To think billboard adverts threatening parents about removing their children for a holiday in term time are a bit well, pathetic.

[BurningBuntingFlipFlop]

Haven't the government got bigger concerns?

Sure a couple of weeks of a child experiencing a different culture once a year during term time isn't that bad?

My children aren't old enough but if they were i probably wouldn't pull them out in term time personally. But i'm shocked that this is apparently a major concern in the education sector right now? What about the parents who just don't give a shit if their kids ever go to school? Or the cuts that are happening?

I can't find a link, they're in Manchester anyway.

Buzz - I think that's the point though isn't it? You are obviously willing/able to take up the slack. Lots of parents aren't able and many more can't be bothered.

You asked earlier about not getting permission and the consequences. If those are the only days a child is off then there will be no consquences. If a child already has poor attendance then parents can and are fined. 20 sessions unauthorised absence (10 days) can trigger the fine.In our LA children who don't return after 20 days can lose their school place.

I think we all agree that it's the parents who condone persistant absence who should be tackled and they are but the message to all has to be, don't take your holidays in term-time. However having a blanket ban isn't considered good policy - the law allows Heads to treat each case individually and that's what they should do.

I agree about the holiday pricing. As a teacher (secondary) I knew when I changed careers that I wouldn't be able to go on holiday for less than sky-high prices - but I still wanted to do the job, and that's my decision. What I do object to is a ridiculously short half term this year, followed by a ridiculously long one, because they don't want to move the half term holiday along a week or two. Now I have no evidence for this, but I suspect the holiday companies would have been up in arms if they'd put half term in a different place to usual after the travel companies had set their prices....

As for parents who take their children away in half term: don't complain to me if the current assessment level I give your child is inaccurate or missing - it's not my fault if you take them away when I'm supposed to be assessing them. And you can explain that to the child who was supposed to be working with them for the assessment, who was left in the lurch, too!!

I think it is unreasonable and uncaring for any teacher to say they aren't willing to hand a child a textbook for a week and say "complete pages 5 to 12" - not easy for my subject!!!

Bells - I think you are a good example of why Heads have had discretion in the past and completely understand your POV (and would (unofficially!!!) support you) In my case I gave up a much better paid job for the reasons you cite - so I could be there for my son which my previous career didn't allow, so I do understand where you are coming from. I think this campaign is aimed more at those who could take their hols during the school breaks but choose not to do so and think saving money is a justifiable reason rather than finding an affordable alternative that doesn't compromise education.

MrsSatsuma The half term falls differently in different LEA I believe, or at least last year it did. I know the Autumn one (just gone) was different in different places. The LEA I live in and the LEA I work in had different holidays.

Xenia the fact is you can afford to take your kids in the hols, many can't, it's not the case of just saving a few pounds. For many it means they couldn't go-full stop.

You're talking as somebody ( along with many Tories)who privately educates so you get cheaper holidays anyway thanks to your longer holidays.If longer holidays are perfectly ok for privately educated kids why can't state kids enjoy the same now and again. Most people won't be doing this every year anyhow due to money constraints.

So if you couldn't afford holidays in the hols for 23 years you'd never go on holiday-really????

Sorry no way are my dc never ever experiencing other cultures and nights away from home for the next 14 years.

The sweeping assumption that all who take their kids out are going to Magaluf and have struggling kids who don't follow rules is shocking.

As far as holidays being cheaper in term time, seems to me that the problem is that holiday companies have been allowed to name their price knowing that families of school aged children can only go during specific times, so they raise their prices.

Isn't that price fixing though?

1Catherine1 You're certainly correct, but there often isn't any deviation either. I'd be interested to know if they're all doing the same thing... I think ours possibly doesn't ever want us to have the May bank holiday because it always coincides with half term - which is a daft reason for having a stupidly short half term before the holiday!

MilaMae - I don't agree with the sweeping statement. It doesn't make any difference to me whether the kids struggle usually or not - fact is, if they're not there, they miss things!

For 6 years I worked as a Teaching Assistant in a secondary school. I have seen first hand the amount of important information, teaching and work students miss when away on holiday during school time. They can only try to catch up by using worksheets but this does not make up by actually being in the lesson at the time.

This issue is similar to other social issues. We cant just take our children out when we feel like it as we cant just skip work when we feel like it. I am a teacher and I have to say that if a child misses two weeks of school it does influence their learning and there are other issues such as percentages of children attending school. It may seem silly to some but it literally can inhibit a school have a good grade (OFSTED) which in turn can influence budgets, school numbers ,staff and many other things. We must support our children in their learning and therefore as an extension of this we are duty bound to support the school system, with its rules, that are, believe it or not, there for a reason.

Having worked in education, i have to say there are far more problems than kids missing a week or two for a holiday. I never looked at the under-acheiving, struggling or badly behaved kids and thought.. 'ah yes, it's cos you were off on your hols...thats whats runined your education' ....

I think you'll find its a much deeper and complicated issue and banning kids from quality time with their family isn't going to go anywhere near solving the problems this country faces in it's schools

And not all parents can get time off from thier jobs in school hols. It's not as simple as that.....such sweeping generalisations flaming parents who dare to have a holiday! All cases, and families are different

I am sorry MIlamae but as a teacher i can only go on hols in stipulated hol period. It is utter rubbish that you cant get cheap deals. The only issue is that you have to plan way ahead of time. No one can dispute this as I have been doing it for many years. People need only books things a few months in advance.I have to say though that hols are not a god given right. When i was little we couldnt afford hols, so we didnt have them. I am a cultured person and I have been educated really well.

Sorry but I am also a teacher and think if 1 or 2 weeks away from school seriously damages a child's education they're not being taught right.

My kids are at an "outstanding" school and we're allowed to take ours out for the odd week,certainly doesn't seem to effect results-how can it???

One week!!!!! Jesus what on earth is so important that missing it influences a child's entire education??

Here here mila you always have to factor in some time assuming kids are going to be ill, last minute Inset days arranged, school trips, etc. Most parents i came across asked for work for the kids...not extra but what topics we'd be coving in text books, or made sure the coursework was up to date.

I have much more of an issue with parents constantly missing parents evenings etc...

Ooooo Emsy do share those cheap deals that one only needs to book a few months in advance and we can all afford

This might just start to make up for all the unpaid overtime teachers do in termtime, marking, writing reports, preparing work, attending parents evenings, running extracurricular activities and so on.

"But EatBreakfast and penguin73 your holidays do mean that you can spend time with your children in the holidays"

Yes shopping lets not forget teachers only work 9-3 and never do anywork in the evenings, weekends or during school hols, or have give up breaks and lunchtimes for playground duty, detention.....

(not moaning as i loved my teaching job, just people think it's a cushy number)

Now i'm having time out to bring up my kids...we'll be off on holiday whenever it suits dh and his business etc

"It may seem silly to some but it literally can inhibit a school have a good grade (OFSTED) which in turn can influence budgets, school numbers ,staff and many other things. ."

This is sickening. I had no idea this could be referenced in the Ofsted decision. Shows what a mockery the grading system is. "This school is excellent at policing parents, even placing expensive billboards in public places to highlight the issue."

Really? Any old first year sociology undergrad can cite reams of deep-set, complex reasons for educational poverty, many of which seem intractable. Yet Ofsted wastes its time examining this sort of trash?

And i think everyone needs a holiday! |I'm not saying 5 star luxury in the sun, but time out, change of scene with your family or friends

Children don't just learn at school.

I agree that our children learn just as much ( but slightly different things) on holiday or at the weekends or evenings with us as they do at school.

I think it's a partnership. As with any partnership the way the partners communicate with each other should be respectful. I don't think these posters or similar letters we've received are respectful.

I don't send my children to school because it's the law. It isn't. You can home ed if you choose. I send them because I believe it's the best option for us as a family. And, as part of a partnership, a good environment for them to learn in.

I'm a qualified primary teacher ( so is my Mum)
So in some ways when they're with me they have 1 to 1 teaching. (On a good day !)
But I know they learn just as much from their Dad too.

We do a lot of wildlife watching on holiday, and on a family holiday to Egypt had the opportunity to go snorkeling over a coral reef.

I don't know how people can think that such life enhancing opportunities aren't also an opportunity for learning.

Some people seem to have a very narrow idea of life and learning !

The rule at our school apparently is if your child's attendance record is good then permission will be given for time off during term time. But if the attendance record is below a certain level then permission will not be given, whatever the reason for the request.

I've no idea what happens though when permission is not even requested and the parent just takes the child out anyway

It's not a money thing and we often haven't had holidays even though now I earn enough. I have never not worked in a school half term in 25 years as well.

Anyway the fines will help. I am sure education/the state could use the money. Will the fine be higher than the saving on an average holiday?

I don't think anyone has said that you can't learn outside of school, jugglingjo. But why not do out-of-school learning in the school holidays and make the most of what is offered in termtime, so getting the best of both worlds?

Permission is not given in ANY circumstances in my sons school. Though we have taken him out for a long weekend only and just said he wouldn't be in :) Having said that his attendence is great and I do wonder had it been low whether they would have been more disapproving.

The only time I would consider taking ds out for say a 2 week period during term time would be to have an extended New Zealand holiday, no point going in the summer holidays here as its winter there so would probably coincide with either xmas or easter and 2 weeks would not be enough so would extend it to a month. Alas we are not going to get to New Zealand anytime soon :(