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.

[Grumpyoldhorsewoman]

I have taken my children out of school for holidays and, not only has it never been to their detriment educationally, it has benefitted them greatly to actually get away on a holiday. The educational/non-educational argument is completely invalid - life is a rich tapestry and all experiences go to form us as people. We may be idly laying on a beach or touring a new city, riding an elephant in Nepal or eating chips at a caravan park in Newquay. These are all experiences and provide their own benefits. My parents would think nothing of taking me out of school years ago and my experiences abroad (many and varied) and the time spent with my family are entirely responsible for the person I became. I did well enough at school (O and A levels) but the things that shaped me were ordering my own breakfast in a restaurant at the age of 6, driving across Europe to Austria, flying in a propeller plane from Miami to Nassau while anxiously watching the rivets rattling inside the structure of the plane. At the risk of pomposity, the word 'education' comes from the latin 'Educare', meaning to draw out - what is there to 'draw out' if we just cram our children in a room all day, every day? Formal education has its place, but it's not the be all and end all and there is a huge difference between taking your children out of school for a couple of weeks a year and taking the piss. Not everyone can get away during school holidays - should they never have a holiday together?

[mutznutz]

Octopus...they get 12 weeks holiday a year. How can you not share that between two sets of grandparents?

As for you comment regarding spending time with extended family more important than formal education...well thank God not everyone feels the same or Britain would be a 3rd world country

[halia]

YANBU
the billboards are a waste of money and I'm with everyone who has said that the MOST important thing is your kids being well rounded and loved. That often means time with family/ holidays comes before another boring week at school.

I can't really afford holidays at all this year, but if I could i would DEFINITLY take DS out of school for a week.

I mean fgs, I KNOW there are huge issues about attendance rates, education etc but it just plain silly to lump in families trying to get a holiday together (whether cos of cost, family time or experiential value) with parents who don't know or care whether their 14 yr old is at school or dealing drugs.

If I had the temperament I'd Home Ed. However I really can't see how DS (6) spending a week in Cornwall learning to surf in October is any less educational than him drawing pictures of witches for halloween.

[maighdlin]

my dd is only 17mo so not sure what side of the dabate im on. i don't see why its a problem if they are young children when they would probably learn more on a foreign holiday. the price factor is also a reason, but im lucky in living in NI when schools finish at the end of june so there is two weeks before other uk schools close when the prices do go up but nowhere near as much as august time.

my mil had a great excuse for taking her ds out of school when it wasn't holidays to go to malta to see his dad. she said it was some maltese important occasion and his dad really wanted him to be there for it. load of balls but she wasn't going to pay an extra £200 to take him a week later.

[Sidge]

I'm taking my children out of school for 6 days either side of May half term for a family holiday.

My children's attendance is 100% normally and I don't usually take them out of school (have done it once before, in 2007 when we went to Australia to visit family. The school waved us off with their blessing!)

DH is military and has restricted leave so we go when we can, otherwise we wouldn't get a family holiday. We're going either side of half term when they tag on Inset days so they don't miss as much. DD2 is Y2 and most of May is spent doing SATS - she won't be doing them so the school can't argue that she's missing much in the way of education!

I am expecting the schools to be reasonable regarding my request, even if they don't authorise the leave. I don't expect to be threatened.

[mutznutz]

I'm not sure Lequeen to be honest...but I do know the general attitude towards Education in this country is a total mystery to those who see it as a priviledge and not a right.

[YetiOnAJetty]

As a family we do charity work in a third world country. Our ds has been travelling there with us since he was 2.6years old. He has learnt more about the culture there before he has even started school, than I could have ever imagined, it has given him an amazing insight into the world and will hopefully help him along his way into becoming a kind and compassionate adult.

When he starts school we have no intention of stopping doing this, the area of the world we work in, the roads are impassable due to monsoons during our summer, and to be completely honest, during primary years what harm is two weeks going to do anyway when my ds is very fortunate to have the chance to learn so many things that no teacher could ever teach him.
.

[mutznutz]

Why do some people seem to think it's ok at primary level but no at senior level? Primary education is just as important and that's where the attitude towards good attendance begins with a child. If a child learns their parents think 2 weeks off during term time is ok because it's cheaper...instead of taking an extra year to save or booking a cheaper holiday, how are they then supposed to change that already built in attitude when they start senior school?

[mutznutz]

Yeti Unless your attitude changes, you could well find yourself with a criminal record and a child with very little chances of employment.

Instead of helping those less fortunate at the expense of his education, have you considered helping the less fortunate here in this country whilst he's at school?

[JamieLeeCurtis]

Yeit - the life-style you have at the moment will not be tenable once he starts school.

[sakura]

mutnutz it's not at the expense of his education. It is his education...

[sakura]

Yeti I think your son is very lucky to be having those experiences; I'm sure they will shape him, his entire life and future

[wineonafridaynight]

Yeti, I for one think that you are offering your son an incredibly valuable educational experience that he just wouldn't get in everyday school. I hope that practically it can be maintained once he has reached formal education as it sounds like an amazing experience that will serve him well.

[Onetoomanycornettos]

Lots of families originally from other countries go back to their home country for extended periods, we know at least two families who do this, the attendance officer comes around, they explain they were visiting Aunty X for a month and doing some business, the attendance officer apologises for bothering them and they go away. These children miss weeks or months of school, but I've never heard of anyone being prosecuted. Why try to scare people, normal people, people doing charity work, people having fun with their families who otherwise couldn't afford a holiday, people visiting their mum and dad who live in another country? Why target this, now? I totally agree with Inertia, there are some shocking things going on in education (why are both my children in classes of 30 even now? Partly taught by untrained classroom assistants| Very little extra-curricular activities, no music, no choir, no anything except 'street dance') but parents taking their children out for one or two weeks a year isn't it. If anything, it could keep class sizes down:)

[GMajor7]

I'd also like to add Yeti that there are many, many charitable causes here in the UK for your DC to get involved with which wouldn't necessitate taking additional holidays.

I don't it. Going on holiday isn't vital for your survival FGS.

[GMajor7]

I don't get it

[mutznutz]

Sakura Unfortunately most employers are looking for a little more than 'cultural experience' when it comes to offering jobs.

If your child were to take two weeks term time holiday every year throughout his school life...that (according to the EA) equates to an entire YEAR of missed schooling.

Put another way, do you think it's acceptable for your child to miss an whole year of school if he is healthy enough to attend?

By all means teach him to help the less fortunate...that's admirable, but I don't think limiting his chances of educational success is admirable at all...not when he could help others in this country and continue his schooling without disruption.

[gibbergabber]

'but I do know the general attitude towards Education in this country is a total mystery to those who see it as a priviledge and not a right'

Absolutely.

[sakura]

why are you so bothered mutznutz ? If you're so sure Yeti's child will not be able to get a job, don't sweat it. IT's not your loss.

[emy72]

Here here Riven.

My DD was off sick with tonsillitis for 10 days and she learned a hell of a lot with me at home, despite being sick. Like how to draw proper faces, brush up on her Italian, read books, writing Christmas cards, etc etc

If she'd been on holiday with us for that time it would have been the same.

It's my child and I am responsible for her education. After all we keep being told this all the time when it comes to huge classes and lack of reading, writing etc in school.

[Inertia]

Mutznutz, how does 2 weeks per school year equate to a year's education ? 11 years compulsory education, 2 weeks per year makes 22 weeks. A school year is generally approximately 39 weeks.

If your EA are only operating schools for 22 weeks a year, I think I see the problem :)