What would you do?

[lawlesslovewdw]

We are taking our son out of school in Dec. He will be in reception class and asked head for permission to take him out 1st 2 weeks in dec. She said no! (suppose he will miss the constant nativity play rehersals that sent him bonkers in nursery in the same school) So i thought for all of 2 minutes and booked for 3 weeks instead. It will be the last time we pull him out of school for holidays, and i want the boys to experience christmas disney style whilst father christmas is real (they will be 3 & 5)My ds3 will miss his first nursery nativity play which does make me feel guilty, but the fun & excitement of xmas wdw should stay with them forever.

 

[SammieG]

We always took our girls out of school for our Orlando trips. However, they're now 23 and 20 and the climate is much different these days with some Head Teachers adopting a zero tolerance approach and others having a far more laissez faire attitude. Either way, it's a subject which polarises opinions. Maybe you could try to establish how the Head at your daughter's prospective school feels about the subject by talking to some parents whose children already attend.

Debbie.. you are always the voice of great sense and reason

 

[wicket2005]

We are taking our son out of school in Dec. He will be in reception class and asked head for permission to take him out 1st 2 weeks in dec. She said no! (suppose he will miss the constant nativity play rehersals that sent him bonkers in nursery in the same school) So i thought for all of 2 minutes and booked for 3 weeks instead. It will be the last time we pull him out of school for holidays, and i want the boys to experience christmas disney style whilst father christmas is real (they will be 3 & 5)My ds3 will miss his first nursery nativity play which does make me feel guilty, but the fun & excitement of xmas wdw should stay with them forever.

I wouldn't feel too guilty as you say xmas wdw will stay with them forever (or at least vague memories of it because they won't remember it fully). My kids cannot remember much about their first holiday when they were 7 and 5.

Seriously though I have always found the weeks leading up to Christmas filled with fun things when in infants and juniors so I don't think the 5 year old is going to miss much. Even at secondary in the last week, things like word searches and videos were very much the norm at my kids top rated school.

 

[EPCOTFANROD]

I am a primary school teacher and I find that pupils with high ability will always catch up. Pupils towards the bottom end of the class will fall further behind with a two week break.

Tough decision for you parents.

 

[Cyrano]

As others state it is a hot topic but one which everyone is entitled to their own opinions and discuss without the need to flame.
I rest on the side that if the individuals circumstances make it so, then removal from school for quality time as a family is a personal decision.
Remember it is the law that parents should ensure education of their children, but that need not be in school
With parental involvement parents are rightly so seen as key partners in childrens education along with the school, given that children spend 70% of their waking time outside of school

 

[wifey]

Good to hear from you Cyrano... and we agree with you.

Mrs Hobbes.. I understand what you mean it does give them a better understanding of how we fit into the bigger world and how cultures differ and how we affect others.

 

[alibeau]

I just wanted to thank you all for your replies and hope I didn't stir up too much of a fuss with my questions.

We will have to have a good long think about it and I think I will leave booking anything til DD has started school in September and try and get an idea of how the school feel about taking her out during term time. I think their view on it will also have a bearing on what we decide.

Thanks again,

Ali

 

[PaulaSB12]

I don't have children but because i am taking my nieces and nephew in august I have had a rapid lession in why parents take the children out of school, boy I really understand the fights are horrendus the only way to stop parents taking children out of school is to stop the trave industry treating school holidays as a license to print money!

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

In 2004 I had a lot of woe taking out our DD who was then 4 she was in Infants, I had to seek advice with CAB about taking her out of school,in the end it was in our favour as she wasnt "legally" at school,as she was under 5.So they allowed the time off.

She is now 8 and will be missing 3 weeks of her school term but this builds up around the time they break up for the school holidays,and we have been told the week before summer holidays nothing is majorly done work wise it's more fun week. So I can rest assured she wont miss any work.
I have offered to take work with us on holiday if needs be.

I know people think and look negatively to taking children out of school,and every case/school and child are different.
I want to spend time as a family as I find this important not as equally to missing time off school,Prices in school holidays I refuse to pay it.

I would say speak to your child's teachers you get a better scope doing this,and what they will miss so on. And whatever decision you make,I dont think missing 14 days of school are going to cause major disruption to your childs work.

 

[Andy B]

Many have taken their children out of school We have occasionally, But I would avoid the first weeks of a new school career or year as even if the the learning is not vital then the settling in, making friends will influence the rest of the year.

 

[LaraB]

Hi, I'm a primary school teacher and know how difficult some parents find it to get holidays that are cheap enough. At our school we have to follow the local education authorities rules, which state that all absences like holidays are classed as unauthorised. Its only when there are many unauthorised though that they are checked up on, so in that respect, 1 week probably wouldn't be.

As far as missing out on education, I have to say that I think at all ages it can be detrimental because even in a week, children can miss so much. Even though we do end up repeating many curriculum subjects and topics, sometimes it is evident that a child missed out on a particular area and struggle to catch up.

At the end of the day though, it's your choice. Maybe your school will offer you the time off anyway.

Hope this helps.

 

[fuse04]

We have taken Hannah out of school for two weeks, last year and the year before, and will do so next year (last year of Junior). Our view is that education is not just about being in the classroom, it is also about life experiences. The head has supported this thinking and has approved these absences.

Hannah has now had experiences of different cultures (USA and Barbados), currencies, airports, flying, swimming with dolphins and many more. This has helped with projects at school and Hannah has enjoyed presenting work around her holidays in front of the class. These experiences has given Hannah far more confidence and awareness then I had when I left school at 16 and she is only 9.

I understand the need for good education at school and the difficult job teachers have but lets let children be children while they can and have some fun learning on the way.

 

[juliebrooks35]

It's a difficult decision for many. We haven't taken our children out of school in the past but I'm considering it for the last 2 weeks in June next year.(school's break up at the end of June in Scotland.) It's my DH 40th birthday on the 15th and I'd really like to start our holiday with his celebration.
I'm not sure when to broach the subject with their respective schools though but have plenty time yet.

 

[Shazzie B]

Same as others, we took ours out when they were younger, tagged a week onto a half-term week in May normally. Now they're older we're going in August. Mine have only ever missed maximum 1-2 days a year due to sickness (thankfully!). So I feel it hasn't had a negative impact on their education-I was always clear to mine that they would have to complete any work they missed. Schools have always been OK, they know we support them- ensure homeworks done etc.

However from another point of view, my nephew has problems settling back into school after school holidays so my sister didn't feel it was suitable to take him out. As said previously, you need to judge if it's suitable for your child.

Don't stress too much about it-do what you feel is right. Enjoy your holiday

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I believe travel to be part of education. We have taken DS abroad 47 times in past 13 years and believe his understanding of the world, geography, history plus lots more had been enhanced considerably thru travel.
I don't agree with being sat on a beach for 2 weeks and many will say no way should they miss school.
You need to do what you feel is right for your child, its their future, your decisions you have to live with. I am 100% sure we did it right for our DS but not saying its right for another child.

Hi - I agree totally with what Wayneg is saying. Speaking from the child's perspective (my parents took me out of school every year from 5 years old right through college - although not during the run up to exams) - travelling was by far my best education.

Yes we spent alot of time at Disney, but we also visited several other states and a lot of my US knowledge has been retained (cultural, geographical and historical - we have visited several of the Civil War battlefields etc)and these memories have long outlived what I was taught at school!!

I do however agree that it depends on the family, and on the child - my grades were unaffected by travelling, but I guess this wouldn't always be the case.

Ultimately do what is best for your own family - All I can say is I will be forever grateful to my parents for letting me see the world (or the US at any rate!! ) - and my holiday memories will be with me always!!