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Original poster

What would you do about taking dd out of school for holiday?

63 replies

mosschops30 · 21/02/2009 20:35

WE have booked a holiday in May, basically because I expected to be pregnant by now, but Im not!

So we were taking dd out of school for one week anyway.

We are now thinking that its going to be too early and want to go for the first two weeks in June where it will be a bit later and probably a bit warmer too. We have looked at changing it to August but a £1700 holiday turns into a £4000 holiday

What would you do? Providing dd hasnt got any important tests or exams would you do it? The school frown on this sort of thing and the absence would be unauthorised

OP posts:
Original poster
mosschops30 · 22/02/2009 19:42

Having spoken to a friend today who teached in a Catholic high school nearby I dont feel so bad. Shes says parents at her school take kids out for 'shopping' days WTF?????

She also said that her school have a policy that 10 days absence is authorised up to Year 9, then no absence in term time for years 10-12.
She also said there are no exams or tests anymore in year 7-9

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 22/02/2009 17:27

Extra work for children who go on holiday is a pain in the arse frankly. Get a revision guide, find out what she's missed and go over it with her.

LIZS · 22/02/2009 17:19

If this is the same dd as you;ve recently had issues with I 'd be inclined not to take her out or at very least get some homework for and make her do it. Mind you that might just compromise the relaxed atmosphere of the holiday! Wouldn't she have exams around then ? Earlier time is less likely to conflict.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 22/02/2009 12:03

Im not going to bother the head but think its right to send a letter explaining what Im doing and that if they want dd to take work then thats fine, she can either do it the weekend before we go or take some with her.
As for doing something in August for £1700, its not that easy, we want to stay where we would like to rather than do cheap (and we're not going particularly upmarket in May/June but it is nice looking and 4*).
And FWIW I have sometimes taken Uni work on holiday with me when I had my first year finals on my return, sitting on the balcony in the sun with a beer is much better than doing it at home

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sarah293 · 22/02/2009 11:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

piscesmoon · 22/02/2009 11:53

I can't see the point of a holiday if you take work! I thought the whole point was to get away from everything. If you badly need a break yourself why not leave the DCs with someone and have a relaxing break and do something cheap and self catering in the school holiday?

MrsBartlet · 22/02/2009 11:08

I wouldn't think a holiday would be much fun if your dd has to take a load of work with her. Wouldn't a holiday during the school holidays be more relaxing? There are plenty of things you could do for £1700 in August.

piscesmoon · 22/02/2009 08:15

I wouldn't bother the Head, in our area they have instructions that they can't authorise holiday. I also think that it is a cheek to ask the teacher to do extra in setting work and then mark it when they get back! It is also extremely difficult to set work for someone who as missed all the introduction, discussion, instructions etc.
If you are set on going I would just go - fill in a form but accept that it is likely to be unauthorised.

Oovavu · 21/02/2009 23:12

again, don't want to sound arsey, but who's going to set the work your dd is going to do? You're asking each subject teacher to prepare extra work for your dd (and it is extra as she'll need instructions that would normally be given in class, which need sorting out and typing up etc.)

From a teacher's pov, it's a pita having kids absent for such a long time.

But, tbh, I wouldn't spend time defending yourself too much as you'll probably get wound up. I'd just accept it will be tutted at, forget about making comments about the snow, etc and just go ahead with your plans with as little comment as poss.

nkf · 21/02/2009 23:09

The head probably won't authorise it. And worksheets aren't the same as school unfortunately. Otherwise the British education system would cost the taxpayers a lot less. Still, it's your call. Don't bother the headmistress though. She's a busy womann.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 21/02/2009 23:07

shes in year 8. And I will expect her to take any allocated work with her to do whilst we're away

Think I will write to the head and see what response i get

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piscesmoon · 21/02/2009 23:01

Neither can we-lots of people can't.

nkf · 21/02/2009 23:00

Which year is she? And, how clever is she? Two weeks is a lot of catching up to do. It's missing about a third of one unit of work. In every subject.

magentadreamer · 21/02/2009 22:59

What year is your DD in?

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 21/02/2009 22:59

Doubt it mosschops - by that time of year her percentage won't hit the radar I'm sure. If you take 10 days in October it really hits the figures.

Not that I'm condoning it you know

Original poster
mosschops30 · 21/02/2009 22:56

perhaps everyone else can afford it, we cant!

Yes her absence record is probably a big fat zzero. She would be out for 10 days so would that incur a letter?

The school had no problems closing for 2 days when we had 1 inch of slush, which is another thing that annoys me

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piscesmoon · 21/02/2009 22:51

Everyone else has to go with expensive!

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 21/02/2009 22:50

LAs can send you a penalty warning notice if you have more than 20 unauthorised sessions (10 days). If attendance doesn't improve you can be fined. Tis unlikely they'll do it if dd has otherwise good attendance.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 21/02/2009 22:46

i have looked at that possibility but its too expensive

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magentadreamer · 21/02/2009 22:45

Two weeks work is an awful lot to catch up on and thats the only reason I wouldn't take my Dd out for two weeks. Can you not tag the half term week and the first week in June? When my dd was in primary they often had 2 or 3 training days in the week after the May half term and I would take that week off as well.

janeite · 21/02/2009 22:43

Okay. I just got irrationally cross at your face.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 21/02/2009 22:43

yes but can someone explain to me the significance of an 'unauthorised absence' apart from the school getting grief from ofsted, which doesnt bother me either way, I cant see how it matters

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Original poster
mosschops30 · 21/02/2009 22:42

lets not then

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piscesmoon · 21/02/2009 22:41

I wouldn't take a DC out of secondary school for a holiday. All holidays go down as unauthorised in my LEA.

janeite · 21/02/2009 22:38

I said colleges, not unis - ie: 6th form colleges. I write about 200 references a year as a Head Of Year and yes, the colleges want to know absence and unauthorised absence rates for Yr 11 pupils. However, as I said, not everybody feels as strongly about this as I do and I can't be bothered to argue.