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!

There are people with sticks up their arses

I was a school prefect even though I took term time holidays!

Its not a crime to go on holiday during school time. I still don't get why people are so het up about it.

YANBU. We going away in a couple of weeks and DD is missing 11 days. Her head is fine about it. DD will benefit far more having two weeks of relaxed family time with us all together than two weeks in school which can be easily caught up. I wouldn't do it past the age of 9 or 10 though.

exexe i was a prefect as well and we took term time holidays, infact my friend was haed girl and she had term time holidays as well

it is not illegal to take term time holidays the problems etc are ofsted using absences to 'score' schools so even authorised absence counts against a school, which is WRONG imo the law states that children can take up to 10 days at the discretion of the ht, the problem now is that many are just going with a blanket NO policy for worry about attendance records.

oh and btw if any of my childrens teachers wanted a week off in term time and they applied for leave etc and it was authorised then i wouldnt have a problem with it tbh, they would get a supply etc and they could always make the time up in their other long holidays

I think you deserve the medal crackfox for living life on the edge

Being normal , more than living on the edge

Here here usualsuspect!!

What 5madthings said.
And usualsuspect.
I'm finding it hard to take this thread seriously too.

It's 'hear hear', not 'here here'. You missed that at school. Possibly you were on holiday?

You ain't even funny

That was to hopefully

Oh no. I thought hopefully was joking.

hopefully.

Glad to hear you're not that dumb turnip actually I could easily do something like that too.

But, I don't really give a teeny tiny rats arse about what other people do in all honesty. The op asked what the problem was. Everyone gave their opinions. And that's that really isn't it. I'll continue to send my children to school in term time, others will be enjoying their cheap educational holidays. And we'll all be winners won't we. Doing what we want to do and all that

I was,

My grown up children remember their cheap holidays , not their smug condescending parents . Thats all that matters to me and mine.

Are you saying that your grown up children remember the holidays but not you usualsuspect?

You ain't funny either

I say do it... Have an amazing time. Why not!

My DD isn't old enough for school but we're going away in November with some friends to Disneyland for 5 days and they have no problem taking both children 6 & 8 out of school so we can skip queues and get a cheaper deal...

They're going to help them catch up on anything they miss and will
At the fine!

When my DD is 4/5 I plan to take her out of school for a three week holiday to Florida in term term. (what's she going to miss? algebra??)

Have fun!

That was 'pay the fine!' !!

I think if its done once or twice its fine but not every year.

Enjoy the holiday

I never took DS for cheap educational holidays.
I took him out for cheap holidays in a cheap resort with a pool.
He's fine by the way, I posted above.

I took mine to Haven sites

Common and a terrible parent

No you're right usualsuspect, I'm not actually. Sorry.

This is what happens in a nanny state. People aren't able to think for themselves and make their own judgements about their lives (within legal boundaries of course)

If a 2 week absence from school is detrimental to that childs education then there's something wrong. There is no reason why they can't catch up and there is no real reason why people should be so against this.

Relax people.