To think school have said no for my child absence for a family holiday

[HidingInTheBathroom]

We are going on holiday next month. My DS (8) school have refused the leave.

I handed the form in yesterday and got a reply today. I wouldn't mind but he never has time off school. He has not had 1 day off this year and last year he had 1 and half days off because he was sick at school and was still poorly the day after.

We have never been on holiday in school time and out of all his school life I think he has had a total of 4-5 days off ill.

They say if I take him I could get find. Going next month so my DS will be off school for a total of 10 days. We have been waiting for this holiday for 4 years.

AIBU to think they should off not refused this absence.

Errh where we ski it costs LESS to ski from Easter onwards than at any other time in the ski season, ski coverage lasts usually into mid May, it costs less than 100 euro for a ski pass, about 50 euro per person for the apartment, it costs about 120 euro for 6 days tuition if you want it, ski hire costs less than other weeks as it's the final weeks of the season and rental shops are happy to reduce prices. Yes we would not ski during the traditional French ski high season which is February to March, due to high costs and also due to the number of people on the mountains. Travel + ski pass + ski hire + accommodation comes in at around £300 each for Easter during the school holidays. I must say, it's hard to argue skiing is in fact "educational" though, well after the first ski holiday that is. We don't ski because it is educational for the family, we just do it because the whole family can now do a fun sport together. I still wouldn't do it during term time with the children though - but lucky 9 year old is skiing for 10 days in March with her school and her trip is educational, half skiing and half geography / science lessons, cost is £450, it's part of the school's curriculum, and I am very jealous she is getting this opportunity AND during school time too :-)

And we recently did 12 days in Paris, the Doubs and Jura for £300, ok it was only camping (Eurocamp style, almost identical tents but with Vacansoleil), so it cost us £4.17 per day per head per day, plus travel there and back cost around £200, so the total cost was £500, or £83.33 per head. The activities such as canoeing, kayaking, archery, swimming, children's club, biathlon, it was all included in the price. We did the last 2 weeks of August, school holidays, in the main the cheapest 2 weeks for holidays in France during July and August.

No actually the school ski trip is indeed an educational one, it's not like the ones children would go on as a general rule if it were a UK school when the holiday is sold as a skiing holiday out of school time. The holiday centre our children's school uses has classrooms and teachers who do the educational aspect of the trip - mornings are just for pleasure, ie skiing, the afternoons are the Belgian curriculum, they do geography and science, in the classroom and also in the local environment. It's a pity UK school do not use these centres.

Incognitofornow, if you want to save yourself some money on UK organised school ski trips, you can go send your children to the French alps with UCPA as an example for much cheaper, well much cheaper than £700. There is a youth organisation near ours who are taking 7-12 year olds for 10 days during February half term, absolutely inclusive including tuition and ski hire and transport, it is £450, most do cost a little more than that, near £500. I think UCPA do coaches from the UK for adults, maybe for children too, a UK teenager could do it with a friend???

www.rent-a-tent.nl/

www.vacansoleil.co.uk/#/portal/
UK version of Dutch site, can get some great last minute deals, not managed any myself but have a friend who got amazing bargains with them this Summer, he can take holidays when he likes.

The Dutch seem to be the biggest campers in France for this sort of camping, they also seem to have the best prices too. Ok, it's not a luxurious holiday at all, but our children really really have the greatest time at the big campsites where there are always activities going on.

How to cross the channel for cheap during school holidays? Well Norfolkline from Dover to Dunkerque do great fares if you book well in advance and sometimes you also have to go at anti-social times. If you travel frequently, Eurotunnel do single trips for £39.
www.eurotunnel.com/uk/tickets/types/frequent-traveller/

It is without question more difficult to get a good value family during school holidays, but not impossible, takes doing plenty of homework to find good deals, but it is possible.

Back to the OP's AIBU, yes she YABU to think the school can authorise such a trip because schools simply cannot allow absences, but the school is not stopping you from going, the worst that will happen is a fine and monitoring for any future absences. I think the OP should take solace in the fact their child is at school in the UK, will not be visited by the Police and have the "incident" filed against them forever like it would be if it were my child in Belgium, and also that they are not coming back to 2 weeks of school work to complete as homework as would happen here!!!!

Yes I chose a job knowing it would be awkward but my husband didnt but changed working conditions hence his shift pattern. Lucky for you pop your child is so bright it doesnt affect him but many of the children I teach don`t catch up.

So my point is that it is not fair if the parents of EAL children that tolk13 talks about do not get moaned at or fined for taking their children away in term time especially when they may be more behind in the first place.

There does not seem to be a level playing field.

does this not irk you TOlk when you cannot get away with your own family even in the school holidays.

I work term time too so I cannot remove my children either

I was told not to take my ds out of school in June for 3 days was told I would be reported but nothing happened I was very concerned as a lone parent my parents offered to take us to their villa skl didn't agree and reported me!!!
This week I had to ask skl for ds to have half a day off as he has won a comp at the local library and he will be in the local paper to meet the Mayor I wasn't looking forward to it as this skl are weel known for not agreeing any time off at all but as soon as I mentioned mayor and local paper they agreed no problem!!!

well known!!

It does on times but there isnt much I can do about it. We just go on hoildays any chance we get...some years it will be every half term , Ester and Summer and then other years not at all. I have taken the youngest away on my own to USA once when my husband was working. We visited family and friends. I just think Im lucky I have a good job; my husband has a good job and we can afford to go away whenever. When I didn`t work and when I was in uni when the youngest was a baby, we went to caravan parks in UK, paid for by Rowntrees because oldest has cerebral palsy.
Other shoe though...at least I get time with my children....although nearly all grown now in the school holidays as many working parents find them a nightmare!

Oops spelling error from a teacher.....Easter!

However not every child will have same opportunity as your children to catch up. I am glad your children are well rounded and have had such fantastic opportunities. My children have never been taken out during term time and they are not academic at all!!!

Yep! x

Here`s to cheap holidays all year! If only!!!

good point incognito but I only get paid pro rata and am officially paid for 4 weeks of holiday like everyone else. People do it as it fits round family committments. I certainly don't do it for the pay LOL.

I teach for the holidays ...sorry I mean to inspire and to get children to achieve their true potential!