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.

Well said Incog.

£83.33 per person for a 12 day holiday in France (that's less than £7 a day) is a lot less than going to Florida or the Costa Del Sol or going skiing.

The sterling - euro rate stinks, it has done for the last 3 years, hopefully Greece might make the situation a bit better by next Summer. But you reduce costs to the continent, when camping, by looking around for cheap companies like Vacansoleil, looking at prices direct with the campsites, going in the last 1 or 2 weeks of August when prices generally drop, going to campsites where many activities are included in the price, looking up the local Aldis in advance, booking ferry crossings with Norfolkline, considering train travel rather than driving - you can get some great deals on through tickets from the UK to south of France even for less than £100, or go via Germany where children are free on the trains up to the age of 14.

Or you could rent a gite, loads of websites where people advertise. Orrent a holiday apartment with a company like Odalys, Residhotel. Or there are companies like www.capfrance-vacances.com (got that tip off mumsnet) which offer great value - I almost booked a week all inclusive with them at the end of August which would have cost £1200, so would have been£200 each all meals, accommodation, activities included, but it was still a bit much for us, so we ended up doing a £500 12 day camping trip instead. £1200 sounds a lot ofr 6 people, it is, but compared to an equivalent holiday from Mark Warner or Club Med, it's I bet less than half the price. To get the best value for money in France, you either holiday with / like the French or follow the Dutch camping!

Can't believe all the fuss about having 10 days off school. I have at least 10 friends teaching in the UK. Apparently OZ teachers are highly sought after.

We all managed to be educated to a high standard even though our parents took us out of school in term time on the odd occasion.

My cousin has just returned from a 12 week trip to the UK and her DC were out of school for all that time.

I think that their education has been greatly enriched by their extended tour.

My own DD was allowed a day off school in the middle of the week to attend a matinee performance of an opera. No , she couldn't go at night or the weekend as the tickets were far too expensive for an 8 year old.

When i was about 8 my parents took us abroad, the teacher gave me daily work to do (about an hours worth i guess, Maths, Spelling, and Reading) so I was not too behind, and got me to write a holiday diary with pictures etc. that I read out to the class...

She (the teacher) put that extra effort in for me, so I could both enjoy my holiday and learn. This doesn't happen any more?!!

I would just go and have a lovely holiday and pay the fine. Can understand the school not allowing it as it may be school policy. I have taken my kids out of school whilst they were at primary/junior school. Now mine are at secondary school I won't take them out as they would have too much work to catch up on. At the age of 8 I wouldn't worry too much. I took on holiday education books for them to fill in - maths, english and science. Before you make the decision I would find out how much the fine will be. It also depends on the school whether they will fine you. A friend of mine takes all four kids out of school for two weeks every year and never been fined.

I very much doubt they will fine you because it makes the school look bad and then you will go down as UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE and that will bring their figures down as well.

Could you let us know if you get fined?

It's not the school that fines you its the LEA and if it's classed as unauthorised holiday,which it will have to be as the op asked and was told no, they have no choice but to fine you. Schools are not able to choose which families get fined.

Many schools are now showing their true figures for attendance as ofsted don't tend to believe it's possible for a school to have no unauthorised absence. I know a family who go away first week of school in September every year. Every year they get fined but have already factored in the fine to their holiday costs, apparently it still works out cheaper.

I don't think the school gets the choice. Our LEA doesn't allow the school to authorise holidays in term time. People find it still cheaper to go and pay the fine.

Yanbu to go, but you are unrealistic to expect school to condone. As a sec achool teacher, it is irritating when child returns and looks blank faced for the rest of the unit, but as long as the parents involved don't moan too much about progress, want extra classses, then it is entirely their choice. In y10 or 11, I would like to discount the results of those who go away, and it does happen. However some of you saying "my kids, we'll do what we want, ignore school" sound rather undermining.
Final point. I work my pupils until the last lesson. Don't assume they do nothing!