Taking Children Out of School?

[tttessa]

Sorry if I gave the wrong impression - but I am not a teacher.... though I do have a great deal of respect for those who are..

I just feel that as the kids are only at school for around 180 days of the year it is not unreasonable to have set holiday times. I know I'm probably in a minority but hey ho..


Tessa

 

[ppow]

Tessa - I agree they kids of loads of holidays but it's not easy when you live on the edge of two LEA's as I do and their holidays ae COMPLETELY different (see previous post).

If we stuck to school holidays my only chance of a "family" holiday (ie: taking both kids) would be August (way too hot for us) or Christmas.

 

[wideeyes]

I just feel that as the kids are only at school for around 180 days of the year it is not unreasonable to have set holiday times.

The thing is it can be difficult for the parents to get the time of work during the summer holidays as that is when most people what the time off. My mum works for the NHS and could not get august of work, as all the dates were taken by other staff. There is only a small number of staff so it is not possible to allow every one on holiday at the same time. I am going to WDW with my Mum in September and taking my DD out of school for 10 days which the headteacher has approved.

 

[BoingBoingBaggie]

My problem is that, as many of you are aware, a trip to WDW can be quite costly and alot of families can only afford it once in a while.

I count myself and my family in that bracket - which is why we choose to book our holiday out of the main season and take advantage of the good offer of free dining.

3 Weeks in Florida from September 12-October 3 for what could be a once in a lifetime trip (you never know what is around the corner!).

Our problem is simple - we had to weigh up exactly how much schooling a 5 year old girl would miss! We haven't asked yet for permission, and dont really intend to worry about it if it is refused.

She has had one day off sick since nursery which she started Jan 05 - she is well ahead in here reading and writing (hopefully because myself and her mother pracitise with her often) and we have never booked a holiday in school term time before, and would probably not do it again for many years (not being able to afford to go every year!).

Hopefully, the school will look favourably on us, but as I said, if the worst comes to the worst and they say no - then I am hardly going to leave her at home am I!

 

[angel659]

You have to take into account where people like to go on holidays. For us we do not like Europe at all. Wouldnt even waste my money going there. Not only that because we are a party of 5 we can only have certian accomodations and if not we would need 2 rooms. With all these in mind WDW is not that much more if we did it on a budget.

Mrs Dazzle I am afraid we are going to have to agree to disagree on that one. I miss so many important events with my job, but I do not moan I knew this when I took it on.

As people have mentioned with the cost and the heat peak summer is not welcoming to those. I personally feel 10 days out of school when there are no exams and the child is not suffering at school so be it let them go.

Yes many parents ask for thier child to be taken out of school. Its not for us to judge because its only time we can go, cant afford any other time etc. We should be thinking of the childs welfare and if you feel it causes more harm then good for whatever reason then have a meeting the parents and discuss the best option. I think it will take more than 10 days to find out and sort out the childs problem. Spending time with the parents is just as important. Its not like WDW is sitting on the beach sun bathing all day.

I love my daughter to bits and would never jepordise her education, but if she was experiencing problems then I am sure it would take more than 10 days.

Sorry everyone I go on and on. I have verbal diarrohoea today.

 

[islandmum]

we have no choice but to take the boys out of school for our vacations .... dh's job is in hospitality so when everyone else is on school breaks and vacations he has to work.

With that scenario we must take family vaca's during school term time and take the boys out (this was the first year to do so for our oldest as he's 4 now).

its not such a big issue here as the schools we are and will be using are private and are more flexible than the state schools, and it will be a case of taking work with us if needed.

 

[pixiepower04]

I am self employed making Bespoke Wedding Cakes so as you can imagine my busiest times of the year are June/July/August & September so I have for the last two years taken my DD8 and DS6 out of school for a week in March to go to DLP.

I have always written to the school to request the time off and as they also know me very well (having made use of my cake making!!) they accept that because of the nature of my business taking the kids out of school is no real biggie.

I won't be going to DLP next year because we want to go to WDW in September/October, the kids are off the first two weeks in October and so I will take them out for 10 days prior to that, I can't see it being a problem as they never do anything constructive the last two weeks anyway but I will still write in and justify my request.

As most people have said it should be based on a case by case request. My school is usually very accommodating especially since they know me so well.

I do feel though that when they are older and in high school and head for College or Uni a quality family holiday time will be almost non-existent and a child's life is hard enough at these tender ages and a wee break from the humdrum can't do anything else but help broaden their minds.

 

[fuse04]

Last year we went to Barbados and also did Discovery cove (swim with dolphins) DD came home from school today with the new school project on the carribbean. So tonight we dug out our photo's of Chattel houses and the plantation trip, sugar beet stuff and DD has produced some un prompted homework ready for a voluntary show and tell! Tomorrow she wants to do a peice on the dolphins, being a anaimal of the region.

Rob

 

[richtomas]

we have been lucky with our schools because we have took our kids out twice 04 and 06 both the start of sept and the head teachers in both school have given us the ok both times and our kids have a 90% plus attendance at school,but things have changed in the the last few months,a girl at my son infant school who has had 90 ish % attendance has been told no{2 weeks to disney that includes may week}so they only wanted a week . a bit harsh and they feel really guilty now,but they are going.

i was also told that if the school attendance is below average in england,they will reject all holidays and thats unfair as kids pick up loads of bugs when they start school

 

[alisonbestford]

Working as a nurse it was always a matter of, almost having to draw the short straw, to get time off in the school holidays!
Most of us were battling to take our children away

Luckily my ex, (the father of my 2 oldest children) was a teacher so he took the kids away in the Summer hols and I got to take them away in term time

Granted this was long before all the rules were tightened up, and I never took them out of school once they reached secondary school (Dad's request), but we had some fantastic holidays (never WDW, unfortunately) and they never seemed to suffer with their school work