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.

[follyfoot]

I had to speak to my daughter's school about her missing ONE lesson when we take our trip to New York (its the first lesson of the day and all the rest are free periods). They werent happy about it at all and told me that a number of students missed that particular lesson last term as their parents took them out of school so it 'made it a bit of a waste of time for the teacher'. It only occurred to me after I'd put the phone down that on the last day of term every term, our school cancels all afternoon lessons so that 'teachers can say goodbye to their departing colleagues'. Or presumably also known as go down the pub....

Why is it OK for the school to cancel all lessons for every student for entirely social reasons, but I am made to feel guilty for my daughter to be missing one lesson?

[juuule]

YANBU

[NorwegianMoon]

doktate- people with children in fee paying schools dont need to take their kids out in term time because most of them can afford holidays in holiday time. There are also school trips to skiing, and other different cultures that state ed dousnt provide.

How anyone can think a week with the family is of less value than a week at school needs to take a long hard look at how they spend time with their children as a family.

[NinkyNonker]

I only ask about catch up as many won't study off own back, and expect teacher help. This expectation doesn't go down well.

[TheFeministParent]

NM...completely agree with this "How anyone can think a week with the family is of less value than a week at school needs to take a long hard look at how they spend time with their children as a family."

[MistyB]

Under the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2006 head teachers are able to authorise up to ten school days for the purposes of family holidays.

[muminthecity]

My DD is in reception, I will continue to take her out of school for a week each year for a holiday. I don't see what harm it's doing, she's not going to fail her GCSEs because she missed a week of reception, is she?
I won't pretend our holidays are educational either, they are purely for fun, which I believe to be every bit as important as education.

[lenak]

DH and I love holidaying in Southern India. There is only a small windown in which you can go to Southern India on holiday (November - March) due to the intense summer humidity and monsoons. This obviously only coincides with the Christmas holidays and February half term. It is, ime, also unsuitable for very young children, so I wouldn't take DD until she was at least

We wouldn't want to go at christmas (price and familiy commitments) and due to distance you can't really go for a week - so even if we utilised February half term, we would still need to take DD out of school for a week.

Holidaying in India is an incredible cultural experience and my daughter will experience this in childhood, before late teens - if the opportunity to experience that culture (17th century Vijayanagara cities, washing and riding elephants, understanding real poverty etc) means missing a week or two of maths, english and science, so be it.

I will ensure that by taking some work with her and extra work at home that she does not fall behind.

[curlymama]

Personally, I don't agree with taking children out of school to go on holiday, except in very specific circumsatnces. But that's just me and I realise lots of people would disagree with me. I think billboards is taking it a bit too far, surely a letter or email from the school would suffice.

To those of you wondering why it's ok for a child to miss a week of school to go on a school ski trip but not a family one, I can't believe that you can't see the glaringly obviousl differences. If it's a school trip, the child won't be missing any classroom work therefore won't have to catch up. The teacher doesnt have to deal with a child that has missed a chunk of the curriculum and be behind all the others. The child has other opportunities to go away with family, but they do get so much out of going away with all their friends and not being with their family that they learn in a different way to how they would if Mum or Dad was around the whole time.

[curlymama]

I also believe that it should be the parent's responsibility to find out what work the children will be missing and teach it to them while they are away. It is unfair for them to put that pressure on the teacher.

[lenak]

so I wouldn't take DD until she was at least 7 or 8*

[NinkyNonker]

Even as a couple of teachers we are planning on taking a year out (give or take) when the kids (currently 'kid') are at the right ago. Buggering off on a boat. Maybe round the world, maybe just the Caribbean, maybe the Med.

[JamieLeeCurtis]

I think it can be detrimental to some children for them to miss school, even for a "cultural" trip.

Some children find it hard to get out of the loop with friends, and missing a piece of academic work can leave them feeling inconfident and finding it hard to fully catch up.

[JamieLeeCurtis]

-- sorry that was unconfident

[follyfoot]

Of course some children who go on ski trips do miss lessons. My daughter hasnt been on any school ski trips and lessons carried on as normal for the vast majority of students who like her, didnt go.

[ImeldaSnowboots]

Agree with huffythethreadkiller and JamieLC, i took my DS out of school for about a week last term (he's P1) and was really aware of the work he had missed, he's not struggling but not super-keen on learning reading/sounds so I will think very hard if I do that again.

His teacher was fine about it, said its important for families to spend time together (DP works long hours and we live away from extended family) but I'm not sure I would do it again.

[ImeldaSnowboots]

I mean huffythethreadslayer, read that wrong

[lazylula]

Curlymama, sorry to disagree with you but seeing as most skiing trips arranged by schools take place at secondary age, yes they would be missing schooling as it highly unlikely that the whole year would be going on the trip, often less than half would go (certainly the case at my school where when skiing trips were arranged there was places for 1 coach load out of 250 children in that school year. Therefore, while the skiers were out skiing their peers would be at school learning.
I personally would consider taking ds' out of school for 1 week a year for a family holiday if this made things more affordable, but not at exam times ect. I do think it is wrong when parents ask teachers to set holiday homework when they are taking the chldren out of school though, your holiday should not mean extra work for the teacher. We are constantly (weekly in the school newsletter) being reminded of the importance of good attendance and how holidays would only be sanctioned if 98% attendance is recorded in general. We camp, so the price difference isn't that great and we have tended to go in school holiday times even though ds1 has only just started school.

[FabbyChic]

Parents who take their children out of school to go on holidays are irresponsible. Education comes first.

[upahill]

I've got mixed feelings about this issue.
I haven't seen the poster and this is the first I've heard of it.

My children have not missed school for a holiday but at times it has been difficult for me to get leave in the school holidays due to the work I do AND the fact that the rest of the team have wives or girlfriends that work in schools and they can only go on holiday at school time. (unbeliveably I am the only person in my team that has a partner that is not a teacher, TA or school receptionist) At least two of us have to be working half terms and more for the long school holidays.


I think there should be a bit of leaway but the head teacher should look at the rest of the childs attendance before giving permission.

However I work with young people aged 11 to 19 year olds. After the end of year reports came out I was chatting to some of the kids about their reports and I casually mentioned about attendance. One lad had 58% attendance. I was quite shocked when as he manages to attend my youth session twice a week and he just said that he can't be arsed going. I asked what his mum and dad thought and they aren't fussed if he goes or not.


This is not a new thing. I have worked with young people for 25 years and I have always seen kids that I work with in the evening hanging round the local shops - sometimes with their mums, other times hanging out on the park.

It is is these young people and their families that need to be challenged about attendance.
spoke to quite a lot of young people about this and a few - not all it has to be said, did have a can't be bothered going to school attitude. I do some of my work in schools and here from the teachers about the young people who they expect NOT to be in class.


I also find it a bit bewildering that I get a (global) text from the school reminding parents that children have to be in school, or that just because it is the last day of term attendance is still expected. I can't understand the mentality that because it is the last day of term you don't have to go in!!

[effymeffy]

We take DD out of school, we are allowed 10 days a year. No big deal as long as it's not around sats, no fine either. Many families do this at her state school or overlap a week off school and a week at school comprimise.

Her teacher actually said carry on doing what your doing (meaning taking her on away) as she learns and develops so much.

Get over it.

[effymeffy]

oops *(taking her away) don't know where the on came from