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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to take my dc for a week holiday during school time ?

45 replies

mrsfuzzy · 05/09/2013 12:13

i have a big family and can only take them to the seaside near us for a week each year, they are teens in school and college but it is something we all look forward to as a family as we are very close, even the 20yr ol tags along with his girlfriend! under the new rules, [i think this correct schools won't be allowed to authorise holidays during term time, fair enough] i can understand the not missing exams bit, but as dh and i can only work part time it is difficult to finance other arrangements. how do other parents manage ?

OP posts:
ButteryJam · 05/09/2013 12:15

How old are your DC?

Original poster
mrsfuzzy · 05/09/2013 12:22

11, 13, 15,17, 18 and 20 three live in digs for college so we can't meet up as much as we like because they aren't local, this a family thing we have always done together, boy/girl friends join us too, it's great fun, we're a bit like the 'waltons' when we're all together!

OP posts:
AndThatsWhatIThinkOfYou · 05/09/2013 12:23

a week is hardly going to be detrimental in their lifetime. I would.

Bowlersarm · 05/09/2013 12:26

I don't take mine out of school but....

Are you 15 and 17 year olds taking exams next summer, and if they are do they get any time off immediately after those? Then you only need to worry about the 11 and 13 year olds.

5madthings · 05/09/2013 12:28

We are going away on the 14th sept for a week Shock

Mine are 14, 11, 8, 5 and little one is 2.

We have a letter from dps employer as he couldn't get any leave during school holidays so that was 'exceptional circumstances'.

Our primary school has always been OK at authorizing time off, high schools not so much!

This will turn into a big row BTW, it's a subject some feel strongly about!

Original poster
mrsfuzzy · 05/09/2013 12:38

bowler, exams are always taken into consideration so we avoid those times, will other parents take their dc out of school regardless of the new rules?

OP posts:
Rufus43 · 05/09/2013 12:56

Not something I would usually do with a child in senior school (or around sats)

However

I took ds out of school last nov for 3 days when he was in year 9. And I will be taking my (what will be year 7 and year 8 ) children out in Oct 2014 for a week

Bowlersarm · 05/09/2013 13:02

OP, I don't think you understood what I was trying to say!

Original poster
mrsfuzzy · 05/09/2013 13:16

bowler can you help me understand please i'd like to hear your view.

OP posts:
HeySoulSister · 05/09/2013 13:20

But I also have a big family.... But I wouldn't do this. A 'big family' is NO excuse. We all have to live by the new ruling

nurseneedshelp · 05/09/2013 13:26

I've been issued with a £60 fine per child for taking mine out for t home e week in June, doubles if not paid within 28 days!

I'm appealing and my employer has written a letter explaining that annual leave is difficult to take durin the holidays but we'll see! Don hold out mych hop.

My biggest gripe is the fact tha the traveller children go off for weweeks at a time and don't get fine?

I understand the cultural thing but it cant be separate rules!

nurseneedshelp · 05/09/2013 13:27

Blimey sorry for the typos!

mummymeister · 05/09/2013 13:28

just been onto the short haul holidays threads. the unexpected (being kind to the govt about this) consequence is this. because kids are no longer being taken out of school and have to go in school hols this will massively increase the number of people looking to go away during school hols. therefore holiday companies are going to increase their prices both because they can and because they need to cover any shortfall due to less people going away with families in say June. I wonder how places like centreparcs are going to deal with this? will be watching with interest.

ilovesooty · 05/09/2013 13:30

I don't think this represents reasonable grounds for term time holiday either.

Anyone would think from some of the posts on various threads that headteachers are enjoying wielding some kind of power. This is all about government expectations, targets and Ofsted. Heads know that attendance is one of many factors influencing Ofsted grading and that they at any time are one poor Ofsted away from career over.

You can hardly expect them to be keen to make exceptions.

Bowlersarm · 05/09/2013 13:30

I'll have a go....! Immediately after GCSE and A levels there is a short period of time that pupils have off. (My DS did after GCSE at his school so i assume that applies to all schools?) before the end of the summer term.

I was just thinking that if that applies to two of your children, given that they are 15 and 17, that's two you don't need permission for, just the 11 and 13 year olds.

Therefore there may be a window for you to go away in June, with the minimum of disruption. (You would still have to negotiate getting the 11 and 13 years a week off school in my plan, though)

Is that clearer, or have I just made it sound more muddled?!!

It may not be possible anyway as the exam timetables might clash for some of your children so they won't all be exam free at the same time, but might be worth exploring.

Other than that I can't think of a way, but hopefully someone else has more experience of doing this than me, and will help you with ideas.

ivykaty44 · 05/09/2013 13:32

As far as I am aware your dc doesn't have to go to school as long as you provide home school.

Can you take the d out of school to home school and then you can go on holiday when you like.

You can apply to put your dc back into school if you wish - but you my not get a place at a school you like, it will be possibly more difficult depending on how many schools places their are etc.

Beastofburden · 05/09/2013 13:32

I think Bowler means that your 15 and 17 year olds will be free anyway to go on holiday next summer, as they will have done their exams and be on post exam leave, so that wont be an issue. if thats true you only need to think - can we get the younger ones off school?

Taking the little ones out of school- well there are worse things you could do, but I'm not convinced you necessarily need to go there.

I am sure an annual reunion for the whole family is really important. As the older ones get more into their courses/ jobs you might find that term time becomes quite difficult for them as well. If you want to start a tradition that everyone can afford, it may not be likely that all your kids will take their kids out of school in term/ be able to get time off their jobs and courses in term as they get older.

I wonder if the format might need to change a bit as their lives get more complex too? I can understand the money side, and not just for you, as their big siblings are going to be broke as well as they are young, and also need to afford their own separate holiday I am guessing. You dont want the family holiday to be so expensive that the older ones have to prioritise other things and not come.

My friend with six kids and a huge extended family used to have a load of terrible manky caravans all parked up in a circle for their big family jamboree. Perhaps a bit of creative thinking might solve the immediate problem and give you a more sustainable solution for the next five years?

Beastofburden · 05/09/2013 13:34

sorry bowler, xposted with you!

valiumredhead · 05/09/2013 13:34

Just do it. It will probably go down as unauthorised but so what? Family holidays are importantSmile

Original poster
mrsfuzzy · 05/09/2013 13:35

one rule for one, nurse. heysoulsister, yes i understand the new ruling but the point is that as my husband and i can only work part time due to ill health over the last couple of years we are very restricted for holiday costs. i'm not looking for a fight but i'm merely asking other posters what they are likely to do under the new rules, it's good that you are able to deal with these matters, perhaps you are in a better financial situation than me, as i say no offence intended.

OP posts:
Morgause · 05/09/2013 13:38

I wouldn't do it without permission unless you are sure you can afford the fine.

Bowlersarm · 05/09/2013 13:39

beast you put it much more succinctly!

Original poster
mrsfuzzy · 05/09/2013 13:39

thanks for clarifying bowler, makes a lot of sense what you are saying, going to rethink the situation from different view points but will speak to school first about it regarding the younger two dc.

OP posts:
mummymeister · 05/09/2013 13:53

agree that you have to speak to the schools. I can understand where you are coming from ilovesooty and would have felt better about the new ruling if there hadn't been exemptions. but when you start saying that there is an exemption on religious grounds it starts to put peoples backs up. could I change my religion to Jedi and say that I have to attend a festival in wherever every year? it also means that yet again those that can afford the fines will just pay up and go. those that don't give a monkeys about their childs school attendance will still just take them out anyway. yet again, those with least money and who try to do the right thing will be the losers. why cant commonsense break out? 95% attendance can still be achieved and holidays be taken.

AnyFucker · 05/09/2013 17:54

would somebody mind clarifying what the fines are, and whether it is statutory for every school to enforce them

cheers