£350 for 1 week in July term time- family of 7 - or £1100 in school holidays??

[devonvalley]

Yep that old term time holiday chestnut-
We are a family of 7 we can only afford to go on a Uk term time holiday, or have no holiday at all!(yes I know some do not holiday at all !)
Why is it seemed the, one holiday a year family, like us, have to be penalised , and berated?
It appears to my friends and I, that in our experiences, the people who can afford there £3000-£4000 a year on their peak season holiday, have little regard for families such as ourselves and our friends predicament, because money appears to not be an issue for them.
Travel, new experiences, and valuable family time are great educators , are they not? so when those of you who resent , parents who take our children out for 5 days once a year, spare us a thought, its most probably the only time we can afford to go.(and avoid fines by ......!)
Also when school residential trips seem to cost £270 upwards- £350 for 7 of us to go away, not just one of us seems to be preferable!

[HolidayCriminal]

But you can't afford 5 lots of term time fees, can you? 5x120 = £600.
Actually still works out cheaper than the £1100, doesn't it?!

[devonvalley]

Who said we will need to pay fines, like my friends, our children will have a bug or something.

[mrz]

will all your children manage to lie when they return to school?

[Pooka]

Because that won't be obvious? All 5 children off with bug at same time in summer term, and all of them completely managing to avoid telling their friends or teachers that they're off on holiday?

[fuckinglondonballs]

I would say, fuck it - take them.

But don't bloody lie about it! And certainly don't expect your kids to,

[PotteringAlong]

You're right, there are lots of experiences you get from travel. Are you sure that lying to people in authority when you don't like the rules is one of them?

[NickiFury]

I would take them out and I wouldn't think twice about it. I would phone them in sick too. I would not encourage my dc to lie. If it comes up, what are they going to do exactly?

Teacher:- your ds says he wasn't sick, he says he went away on holiday.

Me:- really? Wonder where he got THAT from?

End of convo.

[Fram]

I don't understand why people see holidays as a right?

Education is something people are struggling for around the world, but no- in the UK people are whining about having to send children to school and go without holidays.

I will never take my children out of school for a holiday, and if we can't afford to go away, we don't. Holidays are a luxury, not a necessity.

[NickiFury]

Well to me holidays ARE a necessity. I like taking breaks from the grind and giving my children fab memories. I have taken my dc to Europe, the Middle East and the US, I like how their experiences are helping to shape them as they get older. I also take them camping and away for occasional nights in BnB's.

School is only part of a well rounded education imo. I think it's rather limited to see it as the only possible way, which can never be deviated from.

[NickiFury]

But the point is tiggy they're are not free to do it in that time because it's too prohibitively expensive for many families.

[NickiFury]

I don't actually agree it's a couple of parents who ruined it for everyone. I think it's actually the clueless Michael Gove who ruined it for everyone.

Most parents CAN be trusted to use their discretion. Perhaps some termly information of important dates and assessments would help parents to choose more wisely when they take their dc out instead of a blanket ban? Blanket punishments are never effective ime.

Surely this would be preferable to the growing resentment, lying and secrecy that is happening now between parents and schools?

In our primary school the worst offenders are those who remove their children to return to their country of origin for extended holidays. The fines mean nothing to them, they still do it.

So I will continue to trust my OWN judgement, as a parent and remove my child on the odd occasion when I feel it suits our family.

[TalkinPeace]

For those 18 years you are constrained on when you can take your holidays
suck it up
get a life
see the big picture of the damage you are doing to your kids attitude to complying with work rules

holidays away from home are a TREAT not a RIGHT

and do not complain when those who have a work ethic take their employment opportunities

[fuckinglondonballs]

18 years eh?

Dreary me.

[mrz]

According to the DfE figures

During the school year 2011 to 2012 there were 1,153,770 cases of term time holidays slightly down on the previous year

831,320 pupil enrolments with agreed absence
371,660 pupil enrolments with absence that had not been agreed

[SoonToBeSix]

My eldest is 15 youngest 3 months with dc in between that's not 18 years it's 36! And I do believe holidays are a necessity. Op just take them and I wouldn't tell the school. This policy makes me so angry. I am on holiday at the moment because we can afford it but many families cannot.

[SoonToBeSix]

Actually it will be 37.

[Lilaclily]

Surely you chose to have a larger family so you knew holidays would be more expensive

I chose to have 2 kids because I couldnt afford to have more

[SoonToBeSix]

Actually it will be 37.

[SoonToBeSix]

The policy is very new lilac how would the op have known?

[42notTrendy]

Yy, missing school for holidays has become an issue.
And no, those who go on holiday in the holidays and pay the extra are not inconsiderate to others that can't afford it. I'll tell you what we do. Save. And go without. Or, find a holiday that doesn't cost thousands, it can be done. Holidays are a privilege, not a right. And yes, they add a lot to a child's life, but so do things that can be done for free, or cheaply.
It's little to do with Gove, it's always been the way, but over the years an increasing number of parents have been taking their children out of school for 10 days, which are again, not a right, but to be authorised at the head's discretion. Too many took the piss and now it's a blanket ban.

[Fairylea]

I would go and lie and not even worry about it. Mumsnet is the only place I have ever seen people get so judgeypants about this. Ever. I've lived in London and in south norfolk and everyone I know has done the same thing a few times. As long as it's an occasional thing there is no harm done..I really do think the opportunity to spend time as a family making some great memories is worth a week out of school, which they will probably catch up on and won't remember anyway. They will always remember the holiday.