel to the states for family events) i simply informed the teachers and administration that the kids would be gone during whatever time it was...

the one time that the school head told me that she couldn't give me permission (for a month beginning just before thanksgiving until new years), i told her i wasn't asking for permission, i was simply informing her of their impending absence.

life is short. in the long run we're all dead.
when we have one foot in the grave, none of us ever regret not having spent more time at work or in school.

rant over.....

so true. I do the same thing. we are a family unit but, DH works full time as do I and our holiday is so important to us as a family unit. a week or 2 out of school is no big deal. ok, I do avoid certain times of the academic year, and try to tag onto the end or start of but I totally agree with your sentiments

 

[Karenpowley]

If the school uses holiday request forms - use that.

If not address a letter to the Headteacher ASKING PERMISSION for the time off ( Dont mention its already bkd) (this is how my Head works!!!)

Your childs attendance will then be checked and if over reasonable percentage (usually 90 to 95%) a standard permission letter is sent out.

Do it now, dont wait til nearer the time.

You shouldn't have any probs - The heads are allowed to give permission for up to 10 school days

K x

 

[PoppyAnna]

If the school uses holiday request forms - use that.

If not address a letter to the Headteacher ASKING PERMISSION for the time off ( Dont mention its already bkd) (this is how my Head works!!!)

Your childs attendance will then be checked and if over reasonable percentage (usually 90 to 95%) a standard permission letter is sent out.

Do it now, dont wait til nearer the time.

You shouldn't have any probs - The heads are allowed to give permission for up to 10 school days
K x

I agree with this.
My eldest DD is in Year One and I just recieved a confirmation letter for authorised holiday for the last day of term (24 Oct). I stated that DD had an excellent record (99.2%) and that family time was important to us and in my opinion not all knowledge is life is gained in the four walls of a classroom (particularly on the last day of term when they watch DVD's )

With regards to 10 day rule, we were told just before DD started school that she used to be able to authorise 10 days but this was no longer the case Why are different EA and schools so different? why do some (like Natalie's for instance) simply have a holiday form and some have a no holiday rule? can anbody answer this?
My DD goes to a small school that is new (it's only filled to year 5 so far) and our head seems to be firm on this, I'm thinking it's because she feels the school has so much to prove. I think she says no holidays as she know some will still take 10days but that it scares people like me and I won't take 10, this obviously helps the school record.

 

[stoneyloon]

I can't believe how lucky you lot are, my Mrs is a teacher, so we really are stuck to school (expensive) holidays.....

 

[stoneyloon]

Then again, maybe you're all really bad parents and don't care about your loved one's education.

 

[TraceyL]

I've just sorted the holidays with my DDs' schools

DD in secondary school - had to fill in a holiday request form. This came back as authorised due to DH's time away in the RN ... "even though she didn't meet the attendance criteria". I was 'you what'?! Her attendance last year was 97% - the school had her listed at only 73% !

DD in Primary school - a letter stating she will be absent from x Oct - x Nov for a family holiday ... anything we can do to minimise disruption or something we can do to assist with class curriculum/project please let me know....etc

Never had any problems

 

[thehails]

It's lovely to see this thread is a really open and realistic one about children enjoying proper family time. :

I agree it's really nice to be able to offer an opinion without being shot down in flames because of it.


I hope you all have wonderful holidays whenever you are going

 

[thehails]

Then again, maybe you're all really bad parents and don't care about your loved one's education.

Thanks for the laugh this morning