Teachers or experts help? When is least distruptive to have a holiday in October

[TattyBoomBoom]

Planning a 3 week holiday using the October one-week half term. So three weeks' holiday, but only 2 weeks missed of school.

Would it be more sensible/least disruptive to have the trip in the two weeks before half term and come home on the last weekend of half term, or take one week before half term and one week after?

Children will be Year 5 and Year 8 (England), so not exam years and both comfortably achieving greater depth educationally. Can't travel in summer as too hot in destination.

We used to take DD out of school (in primary school) but it was only for a week.

The ground they cover in year 8 is completely different, and if they miss a topic in building block subjects like maths and the sciences it will be difficult for the child to catch up. The teachers won't help and always tell the pupil to ask their friends.

Can you not go away for 2 weeks instead?

Children working at greater depth probably know how to punctuate sentences including subordinate clauses.

I'm writing in an informal journalistic style for Mumsnet. Sorry if that offends(!).

In any case, I already have my degrees - and as you say, luckily my kids know their stuff too.

Read the OP not just the title.

Please do explain how Y6 SATs show that a child is working far beyond greater depth

I am intrigued

The end of term reports say whether kida are at expected level or beyond greater depth, and i'm gueasing the kids scored highly in the SATS which is why OP has said it.

Op i think 2 weeks before and use the half term, accept it will be a bit disruptive but then they have plenty of time in run up to xmas, plus sep-oct half term is usually the longest term anyway

There are 12 weeks in the year available to go away. I can't believe it isn't possible to schedule a holiday pretty much anywhere within them.

But it won't necessarily be what you want. Which is what this comes down to.

There’s no better time. Either will be hugely disruptive. The curriculum is sequenced so children build on previous knowledge. Secondary age typically have 9-10 hours of Maths and English a fortnight. Whatever topics they do in that time, your children will miss, and the school won’t catch them up.

Children get 13 weeks’ holiday per year. Go at Christmas for a fortnight and be responsible parents.

You don't take children out of school. That's it. Go away for a week in half term.

Is this a trip to visit family or purely a big holiday?

Y5 and Y8 are not the worst years to do, but taking two weeks in Y8 would be very unusual where I am - and I know lots of kids working at greater depth.

I'd go for a shorter time, or what about Easter and just take them out for one week?

She said far beyond greater depth
I am intrigued as to what that is and how the KS2 Sats would indicate that

@TattyBoomBoom a 14 hour flight?? You're not going to Japan are you?? If so me and my family would be incredibly jealous and can see why you'd need 3 weeks😁. If we could afford it, we would def go for it!

The main issue is that when children return we are faced with children who are completely lost in the middle of units of work. If you don't catch them up they can't carry on with the unit. Not helping isn't an option when faced with a confused child surrounded by the rest of the class who already know what they are doing or are building on prior learning.

Not been seen well by who? Teachers? What difference does that make to the OP or their children’s lives? Sad if you’d miss out on an experience of a lifetime because of a disapproving opinion from someone which would have no impact whatsoever on your life @cansu

End of term because it's better to miss the end of a unit of work than the beginning.

I think if we are going to do this one-off trip at all, Y5 and Y8 would be less disruptive than when they are older or younger (definitely wouldn't in Y6, Y7, Y9 etc). Can't exactly change their age gap now 😆

Hence my question about timing within the month we have chosen for other practical reasons.

How can they be working far beyond greater depth?

Well done for being obtuse 🤪

@Youcancallmeirrelevant explained what I was getting at very well.

I was a secondary teacher for 15 years, and honestly it’s fine. I’d happily take my children out of school. I’ve only done it the odd day, but it’s honestly fine.

Funny no one in the council or system cared about my dd being out of school for 12 months because there was no suitable specialist provision. And guess what? She’s not really that far behind. And we did no home schooling.

Why is that obtuse?
You said that your child was well beyond greater depth and that their KS2 SATS results were evidence of that.

How were there KS2 SATs evidence of that?

Not obtuse at all- a simple question

I'm not sure why my question about when is best to take a holiday is "bollocks" 😆

I've obviously pushed your buttons. Sorry if your children are struggling at school.

Thanks everyone. This has genuinely been informative.

I'm not sure you understand the definition of troll or trolling. As a teacher(?), you should probably educate yourself about the internet. You'll notice I've asked a genuine question and responded appropriately. I've also been on Mumsnet for over 10 years as I've been a mum that long.