To take our kids on hol in term-time

[zozzle]

We are taking our kids out of primary school to go abroad in term-time (end of June) and have been surprised at the slightly shocked/negative reactions I have had from other friends (mums in the playground). DCs are 4 (Reception) and 8 (yr 3).

My friends seem to tow the line more than me though, and admit they don't like breaking the rules. Breaking the rules has never bothered me though if I think the rules are unreasonable!

It will be the first time we will have been abroad as a family since DC were born and it's also partly to celebrate my 40th. We have holiday'd in the Uk for the last 8 years and fancied a change this year.

We can't afford to go abroad in the school holidays and the possible £100 fine we will incur from taking the kids out of school (although DC 2 is only 4 and doesn't legally have to be in school yet - so fine will prob only be applied to DC1) will still make the hol much cheaper than going in the school holidays.

Won't the hol be an educational experience in itself for the DCs? Wouldn't do it in SATs years or exam years. It is a v. middle class school with quietly pushy parents.

I just don't get what the big deal is!

YABU, there are 13 weeks and 52 weekends to go away in and since when was a holiday a right or a necessity?

I love the poster who says the school names and shames in the local paper, maybe more should do that.

Evil you chose your job,you get a decent salary.Police and nurses do nights.Every job has it's downside.If you want to take your kids out in termtime change jobs.

How's about Rockpool you chose the state education system. The rules are you have to send your child every day.

If you want to take your kids out in term time, home school

Rockpool. As I suspected. One rule for you... And I am being COMPLETELY unreasonable in suggesting that it's a pain in the arse when parents take their kids out and then expect teachers to compensate by doing extra work.

You choose to have kids, you choose to put them in school, then you choose to stick to holiday time holidays.

And Rockpool, the point is that even if Evil changes jobs, the rules are that she has to send her kids to school every day unless in exceptional circumstances, and most heads don't count a holiday as an exceptional circumstance.

And sometimes a child might miss the important bit of underpinning knowledge, like long division or fractions, and really struggle to get to grips with the topic because they missed that week or two.

Most of the parents ask for extra work

A few worksheets and no skin off the teachers nose.

What massive catching up does a primary school kid have to do after a WEEK off?

MissFaversham - are you a teacher?

Errr Fuckarama my kids are in a state school.Many schools don't follow this draconian rule.Those that do do it to try and sort their truancy problems but it doesn't work.

Our school which is in a fairly middle of the road area with all types attending doesn't have a truancy problem and the head doesn't have a problem with parents taking their kids out.In fact a friend of mine took her kids out for the County Show and he said go,enjoy,they'll learn far more there in a day.

We took a week off for a paid holiday from grandparents to celebrate a wedding anniversary with all the grandkids. Unforgettable experience for all the kids and not poss in August as holiday cottages are astronomic then.We had the heads blessing then too.

I 'm up for a bit of anarchy

We don't get fined,we just fill in a form,just as it should be,as it used to be and as it is in many other countries round the world.

So really then, what it boils down to is one rule for one another rule for another.

As long as it suits you then hey ho.

That's a really Jack attitude that'll come back and bite you on the bum some day.

Imagine if everyone did this - it would presumably create logistical nightmares for the poor teachers, individually putting together a week or two's worth for the various children that have been AWOL on the continent, or Florida, or whatever throughout the term. I appreciate that the rule may be inconvenient and that term time holidays are extortionately expensive, but it's a poor example to set to a year 3, in my opinion. You're teaching your child that if a rule is inconvenient (note inconvenient, not unreasonable) it needn't apply to them. It's the thin edge of the wedge.

It isn't a nightmare.When I was teaching this rule didn't exist and sorry it wasn't a problem.It was a complete non issue.

I don't agree with taking work.Teachers shouldn't have extra work for it and the whole point is to have a break,experience new things not to fill out worksheets.

I Admit I'm taking mine out next year for 2 weeks already cleared with school and admitted to both heads where we are going and that not even pretending it's educational And truth I don't care what other people think

But fortunate both agreed to it and understand why . Only request was to being back lots of pictures

Go and enjoy.

I think people get far too worked up about this issue.

I was regulary taken out of school for long trips back to my parents birth country. I still got into grammar school, university and did professional exams with a good career.

I would happily take my dcs on holiday in term time and I do think its a learning experience. Everything a child does is a learning experience. Even just going through an airport and seeing a plane close up as well as inside it.

Sits here laughing and bloody glad fakarama isn't one of my sons teachers.

Friggin hell.

The school where I work will generally authorise holidays but we don't set work for any "missed" time due to this. I can see why parents take holidays in term time, due to cost - hence why my children haven'tbeen abroad yet.
(I know, I chose this job and I'm not bothered about holidays here in the UK) I do wonder what the parents of the children in my class would say if I was to pop over to Spain during term time, leaving them with a supply teacher for 2 weeks mind...

I'm not a teacher.

I could take my kids out any time I chose to.

I don't.

I abide by the rules.

Why do people who do this have to post and ask people about other people's disapproval? MN seems to have a post like this every fortnight.

Just got off the phone to my (teacher) sis and she said it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference at that age

It's fun to break the rules sometimes

And if you're all so hot on parents being allowed to take their kids out when then choose to, as their right, what about teachers who are also parents?

Surely the right of a parent over-rides any obligations placed on them by a mere contract of employment? Therefore, any teacher with a child can fuck off to Florida for a fortnight whenever it suits them.

And if the head says no, just do it anyway

Aye right.