Will anyone be taking kids on holiday in school time

[lgp1]

We're taking our 6 year old granddaughter out for 3 weeks next September.

She starts back on the 1st and we fly out on the 9th. We have spoken to the headmistress and she has not got a problem with it.

Lyndon

 

[BlueGiraffe]

.

 

[BlueGiraffe]

The educational value of family time varies wildly from family to family though. And by "schools" do you mean the government imposed rules of the education system, or the human beings who work day in and day out with your children (who are quite often parents themselves and understand where you're coming from)?

As I said before, I don't blame parents for taking children during school time (even though they are allocated 13 weeks holiday a year) because prices in the holidays are ridiculous. But don't dress it up as "educational family time" and tell yourself your child won't be missing anything.

 

[Minniesgal]

The educational value of family time varies wildly from family to family though. And by "schools" do you mean the government imposed rules of the education system, or the human beings who work day in and day out with your children (who are quite often parents themselves and understand where you're coming from)?

As I said before, I don't blame parents for taking children during school time (even though they are allocated 13 weeks holiday a year) because prices in the holidays are ridiculous. But don't dress it up as "educational family time" and tell yourself your child won't be missing anything.

I am sorry but my child spent two days at the end of term moving books for his teacher from one class to another. There is often little educational value offered at the end of terms they are often put in front of DVDs and we have been all over the world with our children which certainly has significant educational value. I am not getting at you I am just sick of being told by the educational system what is good for my children. I am their parent I know best. For example the school is going on about my youngest diet due the rules for preventing child obesity which is great but my son is underweight and we are working with a dr to build him up to a normal weight. I am not negating the Importance of the educational system but I think the system forgets that families have a lot to offer too and often we know what is best for our children because we have a holistic picture. I will continue to take my children out of school if I think it is appropriate and if the schools stop giving permission then my children will simply be sick.

 

[mollies_mum]

There is more to education than being stuck in a classroom. I teach secondary kids aged 11-18 and have always taken my kids out of school a few days before October half term and will continue to do so. I only work part time (Mondays and Tuesdays)so this works for us. My daughter is year 10 next year and that is the last time we will take her out of school because it will be her GCSE year. She works hard at school year round, she is privately tutored and she will catch up on the school work missed (it takes a teacher less than a few seconds each to email me the work from the lesson). It's quality family time and I will continue to do the same with my son who starts school next year regardless of whether they fine me or not.

 

[Minniesgal]

There is more to education than being stuck in a classroom. I teach secondary kids aged 11-18 and have always taken my kids out of school a few days before October half term and will continue to do so. I only work part time (Mondays and Tuesdays)so this works for us. My daughter is year 10 next year and that is the last time we will take her out of school because it will be her GCSE year. She works hard at school year round, she is privately tutored and she will catch up on the school work missed (it takes a teacher less than a few seconds each to email me the work from the lesson). It's quality family time and I will continue to do the same with my son who starts school next year regardless of whether they fine me or not.

I agree completely with this. We have taken my son to the Louvre in Paris and he knows as much about the ancient Greeks and Romans because that created an interest in him. We have been to Verdun and to the Holocaust monument in Paris and his knowledge of World War Two is great for age 10. He speaks a fair bit of French and actually uses it. he makes friends wherever we are and copes extremely well with change and the unknown. There is more to a child's development than sitting in a classroom.

 

[zippy99]

We cannot go in August next year due to one of my husbands other staff wanting that time for a family wedding.

We have made the decision, after discussing with the Children to take them out a week before the October half term - my daughter will be in her first year of 6th Form and our son in year 10.

Both of them are happy with this arrangement and we know their capabilities and do not see this as a problem. Especially in the digital age teenagers work in today - where all lesson notes, assignments & reference material are supplied via email. However, this is just the situation for us and how we feel on this matter I realise it is different for each family.

 

[BlueGiraffe]

I completely agree with what you're all saying, please don't think I'm judging you. There is a difference between missing a day or two, and missing a week or two, that's all I'm saying. Some children catch up quickly, others don't - you know your children best. My original post was just saying that all year groups are important, not just Year 6 or secondary

And please don't confuse teachers with the "education system", we are people, and mums, just like you

 

[2Tiggies]

I think schools forget that family time is educational and important too. While school and education is obviously vital it is not the be all and end all in a child's development.

I couldn't agree more that family time is educational. However it's not the schools forget. Absences are absences and it's not actually the holiday absences that have led to this as much as the countless parents who just don't care, don't ensure that children attend regularly etc.

I do not use 'education' as one of my justifications for taking DD out. It is based on various factors, the combination of which is very unique to our situation, and this will vary from one family to the next.

Until this year, I have not been able to take more than 5 working days consecutively during the summer holiday period off from work. Ditto for Easter where since 2010 I could only take one of the two weeks. Any other time of the year I could take longer. DD does well at school, is blessed with good health and has had 3 sick days in over 7 years of school so her attendance is perfect. As a single parent I simply cannot afford to take her in the summer holidays. We have compromised for next year, by choice, and I am letting her miss the last 3 days of the school year and I discussed this at length with her and checked with the school as to when the optimal time was which would cause the least disruption. (She is now in first year secondary school). There are sacrifices she has to make as well and I needed to make sure she fully understood that there is a social aspect to those days that she is going to have to forfeit and that while it may sound like fun while planning a Disney vacation, it is going to be very important to her at the time. Our holiday is still costing us over £1000 more than usual but it's all about finding the balance that suits everyone.

And please don't confuse teachers with the "education system", we are people, and mums, just like you

I agree 100% and this is something important to keep in mind because the line very easily gets blurred in these discussions, where those within the education system who give their views are not defending the system - they are simply giving a different perspective from within it

 

[Vixster]

Thank you for all the replys looks like I won't be the only one taking kids out can't see what 5 days can do as kids get sick and need time off just not sure how ill ask for the days or just send a letter saying kids will be off the fine is cheaper than other holiday times but we like October.

 

[2Tiggies]

Thank you for all the replys looks like I won't be the only one taking kids out can't see what 5 days can do as kids get sick and need time off just not sure how ill ask for the days or just send a letter saying kids will be off the fine is cheaper than other holiday times but we like October.

It's all about how you communicate with the school. I used to contact the head teacher in person and discuss it with her before booking. I was quite open about the fact that I was going to be doing it regardless but I did want her input. She always worked with me with advice on dates to avoid and I always took her input on board. DD would choose a classmate who was willing to collect worksheets and homework and we would bring home a nice thank you present at the end of it. I would then put in the extra time with DD after our return and work with her to catch up on anything she had missed to bring her up to speed. Another thing to be careful of asking is for the class teacher to set aside homework etc during the absence. This is a lot to ask of a teacher who has a class full of other pupils and I simply made it clear that if the teacher wished to send anything extra, I would support that but that there was no expectation for anything special or extra to be set out or sent home for us. Finally, after our discussion I put it all in writing so that the head teacher had all she needed for the records (she was great and always authorized our trips). A couple of weeks prior to the trip I would send a note in to each and every teacher who taught DD even if it was for extra activities that were not part of the curriculum, to let them know as a courtesy. It's not all what you do, but how you approach it.

 

[foxxxy83]

I'm taking my son out of school for 10 days so we can go to Florida for 2 wks (oct 4-18 this yr) and, unless you have a damn good sob story you can play on, you will be fined £100 and face being prosecuted by the local authority. Each local authority will decide how strict they are going to be.. ours are TERRIBLE! Luckily my mum's a teacher and helped me write my letter to my son's Headmaster. You will then have a VERY nervous wait to find out if they will allow it or what they plan to do. Most people think it's just the Head who makes the decision.. IT ISN'T!! It's up to the Head and the governors but they have to agree between them. I got a letter back saying they had considered the points I'd raised (my son spends his school holidays having social skills lessons and speech therapy for his ASD and I don't know how long I am going to be well enough to take him places on holiday with my MS etc) and they have approved it but will not approve any future holidays in term time. It was also booked before the new rules came into place so I had that argument in my favour as well. Loads of parents at my mum's school and the school my son attends have asked to take their son out and had real problems with the local authority. I personally wouldn't do it again but you may have a local authority who aren't as bad as ours or a personal set of circumstances that would get approval. Just think carefully before you do anything is my advice. Maybe phone you could phone your local LEA and just be honest and say you're considering taking your children out of school during term time and play dumb. Ask what the process is.. if they are REALLY strict as an authority, they will be VERY clear about it and you'll know by the time you put the phone down! Maybe you could go at Oct half term??

 

[foxxxy83]

Oh and just to add... we're having to take homework along with us to do at the hotel! Am having to leave two days as "free time" so we can fit this in but my son is NOT going to be happy when he finds out! Lol!

 

[Vixster]

Oh and just to add... we're having to take homework along with us to do at the hotel! Am having to leave two days as "free time" so we can fit this in but my son is NOT going to be happy when he finds out! Lol!

Thank for some advice I am using the weeks half term and few Days either side my parents live in Singapore and are coming back to go with us so going to say that as its family time have left it to husband to sort out lol he isn't at the school every day like me

 

[mollies_mum]

I completely agree with what you're all saying, please don't think I'm judging you. There is a difference between missing a day or two, and missing a week or two, that's all I'm saying. Some children catch up quickly, others don't - you know your children best. My original post was just saying that all year groups are important, not just Year 6 or secondary

And please don't confuse teachers with the "education system", we are people, and mums, just like you

 

[Julia Ann]

We will be doing the same in october 2015 taking DD out for the week before half term. She will be in year 2 then, and I understand about the "every day learning" totally. However, if harvest festival practice is anything like nativity practice they won't be doing a lot during that week. This will be the first time we will be taking her out of school for holiday though, only because we are saving for 2015 and haven't been able to afford to go yet. Each to there own opinion (i only read 2 pages of this post). I'm a little worried about the jet lag on returning to school for the new term but hope to be home on the friday morning so will have Frid/Sat/Sun for part recovery.

I am tempted to go december for the next visit as DD birthday is 2 weeks before xmas.....but that's a long way off.

Happy holidays

 

[Nicnic]

We have taken our DD out of school for at least 5 days every year since she started reception, we also go October half term, she is out the week before.

This year due to flights, we have to take her out 8 days before half term and she has just started middle school.
Our school have not informed us of any changes to the 10 day allowance and we have submitted her absence request.

This will probably be the last year we do it as she is 10 now.
I would still perhaps take her out 1or 2 days say before the school broke up for holidays.

 

[foxxxy83]

The 10-day allowance is staying the same. Only difference is Headteachers will no longer be able to authorise absences for holidays. The 10 days were never originally supposed to be granted for holidays anyway, they were supposed to be for circumstances like funerals that involved the whole family travelling to a destination far from home making it impossible to ensure the child/children were present at school and/or to allow for grieving, things like that. It was never intended for holidays but the law wasn't as strict on imposing any measures that would stop a parent taking a child out of school for anything other than an exceptional circumstance. Now the coalition are merely implementing something that will hopefully keep more children in school and help their education not to suffer.

 

[Kath2003]

The 10-day allowance is staying the same. Only difference is Headteachers will no longer be able to authorise absences for holidays. The 10 days were never originally supposed to be granted for holidays anyway, they were supposed to be for circumstances like funerals that involved the whole family travelling to a destination far from home making it impossible to ensure the child/children were present at school and/or to allow for grieving, things like that. It was never intended for holidays but the law wasn't as strict on imposing any measures that would stop a parent taking a child out of school for anything other than an exceptional circumstance. Now the coalition are merely implementing something that will hopefully keep more children in school and help their education not to suffer.

This, but "allowance" is the wrong word. It's simply that 10 days of absence may be authorised in exceptional circumstances. That automatically takes a child's attendance down to 95%. By the time you get to 4 weeks per year, that's the equivalent of the child having a day off every fortnight, or missing more than an entire year of their education by the time they reach 16. You can therefore understand why the government and local authorities are concerned about attendance (in general, not just time out for holidays).

 

[joolz1910]

We took our children out last October and there doesn't appear to be any long-term damage to their progress Your children's Head won't be able to authorise it now that the new rules are in place but as long as you are happy with your decision, you should just bite the bullet. I am a teacher (but no longer a job-share) and won't be able to book this time of year again If I could, I would, in a heartbeat....and my eldest two would be in seconadary school when we intend to go.