Taking Children Out of School?

[fuse04]

I agree, no 2 children are alike. Every case should be looked at individually.
Our son is now 12, Every year thru junior school we took him out for 2 weeks in Oct attached to half term making a 3 week hol. We did this with the blessing of the headmistress, she could see hr never had a day off illness and top in every subject. There is more to education than a classroom but all children have different needs.

Thats is our view which is verymuch supported by the head. Education is certainly not just exams it is about life and social skills. Over the last two years Hannah, now 9, has experienced two very diffiernt cultures, various transportation systems, currencies, gained much confidence and swam with the dolphins, to name but a few.

Children have very few years to enjoy childhood and a very long time to gain qualifications. And everyone learns at a different rate.

Rob

 

[MorningGlory]

Hi Louise

Not sure what to think of this.

I have been lucky. Unexpectedly, for me, my son's school was more than happy for Paul jnr to take the last 2 weeks off before the summer holidays. As far as they were concerned (so his mum said), they were delighted that he was getting the opportunity to spend some time with his dad, and go to see Mickey.

This should be what a parent expects to hear, but to often it seems parents are told differently.

Quality time with a parent is as good as anything taught in school, especially in primary like junior.

 

[irongirlof12]

I asked the Head if I could take kids out of school for 2 weeks this sept and she was ok with it. My dd are 5 & 10.(Primary school) BUT, I won't be doing it when DD moves up to 'big' school, i may try to tag on a few days on at the start or end of terms but thats about it.

 

[wicket2005]

I won't be doing it when DD moves up to 'big' school, i may try to tag on a few days on at the start or end of terms but thats about it.

Another thing once she gets up to 'big school' is to see exactly what they do, do in the last week of term (school year). I found that the majority of my kids' time was spent watching dvds (entertainment type), word searches, puzzles and the like. In other words the actual work had finished and they were just doing fun things so I really do not see that there should be any problem tagging a few days at the end of the school year.

 

[DisBabesMan]

we always used to add an extra week to the end of the spring bank holiday week for our 3 DD's, making a 2 week holiday woth only one week out of school. No problems with any of the schools for this.

Nxt year is a critical year for eldest DD at high school, so am going in easter as that is the only time two weeks school holiday falls together, apart from the summer hols (too hot in FL for that!).

We now find easter is a bit earlier next year and the 2 full weeks that they usually get is still there, but goes from midweek to midweek! so we still have to take a couple of days out a the end as we can only fly saturdays. So this time it is the LEA that has caused the problem by changing the way the easter hols are done.

Can't win!

 

[tashasmum]

We never had trouble taking dd out of high school. She used to miss the end of the school term(about 7 days) but as they were only watching dvds, sports day etc was always given permission. This year we are having to wait until Aug(too many exams as she is taking some GCSE's early) and next year it will be her ball and does not want to miss it.

 

[cheryl.UK]

Don't simply assume that all secondary schools watch videos in the last week of term. At my school, the staff teach right up to 3pm on the Friday. Most subjects run an extended project in the last 2 weeks which includes group work, ICT and research culminating in a presentation and or written project. If we get even a hint that students are watching a DVD which is not 100% educational and relevent to the project, the member of staff has to answer to the senior team. This is the third school I have worked at with a similar policy. The days of DVDs are long gone in any school who actually lives up to its reputation.

 

[wayneg]

We must have bad schools round here, When I was at both junior and High school 25 years ago we always took games in last 2 weeks before summer break, same for DS now all way thru junior school and his first year at High school, only they dont take board games now, its game boys, DVD's etc.

 

[wicket2005]

Don't simply assume that all secondary schools The days of DVDs are long gone in any school who actually lives up to its reputation.

Amazingly my children did attend the top secondary school in the area and one that was in the top 50 for the country. It has an extremely good reputation and GCSE pass rate. Its last headteacher was recently made a Knight for his achievements in education. It also managed to do this even by allowing the kids a slack week in the very last week of the school year when the teachers were busy sorting things out. So I would say that it does live up to its reputation as being an excellent school and indeed Osfted agree. At the end of the day the results speak for themselves and on a personal level my kids came out with 12 and 10 GCSE A-C grades which I think is a fantastic achievement. So yes see what your own kids' school does and make your own judgement but I seriously doubt that in the last week of the summer term crucial educational exam material will be being taught.

 

[diddldonna]

We take our children out of school for 2 weeks approx every other year. Last school year my children only missed 2 days of school due to sickness and in November we will take our children out of school for 2 weeks. When i spoke to the head teachers both was pleased with my childrens attendence and said have a lovely time. I said i would ask around the time for some homework and both said not to worry about it they will get plenty of education just by going some where different. Oh one did say to bring him back a fridge magnet.

I do know parents that take there child out of school for silly reasons like to go clothes shopping and because it was too windy/wet, now come one these are the parents that need a good kick not the ones who take a holiday once a year or so.

My husband also can't take time off in school holidays because he works for a college doing maintenance and this is the only time they can do building works, its in his contract. His employer said he will send a letter to the school if we need one but they have never said anything.

Donna

 

[Chilly]

I went on holiday for 2 weeks in June and missed school until year 10/15 I think when I had my mock GCSEs. I don't think it ever did me any harm.

 

[ppow]

I live on the Rochdale/Lancashire border with a child in each county. As previously stated Lancashire in their wisdon have gone to 6 terms and Rochdale haven't.

This means that EVERY holiday is different bar summer (too hot for FL) or christmas. Basically when has had a week off and returning to school the other is STARTING their holiday. Even at Easter Lancashire only have Good Friday/Easter MOnday and Rochdale have 2 weeks. The day he goes back after Easter fortnight my daughter starts her holiday.

I have only this morning spoken to both schools about the nightmare this is causing us.

Son (aged 7) - primary school states that they will authorise 5 days absence but only if tagged onto another school holiday and attendance in 90% plus.

Daughter (aged 13 - year 8) - high school will authorise 10 days absence as long as not in May and attendance is 94% plus.

So we have opted for last week Oct/1st week Nov both will have to miss 6 days (tough) we fly out on a Friday because as I explained to my sons school this means we will land back on a Saturday morning and he will need weekend to recover.

They suggested that we fly out Saturday - which means landing back in Manchester Sunday morning and back into school Monday !!!!!!! Have they never flown and had jet lag (and general exhaustion from partying at WDW) obviously not!!!!

 

[wayneg]

They suggested that we fly out Saturday - which means landing back in Manchester Sunday morning and back into school Monday !!!!!!! Have they never flown and had jet lag (and general exhaustion from partying at WDW) obviously not!!!!

We do this every trip, its just something you have to do if you want a trip to US. Best way to beat it is sleep as much as poss on plane then dont go to bed when you get home stay awake as late as poss on the Sunday.
Even harder for me, I start work at 3:30am on the Monday morning.

 

[tttessa]

hmmmm - it is a very emotive subject.

I do wonder how people would feel if their child's teacher "just took the odd week off to go on holiday". Its cheaper, there are less crowds - and teachers have children too.

Also, I know our school is tightening up its policy and refusing a lot of parents because of the "catch up" afterwards - Easter to summer term is full of the teaching assistant sitting with so-and-so to catch up after their holidays, please remember a class is made of up to 30 children - what if they all chose their own holidays?
Example: last year, the week after May half term - in my dd's class - year1:
Mon-wed 7 (out of 26) off ,
Thu 4 still off,
Fri 3 still off + 2 extra having a long weekend (center parks!!) on Fri+Mon

lots of different catch ups to do aarrggghhh. These were just the booked holiday absences - factor in chicken pox/flu/tummy bugs etc - I think teachers have a logistical nightmare....

So personally, I think a day or 2 may make no difference (so long as it's not a new project start) but anything over that may cause other people's children (i.e. I know, I know, I mean mine ) to miss out too... (everything slows down when the TA is not available to help in lesson)
Tessa

 

[kristieuk]

It is hugely apparent from the responses here that all of us care passionately about our children and their education, and that none of us would do anything to jeopardise that. We are all capable as parents to decide what is best for our children, and I think it is obvious from the responses here that none of us makes a flippant decision. If it was the case the child had been ill and missed a lot of school, or had some difficulties in keeping up with the work, I know that everyone here would take those matters into account, and perhaps decide that it would be in the child's best interests not to miss any more school.

Unfortunately, I don't suppose every single parent in the country could be relied upon to always put the child's welfare first, and I think the one thing that hits me reading all of these threads is that every school should look at each request as an individual case. Perhaps if the school decide the attendance record is poor, and / or the child's abilities have been affected for whatever reason, the school should have the authority to say the child cannot afford to miss school - also taking into account the time of year and academic workload etc. This would mean there was no 'blanket policy' that prejudices parents of capable pupils who want or need to take term time holidays, whilst ensuring that those children who ned to be 'protected' are.

 

[kristieuk]

Sorry, accidentally posted twice.

 

[angel659]

hmmmm - it is a very emotive subject.

I do wonder how people would feel if their child's teacher "just took the odd week off to go on holiday". Its cheaper, there are less crowds - and teachers have children too.

Hmmmmmmmmm I have to disagree here with what you are trying to point out. I will no doubt get flamed here for my comments, but I think it needs to be said. Unfortunately it comes with the job. Like my job I dont moan that I dont ever get hardly any christmas time off with my kids, more than 1 day off at Easter, work most of or if not all of bank holidays and have countless weekends working. I chose to become a nurse I love my job, I didnt choose the job for the money or the hours. My job is unsocial and if it means taking Casey out of school for 2 weeks to spend some quality time with her then I will. Providing Caseys education is not compromised. My daughters school is very strict and certainly would not allow her to miss school if they felt she would be compromised. Unfortunately we all know what comes with our jobs before we start our chosen career. My dh cant have the first two weeks off each month, trying to organise holidays around that can be a task in itself. I am not being nasty, but I do annoyed when people moan about the negative side of thier job. I feel we all have our own lives in our own hands and if we are not happy then dont do it. We live once. Enjoy your life to the full. Perhaps my job helps me see things differently I dont know. Please try not to post comments like that, when we were the ones who chose our careers in the first place and knew what was expected of us before we started.

I dont mean to upset anyone. Its just how I feel. Apologies to anyone offended.

 

[diddldonna]

hmmmm - it is a very emotive subject.

I do wonder how people would feel if their child's teacher "just took the odd week off to go on holiday". Its cheaper, there are less crowds - and teachers have children too.

Teachers do take time out in school term too, i have known this to happen several times during my children school life. To be honest if they was going away once a year in term time for 2 weeks that would be okay with me. As long as it wasn't all the time.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

I love it when this subject crops us

I too work in a school as an Admin Officer. This means I can't take my DD out of school for 10 days like we used to before I took this job on (always used to tag up to 10 days onto either May or October half-terms).

Last summer we sent to Florida for three weeks in August. There were two really negatives to this holiday - the absolutely sickeningly more expensive cost of it compared to our other May/October trips, and then the heat/humidity.

My DH has a new job which means he is not allowed to take any more than two weeks off at a time, so no more three week trips to Florida. That's tough, but we need his salary to pay most of the bills, so that's more important.

I'm afraid in my job I see many holiday forms giving the reason that parents cannot afford to go at school holiday times; in some cases this is really just taking the mickey when you know their circumstances. I'm talking about more than one visit, not the "holiday of a lifetime" trips, before I get flamed. But nor can we really afford a holiday to Florida in the school holidays, but tough - school holidays are the only time we can go because of my job (comments about knowing this when you take the job on I'm afraid don't help - no offence intended either ).

Family holidays are extremely important in my book. It's not just holidays to Florida that people take their children out of school for - prices during school holidays are extortionate wherever you go

 

[THE COLONEL]

We are extremely fortunate to have a Head Master (Primary School) who takes a very sensible approach to these requests (with caveats in place for educational performance and general attendance) He is adored by the children and well respected by the Parents

The following is my letter to him and his subsequent reponse

Dear Mr XXXXX

I would be grateful if you would consider granting XXXX a period of absence outside the published holiday dates for Academic Year 2007-2008.

We are requesting a period of 5 days (5-9 November 2007).

We intend to use the time for a holiday to Florida and are very aware about the current debate about parents taking children on holiday outside holiday periods.

We do not make a habit of making such requests and thought long and hard about the possible impact on XXXX studies. No doubt you get many such requests each with their own particular "spin" on justifying the request.

A family holiday is the essential purpose of this request but there is, at least in some small part, an educational value to be gained from places such as EPCOT , Animal Kingdom and Sea World. I'm struggling to make any such claims for the Magic Kingdom or other attractions but I genuinely do not feel that XXXX schooling will suffer greatly as a result of this potential absence. We would very happy to take any school work as deemed neccessary for XXXX to complete while away.

Hi

I agree there will be many educational opportunities. I’d suggest XXXX keeps a diary rather than taking work from school. I’d love to find out what you’ve all been up to on your return.

You have just missed having to fill in a variety of forms!

This absence will be authorised.

Have a great time.

XXXX
HEAD TEACHER