Write a letter to School

[Andrew DEREK UK]

1/ Good luck with it.

2/ I used to go at October half term, and take two weeks, a weeks school holiday then a week of school, sometimes only four days due to teacher training.

I did this as it was cheaper, the weather better, the parks lighter of crowds. I told the schools in advance.

In 2002, on my return, I had a very stern letter back form the school saying it was unauthorized, (but before the holiday they authorized it) and they would report me, to the council absence management manager, with Social services!

I did complain and the school said, they did loose my first request, I showed them the copy, but everything still stood.

My kids had a 100% attendance outside this 4 or 5 days.

So I swapped to summer holidays!

 

[lesley.a.murray@talk]

I hope you get it all sorted out soon Deborah. Do let us all know.

Like previous posters have said, I believe that not everything is learned in school and a holiday with family is time well spent.Especially where you are going!

Anyway, sending you and your family some in the hope that its helps.

Lesley

 

[Andy B]

I have to say that I have taken my children out of school, however normally only and odd few days before the end of term when nothing much is being done and once for a funeral in the USA where part of our family is. However I generally think that it is wrong to take kids out of school for holidays, there is not much learning done on an average holiday and so this is a spurious argument and while I believe family time on holidays can be important I find it hard to believe there is quite so many instances on not being able to schedule a family break during school holidays as indicated here.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have to say that I have taken my children out of school, however normally only and odd few days before the end of term when nothing much is being done and once for a funeral in the USA where part of our family is. However I generally think that it is wrong to take kids out of school for holidays, there is not much learning done on an average holiday and so this is a spurious argument and while I believe family time on holidays can be important I find it hard to believe there is quite so many instances on not being able to schedule a family break during school holidays as indicated here.

I agree school is very important, my kids have a 100% attendance, but there are so many other factors that come to play into this situation.

Holiday companies ''ripping off'' families during school holidays, ie Florida an increase of at least £1k in Summer.

If both parents work, and their bosses only allow a couple of staff off at a particular time, school holidays go fast, and some companies refuse time off.

I am lucky I can generally book when I want, but have to go opposite my assistant manager, but she likes Christmas so there has to be a compromise etc.

My wife hover, after taking time off for the kids, went back to a new job and bottom of her holiday list and often doesn't get what she asks for.

Some places you want or need to visit, have there worst weather during summer months, family weddings abroad etc are also a factor.

Schools could help a bit, extend the May and October holidays to two weeks, cut a little off the summer holiday, and cut the Feb half term down to a day or so.

Then you have Easter, May, Summer and October when you can have a two week holiday.

 

[Andy B]

I agree school is very important, my kids have a 100% attendance, but there are so many other factors that come to play into this situation.

Holiday companies ''ripping off'' families during school holidays, ie Florida an increase of at least £1k in Summer.

If both parents work, and their bosses only allow a couple of staff off at a particular time, school holidays go fast, and some companies refuse time off.

I am lucky I can generally book when I want, but have to go opposite my assistant manager, but she likes Christmas so there has to be a compromise etc.

My wife hover, after taking time off for the kids, went back to a new job and bottom of her holiday list and often doesn't get what she asks for.

Some places you want or need to visit, have there worst weather during summer months, family weddings abroad etc are also a factor.

Schools could help a bit, extend the May and October holidays to two weeks, cut a little off the summer holiday, and cut the Feb half term down to a day or so.

Then you have Easter, May, Summer and October when you can have a two week holiday.

Shortening the summer holidays and lengthening the others will not help as there will still be problems about booking those two weeks and creating more problems in the summer break, also for some like my wife she does not get the half terms off as she is a university lecturer, also the university break is still at easter while the kids have the new later break in April.

 

[Dead-metal]

I must admit, I am a bit naughty and don't ask for permission to take my 8 year old out of school, I just tell them I am doing it. I write something like "Just to let you know that Alfie will be absent from school between (dates) to enable him to accompany us on a family occasion." Never had any trouble yet. What can they do?

I don't ask for permission either.

If the school did fine me for my children skipping school for a 2 week holiday the fine would be less than the amount I am saving on going in October.

 

[ford family]

Shortening the summer holidays and lengthening the others will not help as there will still be problems about booking those two weeks and creating more problems in the summer break, also for some like my wife she does not get the half terms off as she is a university lecturer, also the university break is still at easter while the kids have the new later break in April.

But don't university lecturers get five months holiday a year anyway?

ford family

 

[selmuir]

Meh ... my parents dont tell me school if i go on holiday, i live in Scotland and we are going to Disney and i will have to miss out 1 week of school, i think its terrible that they do not let you

 

[Andy B]

But don't university lecturers get five months holiday a year anyway?

ford family

No the students may have a longer time but its 3 weeks at Christmas 2-3 weeks at Easter and from end of June to middle of September, but the point I was making was the correlation between school holidays and Uni. holidays.

 

[DreamofDisney]

We are usually allowed up to 10 days - but we were told in September that for year 6 pupils no leave will be authorised for w/b the 13th May as its exam week for 11 year olds.

 

[wayneg]

I must admit, I am a bit naughty and don't ask for permission to take my 8 year old out of school, I just tell them I am doing it. I write something like "Just to let you know that Alfie will be absent from school between (dates) to enable him to accompany us on a family occasion." Never had any trouble yet. What can they do?

This is exactly how we did it, we took DS out for 2 weeks before Oct half term every year at JS and 1st year at HS. Always got letter back saying your request has been accepted


I agree 2 weeks sat on a beach in benidorm will not amount to much learning, and dont think it should be allowed but any trip to Florida or any other cultural holiday is worth 10 x more than time in a classroom.
A few month back DS did drug awareness, he has been to Amsterdam seeing someone out of his mind shouting at a tree, others sleeping in the gutter, not knowing where they are.
He is doing about the holocaust, been to Anne Frank house and read her book.
When younger was reading Winnie the pooh, he has been to New York childrens library and seen the original toys the book was written about.
I could go on and on, these experiences can never be taught in a classroom.
He is 13 now, already passed a GCSE, passed royal college of music exams for keybord and part of NAGTY run by Warwick uni. He has done this at local underachieving schools with 2 weeks a year off.

I think every child and every holiday should be assesed individually, there are too many factors to just say no holidays in term time.

 

[peanut1967]

Hi all
please dont flame me, so here gos:

I work as a IT Support/tech within a primary school, but for the past 2 months have been working in the school office, due to the secretary being off.
I have had my eyes opened to the goings on with the Educational Welfare Officer (EWO). Every week I was asked to print off any children with 85% attendance or below, the goverment guidlines are 90% so a little le-way given. Now while I was in the office we got a couple of letters asking for holiday time, which as you say children are allowed 10 days off which is 20 absences, AM and PM registers, the head at our school signed most of the letters stating that he would be unable to authorise any more absenses.

Now think if your child as, lets say chicken poxs, thats a possible 10 days away from school, and a holiday for another 10 days, that is going to cause you attendance problems and letters from the EWO. It also causes a problem when ofstead visits they want to know why the schools attendance is poor and what they are doing about it.

The school is not being mean in any way, they have to follow goverment guide lines.

Now this is the bit where the flames may start....

I have worked in school for 10 years, yes I chose to work in a school enviroment so I could pick my children up and have the school holidays, btw I do not get paid for the school holidays.
I get it that holidays are expensive during school holiday time, but children get around 14 weeks holidays a year, I have no choice just like thousands of others working in school, but I chose to have a job which meant I could be there for my kids and not have to use childcare, I had to work but I also wanted to be there.
I think the only exception should be visiting family in other countries which sometimes go on for more that 6 weeks, but other holidays take in the school holidays or if you must take them out of school attach it to one of the week holidays we get off.

sorry if you dont like my thoughts but we all have our strong feelings

 

[wayneg]

No problem you have chosen to do that and thats your thoughts but others like myself feel just as stongly the other way, we want the best education possible for our children and sometimes that means taking them out of the classroom and seeing the world.
The last consideration on my mind is OFSTED and school attendance levels.
Its a subject never agreed by everyone
we go abroad 10 weeks a year (plus back holidays to Holland) its not always possible to fit them into the 13 weeks school hols.

 

[EPCOTFANROD]

What I HATE though is the number of days wasted in schools. The number of DVDs watched before Xmas or games days at the end of term AND don't get me started about the number of non lessons in July.

This time is used for essential meetings about the next term.
Or planning time to ensure your children are meeting the next target.
DVDs are shown at a time when children are exhausted at the end of the term and are not up to writing an essay on post war rationing etc. (Would you be?)

Teachers teach the class. They don't make decisions on attendance policy. Many posters have went over this but it is still not seeping through, is it?

 

[EPCOTFANROD]

As a parent of a child that has just started primary education we find this a very bitter pill to swallow.
Our Headteacher hasn't given us much information on this but did make it clear (albeit at a very informal pre-term meeting) that no time off during term time was authorised. I have heard from parents that have been associated with the school for longer that the Head fines parents £100 a week for time taken off. How is this enforced? How is the fine collected? What does she do raid my daughters piggy bank
TBH a £100 per week fine is cheaper than school holiday time price increases.
My DD goes to school with a number of children whose fathers are pro footballers and their holidays are at the end of the season (may) and they are back in training in July - lets face it fining them £100 is laughable. Those children only have a small window of a holiday with their fathers (unless they are injured) I don't blame their parents for taking them out occasionally.
We have no plans to go on holiday (in term time)this year whilst DD is in reception as we went to WDW twice in 2007. We will definately take her out of school (probably the last week of summer term) at some stage and will suffer the consequences. I will only do this providing her attendence and work is up to scratch.
Teachers and education staff know what they are getting themselves into when they choose their career - sometimes the way that teachers and headteachers go on about this issue it smacks off "well, if we can't, you can't". Well, I'm afraid not all families fit a standard model and getting a family holiday together can be difficult and schools and heads shoud have a degree of reasonable power to be flexible.
I believe our childrens education is a thing that involves different parties, (schools, parents, grandparents) and experiences - education isn't something that's done in four walls in a school institution. I'm already heavily involved in my DD's learning and she is only in R - if the parents also have a good record (lets face it some parents put the effort in and some don't) I think this should be taken into consideration too.
Rant over.
Good luck to the OP - hope you get it sorted.

No, not teachers, THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY.....Geddit?

 

[scottishsue]

The biggest problem I have is the amount of holidays that the teachers get.
2 weeks at Christmas, 2 at Easter, 6-7 in the summer, weekends, and all the bank holidays amounts to 170 days..... there's only 365 in the whole year !!

My DH has a good job and he only gets 30 days a year !!

Universities and colleges are even worse - my sons friend is still on holiday from Christmas, and only goes back in the middle of February.

This argument could go on for days.

 

[luke]

Ok i think i may get flamed too, but as a teacher i strongly disagree with taking kids out of school during term time!! It's not just about the child catching up with work, but about the teacher too, having to work extra to prepare this catch up.

However, this is my feeling for secondary school - where the teaching environment and level of work make catching up more difficult. For primary school i see this as less of a problem really (tho i'm sure primary teachers will disagree).

Anyway, just take them away, and tell the school they both had chicken pox

 

[luke]

The biggest problem I have is the amount of holidays that the teachers get.
2 weeks at Christmas, 2 at Easter, 6-7 in the summer, weekends, and all the bank holidays amounts to 170 days..... there's only 365 in the whole year !!

My DH has a good job and he only gets 30 days a year !!

Universities and colleges are even worse - my sons friend is still on holiday from Christmas, and only goes back in the middle of February.

This argument could go on for days.

Ah now this i didn't see - this is one of the biggest annoyances i have, this attitude!!! (finding it hard not to swear - this is a family board).

I'm not sure people outside the profession realise quite how much we need this time off. We don't just work from 8.30 -3.30, 5 days a week you know. We're sometimes working til 11 o clock at night, at least, and most of the weekend too - planning and preparing and marking. Do you think we do nothing during half terms and holidays?? Not at all - the planning, preparing and marking cycle carries on!!

Sorry to have a rant, but this attitude really p****s me off

 

[wayneg]

These threads almost always get closed in the end because its such a strong subject and we will never all agree.
We always protect our our own profession, its what we have grown up with and believe in.

 

[Andy B]

The biggest problem I have is the amount of holidays that the teachers get.
2 weeks at Christmas, 2 at Easter, 6-7 in the summer, weekends, and all the bank holidays amounts to 170 days..... there's only 365 in the whole year !!

My DH has a good job and he only gets 30 days a year !!

Universities and colleges are even worse - my sons friend is still on holiday from Christmas, and only goes back in the middle of February.

This argument could go on for days.

Why is that a problem for you?

My wife is a University lecturer and she has been back at college for at least two weeks so I do not understand the comment about the holiday to February.