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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

holidays in term time

248 replies

ruledbyheart · 28/06/2013 22:43

Yes probably am being unreasonable but I am looking at booking our first family holiday next year only to a haven holiday camp but thought it would be nice for the DC to have a holiday and for me it would be the first since I was 16, But 2 of my 4 dc will be in full time school only reception and yr1 and I have found out I cannot take them out in term time.

I have looked into the prices and to go term time it would only cost us £150 but if we stuck to the school holidays the price quickly jumps to £450.

I think its disgusting as a family on an extremely low income (less than 12000PA) we cannot afford to go on holiday, factoring all our costs I need to save about 100pm to be able to afford to go in term time which will be very tight and impossible to save enough to go during school holidays.

WIBU to just take the children out of school for one week its not like at the ages of 4 and 5yrs they would miss much or do I not risk it (Ive heard rumours you can be fined?) and have to wait a lot longer for a holiday?

OP posts:
CelticPromise · 29/06/2013 13:26

They can only fine you for children of compulsory school age I believe, so you can't be fined for the four year old. They have to be in school from the term after their 5th birthday.

Witchesbrewandbiscuits · 29/06/2013 13:30

if you can afford the fine then you can afford to save up longer??

er no... a fine is £60, but the diff in price for a term time hol and a hol hol is £2k! who in their right mind would or could afford that much extra?

PrettyPaperweight · 29/06/2013 13:32

LaQueen of course it isn't nonsense that some people believe that a DCs education is more valuable than a holiday because plenty of people (including those who create legislation) believe exactly that!

you may not believe it, but not everyone believes the same, and I'm sure that both sides of the argument can provide anecdotal and researched evidence to support their own position Wink

TantrumsAndBalloons · 29/06/2013 13:37

According to the OP, her holiday in actual school holidays will cost £300 more than in school time.

Therefore, if she can afford to pay fines for 2 children, then she can afford to save up and go in the actual holidays.

Personally I think it is all ridiculous and reception/year 1 children probably wouldn't miss that much of educational value. And it is absurd that it cost so much more in school holidays.
But, if you decide to do it knowing the school won't authorize it, then you risk being fined at a magistrates court.
Personally going on the OPs figures, I would rather save up the extra money because it is less hassle.

LaQueen · 29/06/2013 13:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Summerblaze · 29/06/2013 13:45

I would take them out. They really aren't going to miss that much at primary school age that you couldn't do on holiday. Reading book before bed, counting caravans etc, Ispy.

They care so much about my childs education apparently but then spend umpteen days doing "special days", sporting days etc. DS1 went to Build a Bear one day this term. Thats not educational.

What really annoys me though is that they expect you to not go away in term time and concentrate on education, then when it is weekend or holiday time, they give out huge amounts of homework to do while on holiday. Pisses me right off.

IHeartKingThistle · 29/06/2013 13:45

LaQueen the examples of non-teaching days you give are sort of fair enough, but the first 2 weeks of September are vital, surely?

PrettyPaperweight · 29/06/2013 13:46

laqueen have you considered standing for a position which would give you the chance to influence these decisions?
School governor, local councillor or even MP?

It's clear that at the moment, authority is dominated by people who disagree with you - otherwise the rules would be different. Wink The joy of a democracy is that you can do something about it, rather than suffer the indignity of a dictatorship!

OwlinaTree · 29/06/2013 14:05

Education is important. Ok, a week off in June when you've been there all year except a couple of ill days is not going to be a problem. But don't justify your decision by saying 'this activity is crap, this day out is crap'. Schools provide different opportunities to learn, the sports days, den making days, school trips etc are important too (not so sure about the build a bear!)

Also the idea of counting caravans and playing i-spy to make up for it is Hmm. You are on holiday. Its a holiday, play i-spy because you want to not because you think that makes up for a week of learning. You have chosen to be on holiday, and not at school, so have a holiday!!

AmberSocks · 29/06/2013 14:19

its not at the discretipn of the headteacher from september,not in west sussex anyway,they used to be able to authorise up to 2 weeks but not anymore.

AmberSocks · 29/06/2013 14:22

I think most kids get more from a weeks(proper)holiday than your average week at school anyway.Its a shame,some families wont be able to do that anymore as they just cant afford it.

5madthings · 29/06/2013 14:32

amber the gov guideline says differently it is at the discretion if the head teacher, the local authority may try to say different but the rules are still the same in that ht's can authorize absence for 'exceptional circumstances'.

OwlinaTree · 29/06/2013 14:44

A week's holiday is a different experience to a week in school. I don't think you should justify term time holidays by saying they get more from it, they get different from it. Holidays are great, but should be about enjoying yourself and family time and relaxing and seeing new things. Not trying to hear your child read every day so you can 'make up for it'

You choose to take your child out of school to have a holiday for whatever reason. You have therefore decided that going on holiday in that week is more important than being in school. That is your choice. Whether or not a school is prepared to authorise it is second to that really. I think everyone 'deserves' a holiday, its your reward for working hard all year. If the situation and circumstances mean this has to be in term time then that is the choice you have to make. Don't make school the bad guy in this.

Manchesterhistorygirl · 29/06/2013 15:10

The letter from our LEA said that holidays in term time account for 9% of absences from school. 9. Now I'm guessing that the other 91% is not all illness so why the hell are resources not being directed to the families that persistently truant?

sonlypuppyfat · 29/06/2013 15:12

Paperweight I'm glad I don't live in your world what a cold and lonely place that must be! Don't us poor people know our place. Why is it when I say to my DCs what have you done today and they say watched a DVD its OK for the school to pick and chose when they teach them but not me.Not all learning is done at school or didn't you realize that

OwlinaTree · 29/06/2013 15:14

why would the other 91% not be illness, drs appointment, special cirmustances (family wedding or funeral) or religious observance?

pixiegumboot · 29/06/2013 15:16

This really winds me up. These children are OUR children! they do not belong to the govt or the school.

Only this week I had my sons new headteacher 'encouraging ' all the new reception kids to have school dinners because 'Choc & crisps inevitably find their way into packed lunch boxes!!!' Cheeky cow.

Why all of a sudden are parents not able to make decisions in the best interests of their children once they start school? if education was really that important then teachers wouldn't go on strike, be ill, use supply staff. (I used to be a teacher...)

bloody ridiculous and its time people started making a stand.

sonlypuppyfat · 29/06/2013 15:20

Exactly pixie is this some Eastern Block country where children belong to the state THEY are our children perhaps the ones in charge of us should take more of an interest in the poor kids who don't do anything not us who try to give our kids a holiday

Elquota · 29/06/2013 15:20

A holiday is a luxury. We're not having one this year as we can't afford it, much as we'd love to and could do with the break as much as anyone else. And no, personally I wouldn't do a term-time holiday.

OwlinaTree · 29/06/2013 15:22

pixiegumboot how can anyone not be ill? ffs!

As i have said it is your decision to take your child out of school, whether that be because they are ill, or because you want to go on holiday. You make the decision, why should that be validated by the school? You decide that in that week a holiday is a more important experience than a week at school, for whatever reasons.

OwlinaTree · 29/06/2013 15:24

Its not about the government controlling, its about trying to give children a chance at a future. If you say 'turn up if you feel like it', you are not ensuring equality for children are you?

OwlinaTree · 29/06/2013 15:29

Eiquota yes a holiday is a luxury, but the price range is so varied. Camping etc is a pretty cheap option, but i must admit i wouldn't want that every time!

I'm sorry you are not able to go away this year, i do hope you manage to have some fun times during the school holidays to make up for no holiday.

PrettyPaperweight · 29/06/2013 15:34

This really winds me up. These children are OUR children! they do not belong to the govt or the school.

But you are choosing to accept the conditions of the education the state provides - and there isn't an option to pick and choose which bits of the provision you accept and which you don't!
If you opt into the system, you are accepting that the service is delivered in a particular way - times of day, weeks in the year, penalties for non attendance.
School isn't compulsory - you can always home educate!

pixiegumboot · 29/06/2013 15:35

oh for goodness sake, it's not turn up if you feel like it!

it's about a school deciding what is educational. and what is not. children go to school at 4.5 here, in other countries not till 5. and in others not till 7. some countries finish at 2pm, some 3pm and some later. are you honestly telling me that those children who get less time at school are under educated? I sincerely doubt they are.

being away with family is just as important as being in school, even more so in some households where both parents work!

the attitude that your child is going to fail at school because they had a few days off on holiday is just bollocks (I should add that I feel differently about exam years)

and yes, if you are a teacher and you're ill, IF your school expects parents to bring ill children to school for their precious attendance stats then you should move heaven and earth to get yourself in too.

OwlinaTree · 29/06/2013 15:41

pixie but no school expects ill children to attend, your argument about this is ridiculous.

I agree that a child isn't going to fail because they miss a few days to go on holiday any more than they would fail because they miss a few days for illness. See above for my comments regarding the importance of a holiday.

I don't know why people are persisting in seeing school as the enemy to their rights.