Best time for term-time holiday to NZ - dd new y7 at secondary

Christmas is great in NZ, and rocks on into New Years. And of course, the weather is better!

What the weather will be like in April depends very much on where you are going.

Just remembered that DS's best friend is from New Zealand! His family always go back over Christmas taking a few extra days both at the end of previous term and beginning of next term.

No one has said this, and I don't know if it's true of all secondaries, but DC's school largely just teaches continuously, so they would, for example, teach right up to a holiday and just pick up where they'd left off when returning after the holiday. Then they have end of topic assessments when they finish topics, but the topics are all random lengths, so these could be anytime. So actually, in terms of what they'd miss it would make absolutely no difference whether you missed the beginning, end or middle of term. The only time it would be slightly awkward would be exam week (end of May here) but even then, they are not particularly a big deal in year 7 and they could be done later. (Basically I think I'm saying you really need local input!).

I'd agree with Easter, and take as long (probably before) as you need. It's so expensive you need to make the most of the trip (even before considering it takes a good week to get over the travelling and jetlag when you get there). Yr 7 is a good year to do it as things missed should be easier to make up than later on. Plan to keep educational activities going, discuss with the school and ask permission / try to work with them, but don't be steamrollered into reducing your time. If this is likely to be one visit, I'd suggest 6 weeks minimum if the adults can afford the time, or even longer.

Those suggesting it should be done this summer anyway, don't appreciate that fares will still be high, and it means missing out on most of the summer weather / outdoors time, because you are going out for midwinter there, which is how come the cousins will be in school. We've done a couple of "summer holidays" in Sydney (family reasons also), and although the weather isn't like at UK winter, winter colds and the shorter days are quite restrictive. Parts of NZ will be much more wintry!

Xmas in NZ is awesome. The weather is beautiful and everyone just kicks back and chills. Lots of events, barbecues and playing on the beach in the sun. Come then.

Xmas is the dearest time to go, and have just realised DD will be 12 and therefore an adult fare

I think I'd be inclined to see if I could fit it in this summer then, even if the cousins are at school.

Exactly - it WILL be unauthorised. You just need to check on your county's policy on fines, try to keep below the threshold if it is, for example, after 10 sessions (5 days), and also find out whether it is per parent, per day (as it mounts up quickly if so)

They defintely won't authorise it, they aren't allowed to.

The other thing to remember is that this won't be authorised - not because the school doesn't think you should go, but because it doesn't fit the guidelines for authorisation.

Check your county's stance on fines. It may well be that you are OK until 10 sessions have been missed - so 5 days - but it would be as well to factor the cost of fines into your budget if it is one of the counties where they are most draconian.

In both ds’s and dd’s Schools the year 7 exams determined sets for the following year so they were important.

I’d say Christmas would be better than Easter. Most secondaries tend to have internal exams either after Easter or after May half term.

I would also consider your child's interests.

For example, if they are into music, then going just before Christmas would be a bad plan because it's such a common time for concerts, carol services etc. Does the school have its calendar on the website for you to have a look at events at each time of year (retrospective for this year, but still useful)?

I agree wholeheartedly with others though - take any extra time BEFORE the main holiday not afterwards. Missing 4 days at the end of term is MUCH less likely to cause a major issue than missing the first 2.

The importance of Easter will depend a bit on whether it is an early or late one next year. A late Easter means that children are already being prepared for summer exams from before Easter, but there may be a more relaxed last few days. An early one will mean that lessons will continue at full speed right up to the last day.

However, there are 2 conflicting things to bear in mind:

• Year 7 doesn't teach a lot that is new, so missing Y7 lessons isn't a huge deal BUT
• Secondary schools tend to have a much more even pace of work throughout the year, rather than primary school's termly arc of rapid start, sustained middle section, relaxed last few days.

No fun stuff at DS's school either before Christmas or Easter. At his school it really wouldn't make much difference taking time off around Easter or Christmas. But agree with others that every school will do things differently. I'd ask a parent who has an older child at the school

In many secondary schools, there is a bit of fun stuff and less formal learning before Christmas. At Easter it varies more but more schools will do formal learning right up to the last day.

I would say that in general it's better to miss the last few days of term than the first few. It's rare that a teacher would introduce a new topic just before the holidays, whereas it's common to start something new just after. If you miss the very start of a topic it's harder to know what's going on and catch up (imo).

Closer to the time I'd suggest your child asks the school what she will be missing and makes sure that she catches up.

Were consudering the v same question OP for similar reasons and are leaning towards the week before the Christmas holidays plus the 2 weeks if holiday. At dc's school they have assessments in the first weeks of Jan so need to be back for those. Not much seems to happen in the last week of term before Christmas as its the end of a long term.

If we go over our summer hols all of the cousins will be at school.

But your DS won't be and it's his education / his school's rate of unauthorised absence that your DS's school will be interested in. And if you are having to go because of a family member's ill health, it doesn't really matter that your DS will only be able to play with his cousins in the evening?

There will be a lot more 'fun' stuff in the last few days before Christmas, than there will before Easter. Assessments in schools I have been in would never have been in either the last three days or the first three days. Not a promise that your DD wouldn't be affected though!

It's a little bit of a stretch though to say to the school that you have to visit family for health reasons, when it's so far ahead...

I'd factor in fines in case you have to pay.