to think its unfair that its 'term time' holidays or no holidays for alot of familes?

[TotorosOcarina]

So they can either run the risk of getting a fine and a bollocking or them, and their kids get no holiday at all?

I'm talking about myself here

We don't do holidays abroad, we don't even do nice cottage holidays.

The last few years we have gone to Haven for 4 nights ina caravan. And the kids bloody love it.

2 years ago we just had DS1 in nursery so went in term time.

Last year we only had DS in school, in reception, so he had 5 days off 'sick' and we went in term time.

This year we have 2 kids in school and I don't think we can risk taking them both out.

If we went in a few weeks time, term time, it would be £99 for 4 nights in a 'superior' caravan.

If we go in either the easter holidays or anytime from june onwards its nearer to £500.

I just think its unfair.

I'm not sure WHO i am saying is being unfair. The schools for having a blanket policy on no holidays (my kids never have time off, i can see them not allowing families who continually have time off for their kids) or the holiday companies who increase the prices 5 fold when school closes.

I just feel sad.

My kids don't really do much. We live in Manchester, have no car, don't have spare money very often and when we do its £1 cinema and a 2 for 1 pub lunch that we go for.

These little holidays really are the highlight of the year for them and I don't think we can do it this year.

"I do appreciate what you are saying but its just not feasable, have you tried getting a 2,4 and 6 year old up, getting the days supply together going and getting on the bus (wondering if you will need to fold the buggy because theres no room or its not a buggy friendly buggy) buying day passes at almost £10 and going to town, then getting them from the bus station to the train station where you have to pay whatever amount for the train. Getting them all on board and trying to keep them happy on the journey,
"

Yes not with those exact ages no - but I've done it, first time with a friend (her DS was 2yrs old - in a buggy, mine was 18 months also in a buggy, DS2 was 5 and DS1 7).

Take a packed lunch, and have cheap pizza to throw in the oven when you get home.

6yr old is old enough to have a small backpack to carry supplies for the younger.

I've done London on my own with 3 children and a buggy too. (actually same friend that I did Yarmouth with andI did London with same aged kids as mentioned above 2 days before Christmas - 'twas a bit mad I admit especially Oxford Circus 2 days before Christmas.........but the kids LOVED it )

Can you go camping? Once you've forked out for the initial kit it's very cheap. You don't even have to stay on a campsite and can wild camp if you're really strapped for cash, provided you're respectful. From Manchester you can get the train out to some nice places.

I sympathise, I haven't had a holiday for years but tend to do weekends away camping etc when it's warmer and then it feels as though you've had a break.

Last year (slightly older children admittedly - they grew up in the last 3 1/2yrs ) I did Edinburgh for 2 weeks (from Northamptonshire) and straight onto Liverpool for 1 week with a 10, 6 and 3yr old (and buggy). Had free accommodation though for those 3 weeks so that helped with the money side of things.

It's not just families hit by this - it's teachers too. They are confined to school holidays for holidays too. I don't think many of us would be very sympathetic if a teacher was absent from school because they were away on holiday, to take advantage of lower prices...

I know its POSSIBLE, its every day out we've ever had.

Its just draining.

And its 'day trips out' on the weekends I were refering too, I'd happily put the effort in to get to somewhere to stay a few days.

But I'm saying, for us, these 4 day caravan holidays are essentially the best 5 days of the year for our kids because we get to do the things they love everyday.

We can't afford to do things like go to the beach etc every weekend as its too much of a big operation.

So these holidays are massive events int he lives of our kids. Just because they aren't going skiing or safaring in Africa doesn't mean that OUR holidays are any less valid to US :(

YABU

I think the schools are spot on to have the policy they have. This isnt just about the parents who cannot afford to go on holiday outside of term time. If schools relaxed this policy, nearly every parent would take their kids on holiday during term time. NO ONE wants to pay the extortionate prices.

I feel sympathy and I know that once our DS goes to school, we will be very limited in our holiday choice because how expensive some holidays will become. But I accept it as I think that it would be very disruptive for classes and teachers to have pupils in and out of class.

For those taking their kids on holiday in term time and labelling it as 'sick'. Nice. Teaching your kids to lie to get what they want in life is a really good lesson.

Kids dont care where they go, it's the having fun aspect which is more important to them.

In November we took DS out of school for 2 weeks and went to the Dominican Republic....... we got back when there was heavy snow and DS and DH went out in the garden to make a snowman/have a snowball fight etc etc....DS said he had more fun in that hour than he did for the whole 2 weeks we were in the Caribbean

I hasten to add he did have fun on that hol but you get my drift??

I think it should be an issue between a parent and the childs teacher. If the child is up to speed on all their subjects and haven't otherwise been abscent with illness or other things it can't hurt to let them have a week off in the middle of term. Parents can also agree to taking homework with them, whatever would have to be done if they were at home still. Would not kill a child to sort out the homework ready for school along with the packing! Holidays are educational and a bonding experience for families. Of course if all children jet off constantly or come back needing to catch up etc it becomes a problem but I'm pretty sure if the teachers and parents were left to sort it out between them we would be fine.

DP is a teacher. Why can't parents arrange for emergency child care for 10 days a year so we can take holidays in term time?

Or perhaps it's silly to feel entitled to cheap holidays and we should all just accept that having children/jobs etc. comes with certain sacrifices and responsibilities?

It's not unfair, it's life.

Having children doesn't mean sacrificing holidays in the civilised world, only in the UK. Theres no such things as school fines and all that shit where I live, and we have higher literacy, numeracy and science scores than the UK.
Your systems don't add up.

Yep agree Snuppeline - I always make sure DS has fab attendance at all other times and we always get him to do a diary or something whilst we are away.........am def of the mind that different places/countries/cultures can only be good for them

and Ciske...nothing would make me sacrifice my holidays,......I love my holidays and need at least one sunshine break in the year

Your comment about emergency childcare so your DH can have 10 days off is just silly.....your DH trained to be a teacher knowing obv he couldnt have term time off......he could always train as something else and then just have 4 weeks off per year like most of us!!

It's life and it isn't fair.

You could move your dc to a school with a different policy if the holiday means so much as a family. You could perhaps borrow someone's tent and ask a friend somewhere else in the country if you can camp in their garden for a few days, our dc loved this and it cost next to nothing !

We stick to the rules at the moment as we both work and have to pay for school holiday childcare anyway so when we are away we are saving on that.

My observations however are that more often than not it is the children who can least afford to miss 10 school days whose parents play the "We couldn't afford to have this holiday unless we do it in term time" card.

I would have no worries about our dc falling behind the class, nor would I expect the teacher to have to spend time bringing them up to speed on their return, although I do feel that parents who take their children out of school for a holiday in term times should be charged for this service (a nice little earner towards the teacher's own holiday fund perhaps).

"Your comment about emergency childcare so your DH can have 10 days off is just silly.....your DH trained to be a teacher knowing obv he couldnt have term time off......he could always train as something else and then just have 4 weeks off per year like most of us!!"

But surely you had children knowing they needed to have an education, thus restricting your freedom to go on holiday as and when you please?

Parents can still go on holiday, perhaps not as far and luxurious as if they were childless and could take advantage of cheap flights but that's hardly a major unjustice.

Yes, of course I had my DS knowing that he needs an education....I really dont think 10 days off a year is going to hamper an 8 year old - reckon he could still be prime minister yet!

Holidays are a luxury- many families cannot afford them.

OP- there are quite a few coach tour operators that go from your area to the coast for 3 days/7 days that you could go with that are not horrifically expensive- I grew up close to you, and that is how my mum had to take 4 of us (no car, and father couldnt get time off) so we could have time at the seaside as children. We used to stay in chalets or caravans, often booked with the owner directly, sometimes through the tour operator.

I agree camping would be ideal for you (providing there's another adult with you to manage loo visits etc, a MrTotoro around?) - maybe start a thread on 'Camping' about sites that are easy access to public transport? Riven usually camps by public transport, though she's starting from a different area from you, but it is possible.

I agree though that those holiday times are what children will remember as adults!

"Yes, of course I had my DS knowing that he needs an education....I really dont think 10 days off a year is going to hamper an 8 year old - reckon he could still be prime minister yet! wink"

But now imagine that all children have 10 days off each year, all at different times. Would you like to be the teacher arranging lessons, trying to find suitable dates for tests and exams, organising extra work for kids to take on holidays and marking it? Or should we trust the parents to do all of that? And what if they don't, will the school carry responsibility for a child falling behind on learning because the holidays were authorised? Will you complain to the school if the child's grades fall because they didn't provide catch up lessons/work?

The issue is, you're not taking your child out of school for their benefit, because you can take them on holiday during the 12 or so non-term time weeks if it's really that important. You are doing it to save money which IMO is not a valid excuse to disturb school lessons.

I dont take DS out of school whilst there are exams and as I have said before, when it gets to that point in his education I wouldn't. He is only at primary school, when he goes to secondary school I wouldnt take him out unless I absoloutely had to. I dont expect his teacher to organise any extra work for him, I would do that myself...I am a responsible parent and if his schoolwork suffered as a result I a)wouldnt blame the school and b) wouldnt even take him out of school if he was struggling with the work.

Course I am doing it to save money - I hate the fact that it costs hundreds of pounds more to take the kids away during school holiday times - I thought that schools were actually going to mix this up and change the timing so that this couldnt happen anymore.

Different schools vary so much.

DS3 attends one school and is welcome to have a few days each Autumn so we can take part in a community event back home.

OTOH the others all attend a different primary and they ever prevented one child representing a the country in sport due to it being a termitime fixture

On the teacher and TA's advice we call in sick; luckily the day changes next year so won;t be an issue at comp. anyway.

However there's one family allowed to go back to America each year as it's where they come from; America gOK, somewhre else in the UK bad it seems.

the holiday companies who increase the prices 5 fold when school closes

That's not really what happens OP. It's more the fact that they lower the price dramatically during unpopular times. Just like the shops having an end of season sale.

But I do agree it's a bummer.

Oh probably no good for Manchester (!) but anyone further Suth- site with a bus that actually goes right on site: East Fleet at Weymouth. Might help someone, I guess.

Im sorry but having children does have it's pitfalls and not being able to take your children out of a school term is one of them.

Paying more for inseason holidays is also one of them. Why didn't you make a list of things you would no longer be able to do before you had them?

Children should not be removed from school to go on holiday that people are irresponsible.

Try looking for a caravan online via a private renter.

You might pay £200 but it will be for a week.

Why should it be? These strict rules in the UK system aren't really working for you, you're sliding down the global league tables.