Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take our kids on hol in term-time

461 replies

zozzle · 25/05/2012 09:49

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!

OP posts:
MissFaversham · 25/05/2012 19:44

nkf, it's a forum and they can ask what they like Grin

MissFaversham · 25/05/2012 19:46

I know teachers that do Grin

nkf · 25/05/2012 19:46

I know that but it seems so pointless.

MissFaversham · 25/05/2012 19:48

"fuckarama" of course

MissFaversham · 25/05/2012 19:49

nkf, I'm rather enjoying it Grin

fuckarama · 25/05/2012 19:50

Meh.

If you're happy to do it, do it.

If the head allows you, go ahead.

But don't be surprised when there's a substitute teacher in for a fortnight when the teacher does the same.

Or wee Johnny won't go to school when he's 14.

I wonder how many of these middle class parents who are taking their kids out for a fortnight in the son are tutting and bosom hoiking at the teenagers mitching off and hogging the swings in the local park?

fuckarama · 25/05/2012 19:50

Sun. Not son. Autocorrect and fat fingers.

usualsuspect · 25/05/2012 19:52

You need a Wine fuckarama

AThingInYourLife · 25/05/2012 19:55

"The thing is this rule was never set up to stop parents taking their dcs out of school for a week holiday once in the year."

Really?

Because the last time Michael Gove was grandstanding about increased fines for the parents of truants, it was precisely this kind of truancy he referred to.

ByTheWay1 · 25/05/2012 19:57

We went to Florida for 2 weeks in October - 7 days were authorised by the head - the rest were our half term week. Head agreed without a problem. In some schools it is obviously an issue, in some schools it is not. People are still taking up to 10 days out with no problem

If it is authorised it is NOT breaking the rules at all.... what I'm teaching MY kids is that if you need time off you ask for it..... that is not a bad lesson in life...

TheHumancatapult · 25/05/2012 19:59

Oh I took my older ones out every year to Y7 for a week for basically a week on haven site

And neither of mind are hooligans or anything one full time at collage the other planning uni . Both have good work ethic so it can be done

cornflowers · 25/05/2012 20:00

But they get time off already - it's called the school holidays.

LadyBeagleEyes · 25/05/2012 20:00

Nobody is asking you to take your kids out of school, Fuckarama.
You abide by the rules if you want, but I don't understand why you're getting so angry with everybody that doesn't agree with you.

Vickles · 25/05/2012 20:01

Keep calm and go on holiday!
We have a holiday form and we fill it out BEFORE we book a holiday, (Center Parcs for 5 days £259 during term time, £1259 only one week later in feb half term!) I explain that on the form, and are honest about our reasons , finanancial. And..... Our head ok's it. We have done it for the past 3 years, and we only do it once a year. We never pull our kids out for any other reason, unless very ill. Once we get the ok from the head, we go ahead and book it.
That is how our school does it.
Seriously, jump off your soapbox, and calm down. I'm not breaking any rules.

MissFaversham · 25/05/2012 20:02

My definition of truancy - a kid that constantly wags off school with Sad or without the knowlege of the parent - still sad.

A week's holiday during term time is really no biggy. The likelyhood of "loads" of kids being off for this reason at the same time is minimal and reasonable people surely know this.

My DS had rather a lot of "supply teachers" in junior school.

fuckarama · 25/05/2012 20:02

I'm not angry.

I'm just pointing out the inconsistencies in the argument.

I don't know how many times I have to say on this thread that I'm not angry.

Confused

Just because I don't agree with someone and I'm defending my position doesn't make me angry, any more than it makes any of the people who disagree with me angry.

Vickles · 25/05/2012 20:05

I think you've made a valid point fuckarama. As in the inconsistency. Our school are fine with it, for those who don't take the piss. Whilst my friends school, never allows any holiday in school time. It isn't fair. I do feel lucky at we have such an understanding head.

ByTheWay1 · 25/05/2012 20:07

They do get the school holidays as many have mentioned - but if only life was that simple.... some people who work in the armed forces and some industries can only take leave at set times -

teachers and schoolkids get the school holidays off not everyone else......

and if the school is happy to let parents take their kids out, no rules have been broken.

TheHumancatapult · 25/05/2012 20:13

Fuckrama

Out of 1000 villas at CP they have 30 and only one 4 bed adapted villa that is level the other 4 bed is a premium villa and other bedrooms upstairs that are adapted now trouble is CP rely on people being honest when they book and book adapted villa no proof required no questions asked

Thing is people book them because it is known they are in the cente area where normally there's extra charge there is not for adapted . So we go less busy time and before you say book in adva d I do at least a year to secure in non peak times

Also my little boy in non peak times can join in activates as not busy so they will happily have time to help him
But either way I don't care what people think

Noqontrol · 25/05/2012 20:13

I think fuckarana has made plenty of valid points. It's a bit rude to keep accusing her of being angry, when in actual fact she's just debating the subject the same as everyone else. I agree with her points and there's no anger here either Smile

TheHumancatapult · 25/05/2012 20:14

That's non disabled people booking adapted to save £40 and they also know they are bugged to

fuckarama · 25/05/2012 20:16

I have said repeatedly, if the head authorises it, no problem.

The problem I have with the OP is that the head hasn't authorised it, and the OP has said she's just going to pay the fine.

I have no problem with people who take their kids out, if they've asked properly, filled in whatever forms are required, jumped through whatever hoops and got permission.

But you can't just take the kids out without permission and not expect there to be consequences.

If the head says no, then you don't go. Unless you'd walk out of your job for a weeks holiday and expect it still to be there when you get back? If your boss said you couldn't have the week off?

ByTheWay1 · 25/05/2012 20:25

If I walked out of a job I'd expect the sack, if I took the kids out of school unauthorised I'd expect a fine.

It is not (yet) a criminal offence, so the consequences are not that huge....

The government says I should eat 5 fruit and veg a day - don't tell anyone, but sometimes I don't......

fuckarama · 25/05/2012 20:26

Yeah but I view the kids going to school as doing a job. Their job is to go to school and do their best every day when they're there.

If you take them out unauthorised there are going to be consequences.

earlyriser · 25/05/2012 20:27

I took dd out of school for a week before easter to go and see her grandparents (fairly long haul, so we went for 3 weeks in total) i didn't ask for work as i didn't want to bother the teacher. It turned out she was a wee bit behind her group once term started again, so i was given the work to do with her at home so she 'could be at the same point as the rest of her group'.

It took 20 mins to do Grin