To be confused re school holidays as children at our school seem to be still taking them in term time

[Retropear]

which I don't have a problem with as such.

However I've just paid premium price booking a holiday in the summer holiday with the understanding we 'd get a huge fine if it was taken in the term time.

I'd have booked it in the term if I'd known it was ok to do this.

Confused.

The wording of either "special" or "exceptional" circumstances (which boil down to the same thing) has been around since 1996.

All that was removed was the explicit reference to "a family holiday" (which was in there as a possible example, not a right).

Actually meditrina if you look at the MP debate yesterday there is quite some discussion about the difference in meaning between special and exceptional and they felt they weren't the same thing and this is what had caused the problem in part. have to say I certainly see exceptional as quite a big step beyond special and clearly some h/t do too.

I don't see it as different, nor did everyone in the discussion.

It's not really the key thing though. HTs have discretion, and good HTs are exercising it well and the NAHT has spoken publicly in support.

I do agree that if you have a weak HT, then things can rapidly become difficult in a school - whether on this or in poor exercise of any other of their responsibilities.

Of course holidays in term time arent the problem. The real problems are the myriad complex social problems which mean that individual children miss every Friday or whatever.

Fining term-time holiday-makers is just a headline grabbing gimmick.

And just a small side comment - many people work beyond their contracted hours. I normally work 55-60 hours per week. My contracted hours are 40 and no, I dont get paid for the over-time.

worrysigh. it isn't just a head line grabbing gimmick. it is causing real worry and upset to some parents like those needing to go to funerals and getting crappy photocopied standard letters telling them to plan their absence better. it is making parents make their children lie and say they are sick. it is losing trust between teachers and parents. if it was just a harmless gimmick no problem but it isn't it is incredibly destructive imo.

Right just went in and asked.

Apparently they are going down as unauthorised but the head is choosing not to fine "at the moment". That may change though.

So that's clear then.

bearing in mind most schools do fuck in the week all prior to most holidays. I work in a school.

Sorry, this post me enough for me to forget the poster's name!
I do not know where you are working but at my Dcs' school, where I do incidentally also work, the only afternoon before a holiday where we do not work is the one before Christmas due to parties. If that is really how it happens where you work, that is really very sad.

mummymeister, I never said it was harmless! I believe that it is a gimmick intended as a distraction. 'Look, we are keeping all those kids in school'. It isn't helping in the slightest where there are genuine problems. In many ways for some children school attendance is a symptom of a more fundamental problem of a chaotic home life.

People simply don't see it from a child's point of view. The end of terms is a very social time and not nice to miss out.

unless your child is miserable at school & has no friends there, of course.

Tamer I showed your post to my 3 kids. they did not agree. they are bored with the same videos particularly in junior where the choice was limited and they had to be U rated. unless you are sporty the end of the summer is a nightmare. Christmas you have to be musical to enjoy. Retropear - so does this mean if the LEA or Ofsted come calling they will fine. what a stupid answer.

You can't expect all children to feel the same or all schools to show films etc. I will amend to a lot of children really enjoy end of terms.

You have to be musical to enjoy Christmas?

Perhaps home ed is a better option for some...

What about ski trips in school time, school camps, field trips, theatre visits, museum visits etc etc in school time surely these/will impact on the childs lessons in the same way as time taken for a holiday or break in school time? and of course rehersals for the Christmas play, Gilbert and Sullivan society performances as mentioned earlier

Please please please don't lie about holiday absence by saying your child was sick. When the kids come back from 2 weeks off due to illness with a suntan, the school is entitled to ask for medical evidence. If absence continues at a different time due to genuine illness, the school can refer to the school doctor and the parent just ends up looking stupid.

Our school only has a week off at easter so to make it up they have two weeks off at half term just gone I always try and take advantage of this and have just come back from a weeks holiday at butlins yesterday!

The policy is you MAY be fined. I have not known anyone in our LA to be fined.

Gorio it may be sad but it's the norm