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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:
englishteacher78 · 29/06/2013 17:43

Pixie you are missing the point we are making. Firstly, not all teachers in all schools strike (my school has always managed to stay open and functional), but also whilst you can feel free to disagree with striking teachers (obviously), they are not the ones saying you can't have permission to go on holiday, they are also not 'given permission' to strike. It is therefore not do as I say...
Both parties are actually objecting to what people a lot higher up are saying.

pixiegumboot · 29/06/2013 17:43

education is not just about school. its about being a well rounded well informed tolerant person. its about being with different people, learning how to socialise, learning how to budget, learning how to deal with a fall out and repair a relationship, learning how to act in different settings etc. all of which can be better learned with family, on a holiday. not exclusively but you get my drift. going now kids home x

TheDoctrineOfAllan · 29/06/2013 17:46

If a teacher is sick, the educational service is still provided via a supply teacher or the HT teaching or whatever. It's not comparable.

OwlinaTree · 29/06/2013 17:48

Bye pixie it's been fun. I'm sorry you felt you had to leave teaching, hope you are doing something you enjoy now.

I agree with some of your final post, however alongside that runs the reality that school offers the best life chance for many children who are not in a supportive family.

olivo · 29/06/2013 17:51

Have read lots of this thread but not all. I am a teacher and holiday during term time are a particular bug bear of mine. fair enough for a once in a lifetime, a wedding or something else really special, but when I am asked to give up my spare time to produce work for student to do while away ( that I rarely ever see again), to provide marks and levels for children who have missed tests due t oasis holidays, and to try to teach things that follow on for Mathis s they have missed, it is totally and utterly frustrating. I know not from where the statistics come, but when we were doing a drive to boost attendance,we were told that 15 days off equals one grade lower for GCSE.

OwlinaTree · 29/06/2013 17:52

I never set work for children to take on holiday, i refuse to. If they want them to do school work, keep them in school. If you are on holiday, enjoy the holiday!!

olivo · 29/06/2013 17:58

Owlina, I rarely do. One of my subjects is very practical so it is impossible anyway. I just object to the fact parents think they are being responsible by asking, when they're not!

soverylucky · 29/06/2013 18:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

noblegiraffe · 29/06/2013 18:10

OP, have you only looked at Haven holidays booking through Haven themselves?

It's much cheaper to book a privately owned caravan on the Haven site and buy Haven passes for entry to the swimming pool etc. If you look on the Internet there are booking sites for the private caravans, and IMO they are nicer than the Haven ones because somebody owns it and they have proper furniture.

toobreathless · 29/06/2013 18:29

My annual leave is allocated, not that unusual in my profession. So we will be going in term time if that is when I am allocated leave & we will do so every year until I am senior enough to choose my own leave. There is no way I am spending my leave by myself rather than with my children when I work fulltime.

Ironically I could afford to go in school holidays, cost isn't an issue so the fine wouldn't be a deterrent.

YAnBU. Go and have a lovely time :)

OwlinaTree · 29/06/2013 18:49

I think toobreathless that ought to count as exceptional circumstances. I hope so anyway!

juule · 29/06/2013 19:08

For anyone interested:

e-petition to reverse the changes to school term time family holiday rules

ilovesooty · 29/06/2013 19:23

whilst we're on the subject why aren't training days held during the holidays

You used to be a teacher and you don't realise that training days were taken out of teachers' holidays in the first place?

SuburbanRhonda · 29/06/2013 19:26

I wouldn't take them out if they were my DCs.

But if you do, be honest. Don't make your children lie to their friends when they get back. And what would your lie be? That they were both ill for exactly a week and both got better at exactly the same time?

If your DCs benefit from a free state education, you have an obligation to stick to their rules. But if you are in a position to home-school and you would prefer to do that in order to go on holiday when you want, go for it.

Feminine · 29/06/2013 19:31

I never have and never will take mine out for a holiday during term time.

We are blessed in this country to a free education, I don't want to waste it. Nor make extra work for the headteacher/school.

I am [shocked] that any of you would tell the school your child was ill! how can you live with yourselves with a lie like that?

TheDoctrineOfAllan · 29/06/2013 19:32

I don't understand the argument upthread that only 9% of absences are for unauthorised holiday so concentrate on the rest - surely that shows most people take the policy fairly seriously, not that the policy shouldn't be enforced (which would presumably increase the % from 9% as well as the overall number of absences)

Sparklysilversequins · 29/06/2013 19:44

"How can you live with yourselves with a lie like that?"

Get A Grip.

Feminine · 29/06/2013 19:52

sparkly I don't need to, thanks though.

I tell the truth.

I'm genuinely shocked that a parent would lie like that for a sodding holiday

Sparklysilversequins · 29/06/2013 20:34

You don't tell "The Truth". You give your opinion. Your "how can you live with yourself?" response to what is essentially an individual parenting choice like any other is overwrought and makes me think you must have led a very sheltered life.

Feminine · 29/06/2013 20:37

Sheltered? the very fact I'd never lie about an illness indicates I haven't!

Sparklysilversequins · 29/06/2013 20:44

The fact that you don't know how people can live with themselves if they do it is what I am referring to. No one says you have to lie. I don't, I just tell school what I am doing and take dd out. But I can see why people might and I don't see it as a can l with myself? type of parenting choice. To call it that is ridiculous IMO.

LaQueen · 29/06/2013 20:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gordyslovesheep · 29/06/2013 20:49

it is a rather OTT response Grin

Feminine · 29/06/2013 20:49

I don't really know what you are talking about?

I don't lie to the school, I don't lie at all.

If a parent tells the school her children are sick, and then takes them to the south of France for 2 weeks , then I can't see how they can live like that? they lied.

if it is for any other legitimate reason , they tell the school that...then they haven't lied! ...right? Confused

It is always wrong to use illness as a way out of something.

The truth is always best.

LaQueen · 29/06/2013 20:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.