Are the new term time holiday laws making you re think holiday plans?

[WindyTums]

Every year, my parents and in laws pay for the whole family to go on a European lodge based holiday. It’s during term time as school holiday costs more than double. DH and I are the only ones who have school aged DC (secondary).

Every year the holiday is arranged for either just before the Easter holidays or just before the October half term. We always go and it’s a great experience for everyone.

This years gathering is just before October half term and I’ve agreed to take the DC out of school for this, accepting we will be fined.
One of our elderly relatives has a milestone birthday next year and it has been agreed to book the next one for just before the Easter holidays. It’s likely this will be elderly relatives last time going.

However, for DH and I, this means our DC would need to be taken out of school again within a six month period and will result in a hefty fine as we have 3 DC. Whilst I could accept the fine, it would mean we could not take a family holiday during term time for another three years due to the new laws.

We simply can not afford school holiday prices. We are planning to decline the Easter gathering but I’m really disappointed and upset for my DC.

I suppose the new laws are clearly working if there are others like us?

Before anyone tells me that holidays are a luxury, not a right, I’m aware of this. However, you can’t tell me this affects the rich and their DC in the same way. It’s another way of separating the haves and the have nots. Nobody on their death bed ever regretted family time.

Nobody in other countries ever keeps their kids off school, of course. It's an English specific thing.

The difference is that I know that it is morally wrong to take the piss regarding education which is what you're clearly doing.

To then want to lie to cover yourself.... Laughable.

DH was head of a big school before he retired and when the rules about approving absence allowed heads some discretion.
He always approved as those involved fell into three categories.
1 The pains in the arse kids. ‘Yes thank God we’ll be rid of him for a week!
2 The hardworking pleasant ones from supportive families. They would soon catch up on work missed.
3 Those from disadvantaged homes, with little or no parental support. ‘If a week at Haven is their only chance of doing something positive as a family I’m not stopping them’.

OK.

First, I don’t take my kids out of school because my eldest has EBSA and the daily battle to get her into and keep her in school (with a very supportive school involved) would be totally undermined if we said that sometimes it was fine just not to go. So that’s that. Attendance is currently under 50% in year 9 so I have sleepless nights and can only hope that the EHCP finally in progress will help us with funding for something that works for her.

I’m a school governor too and know how much teachers hate getting the flak for this but also how hard it can be for them if kids aren’t there, for whatever reason. I feel for them and worry about their wellbeing with the pressure on them on all sides. The parent at my school who has started a petition against these fines goes on long haul holidays every single school holiday and misses days either side, but her complaint is obviously that she is spending a lot more than she would if the whole holiday was in term time. She is also the parent who constantly complains about every tiny issue she feels aggrieved by so her capital is quite low.

But mostly I worry about our school system. My kids are in excellent state schools but the curriculum is insane. The pressure on children is too much. The mental health of kids is ignored and we focus entirely on academic success. We push children through volumes of learning at a rate that does mean a term time holiday can cause them loads of stress (for all the positive memories they may get from a holiday, they will often then find they struggle at school afterwards too and parents may not realise this). If we had a more holistic and nurturing system then term time holidays would be less of an issue. Many persistent absentees have collapsed under the weight of what we currently put our kids through.

About 1/4 of my primary school class are taken out for a week for a holiday. About 1/10th go out for 10 days to 2 weeks.

We are in Wales where it's still ok for parents to take their kids out for up to 10 school days and it can be allowed by the school, as long as their overall attendance is good. It makes more sense than just fining left, right and centre. Yes, it's a pain for the teacher to help a child miss out what they have been doing, and I have a handful of kids who have end of unit pieces of work that I have to get them to do for the assessments we keep but beyond that, they usually catch up ok.

I wouldn't take any kids on holiday in Easter or Whit in y10-13 though due to exam timetables.

I do not have school age children.

If the number of threads and responses to this change are anything to go by, not many people are changing their timing of holidays. Seems that fines are not the answer. Not sure what is and would be effective though, or fair on children who are not the ones making the decisions.

You're right. Unfortunately, a lot of threads discussing the fines issue tend to devolve into people arguing over whether taking DC out is acceptable or not, as if anyone is going to change their habits because of what someone on MN thinks.

It's refreshing to see acknowledgment that it's happening anyway and that the fining system isn't addressing that.

I think many countries allow term time holidays and you don't get fined. So England are the ones bring ridiculous.

You can be fined in Germany, although the amount varies state to state.

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2024/08/05/travelling-during-school-time-here-are-the-fines-parents-could-face-across-europe
There also appear to be fines for non attendance in Austria, Italy and the Netherlands.

I wonder if more countries are doing this aswell then, aswell as England. Technically I think you can be here in Wales but our kids school allow term time holidays.

Yes, it seems to be the case that there are fines in other countries as well.

Youngest DC is in the upper sixth (18yo) and can't afford to take a week off during term time. We're currently in a cottage in Cumbria with our other adult DS, his DW and the dog. It cost £1300 for the week for three bedrooms (half term), next week it's £795.
On top of that you have to pay for travel, food and all activities. I can afford it, but understand why those with young (primary) DC take the fine and holiday during term time.

There are some other countries with fining systems, but I don't know of any like England. Wales isn't. I've found friends and relatives in other countries regard our system with a mixture of bemusement and horror.

What do home schoolers do?, I suppose by its very nature homeschooling is flexible. So I'd say anyone should be able to be flexible too.

OK there is a cost to providing a school, a teacher, and equipment etc. But still, home schools are assessed aren't they? Is a home a school, or is there free rein to do what you like as a home schooler? Just wondered, no schoolkids myself so I don't know.

Good for you. Doesn’t mean you get to inflict your draconian beliefs on others. As usual with these topics there is a middle ground to be had. The current restrictions are more than enough.

We are taking ours out next week for the first time in years 2 and 5. It's now or never because from year 6 onwards I wouldn't feel happy with them missing a whole week.

I've told the school the truth and that we are going on holiday to see family because it's both a holiday and a family visit. I expect a fine but it's still cheaper than taking them away this week.

They have only ever had days off for sickness so I'm happy with the choice to take them out of school.

🤣🤣

And? That doesn’t mean other families have to do the same as you. What you did is completely irrelevant to the op.

I wouldn't take my family out of school for a week. Whilst parents consider taking the kids out doesn't impact on their education, for some reason they get really pissy when the teacher goes away - so their own children can have an overseas holiday.

Taking children out for a week even in primary means they can miss an entire topic, and some poor member of staff has to spend the following week giving your child a lot of additional support to ensure they catch up. This takes that staff member away from the other children who really needs the input.
It's selfish and disrespectful.