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.

[jugglingjo]

pernickety - You say "There's a lot of defensiveness on this thread" That doesn't necessarily mean those defending themselves are in the wrong. It could just be a reaction to being told we are in the wrong.

Like when the school mentioned shopping trips in a standard letter after my son was off school with shingles.

Also schools can and do fulfill a dual function. They both provide a learning environment and an education for our children, and also free up parents to do other things, such as work or look after younger children etc.

I don't see anything wrong with parents wanting more flexibility in the school system.
More and more schools are providing this through breakfast and after school clubs etc.

[gibbergabber]

I'm all for flexibility and there is no excuse for parents of children who are chronically sick whom the school know, receiving standard letters about absence. They don't have to send the letter, that's bollocks frankly.

I am however snurking rather at the idea that schools could grant holidays for the brighter children because it's OK as they can keep up.

Imagine the threads on here - AIBU - school say they'll authorise dd's holiday as she got 10/10 in her spelling but ds has to be unauthorised because he's a bit thick.

There has to be a standard message and currently that is that term-time holidays are unacceptable.

[montysorry]

There absolutely needs to be a 'one rule for all' system.

It drives me nuts to think that when I taught in Surrey there was a 'no authorised absense for holiday' rule yet when I taught in Bradford and then Rochdale is was deemed ok to allow Asian family 6 or 8wks off to visit extended family. I know the rule is HT's decision but we need to have guideline which don't skirt around the issue. Which is that the government (or LAs) see it as politically sensitive to say no to the Asian families in Bradford/Rochdale but less so to say it to the family in Surrey.

[stretchmummy]

It's politically an easy target. Schools aren't doing so well because of too much absenteeism, so we can blame the parents instead of the schools. Its all common sense really, a couple of long weekends OR a week in the summer aren't going to damage anyone. Two weeks three times a year are a problem.

[triplets]

This debate could go on for ever. Each of us are entitled to our beliefs, there is no right or wrong. What is wrong, what would put an end to all of this is the greesy holiday companies being allowed to triple their prices at holiday times. Its unjust, unfair, it costs them no more, for cleaning, electricity etc at the beginning of July as it does at the end. If we weren`t being ripped off b y them, if they staggered their prices more fairly, then we would all be happy I am sure to take out family holidays during the alloted time. Its a campaign to get the government to look into this side of the coin thats needed. Well.....thats how I feel.

[triplets]

oops..........that of course should have been greedy!!

[Pernickety]

It depends how it really is. Aren't holiday companies charging the normal amount in holidays and then reducing the holidays in the time of low demand? I don't know. Just assumed that to be the case.

I like the greesy typo though

[Annabel7]

Don't see the problem unless it's a key time and kids catch up the work they've missed. Particularly for younger children. Maybe schools could give parents a week or so over the course of the year to use at their discretion for family stuff, holidays etc.. Some families may not get a holiday at all otherwise. I have such magic memories of family holidays seems a shame for some to miss out...

[RustyBear]

As has been said before on this thread, the holiday companies' line is that term time prices are discounted, not school holiday prices raised - difficult to see how you could legislate for that without giving them an excuse to just raise term time prices too....