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AIBU?

AIBU to be ok with term time holidays?

57 replies

MoonStar07 · 31/08/2016 17:31

Have a child starting reception I know that until age 5 you can take child out of school?! Number of mum's even with older kids will have a term time holiday this year...I'm kind of ok with this? I don't know: it's probably quite a debate. What are teachers thoughts? When is best time (if any) to take a week off?

OP posts:

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Totallyspies17 · 31/08/2016 19:34

Although I probably wouldn't do it in secondary school

Totallyspies17 · 31/08/2016 19:34

I've done it a couple of times but my kids' school is private and we don't get fined- the school are OK about it as long as it doesn't clash with tests etc. I don't think it's done my kids any harm at all!

malvinandhobbes · 31/08/2016 19:31

It is primary school. We took a full summer term off one year for a sabbatical, did not keep us with work or home school at all. We were abroad and did a lot of exploring. The children suffered no ill effects all. Their test scores stayed on track and they never struggled with missed content. This was year 5 and 3. I am 100% sure they learned more living abroad and travelling than they would have that summer term in school. (DD1 did have to read a book on the Tudors to catch up content.)

Now they are in secondary and struggle even when they miss due to illness. Primary has some wiggle room.

TeenAndTween · 31/08/2016 19:29

The worst times in primary are:

September (settling in to new school year)
December (messing up nativity shows etc)
May/June, depending on year group (phonics tests, SATs)

Secondary I think any time is rubbish really unless you have a bright child who can pick things up very quickly and won't mind doing double homework when they get back.

Gmbk · 31/08/2016 19:28

Goblin have you seen the teachers on the thread disagreeing with you?

MoonStar07 · 31/08/2016 19:28

I don't know if I will not sure DH agrees need to sell him the idea

OP posts:

Bodicea · 31/08/2016 19:28

Is it the term after they turn 5 you can't take them out? So if they turn 5 in November but want to take them out in December is that allowed? I really want to take them to lap land that year and preferably not in the school hols due to the cost.

To throw my two Penneth in,
I was taken out of school loads as a kid and I fact missed first term altogether as I was a July baby and my parents were moving to a new area so didn't bother with first term in old area. I don't think it did me much harm. Depends on the personality of the kid I suppose. I was quite confident which helped.

flirtygirl · 31/08/2016 19:26

I take my kids on holiday cheaply all year round but then i home ed.

When my eldest dd was at school i took her out for holidays and they were educational, it doesnt affect childten when aged 4-10 at all or any age if not missing exams or crucial work, they gain from the experience but the govt would have us all think otherrwise.

Toocold · 31/08/2016 19:20

What about when people take thier children out for cultural or religious reasons, such as Eid? Are people bothered by that, as it is often in term time. Family time is just as important as education to my mind, regardless of where it is spend. I am so sick and tired of being preached to by a government, I think it should maybe depend on general school attendance overall.

anyoldname76 · 31/08/2016 19:19

i dont take my dc out of school, i dont see the need when there are so many beautiful places and good value holidays in this country, weve recently got back from a long weekend in Scotland which cost the grand sum of £84, you just need to shop around.

GoblinLittleOwl · 31/08/2016 19:19

Teachers KNOW that missing a week out of school means missing a week of a very crowded curriculum which cannot be replaced. Whatever age.

Sara107 · 31/08/2016 19:15

I'm sort of on the fence over this, but the school days are longer and the holidays shorter here than anywhere else in Europe. But English students do not top any of the international education league tables, So time in school does not correlate to good results necessarily. Child might be more upset at missing something than you expect though,I took dD out for a family bereavement and 6 months later she is still upset about missing Victorian day! It has achieved mythic status in her mind.

mummymeister · 31/08/2016 19:14

I wasn't saying you shouldn't do it. I was just making you aware of the situation regarding fines. if your child is under 5 then of course fines don't apply. but if they aren't and your school is one that takes a tough line or your LEA takes a tough line then you need to factor in the fines.

that was my only point.

FWIW I have taken out my DC as authorised absence in term time due to my job. I don't have a problem with it personally.

you are going to do it anyway OP so why ask?

ample · 31/08/2016 19:13

Agree with RawPrawn, while I haven't heard via parents of any teacher having issue with term holiday absences, it tends to be the same families who take children away during school time. And classes are much more pleasant when they are away. DD notices this too

RawPrawn · 31/08/2016 19:03

I never met a teacher who gave a shit about this. It's politics, not education. Certainly when I was teaching I perked right up when I learned certain kids were off on holiday - because they tended to be kids whose parents didn't value education, so lessons were much more pleasant without them there. Shame for the kids, but as so many point out, they 'learn much more' having two weeks in dizznee .

MuffyTheUmpireSlayer · 31/08/2016 19:02

I've taken DD out of school for a week holiday and would do it again in a heartbeat. You don't only learn in school - and I say that as a teacher!

Toocold · 31/08/2016 19:00

And what difference does it make if the holiday is abroad or in the UK?! Why can't the canaries be an education?!

Toocold · 31/08/2016 18:59

In some countries women aren't allowed to drive, does that mean that every woman in this country must drive? In some countries abortion is illegal, should every woman in this country be denied that right, in some countries women are not paid the same as men, should we still strive for that here, I could go on and on, it's a week for a child that is currently four years old, they'll be playing in reception mostly, it's not like they'll be missing their GCSEs, one week is not going to have an impact on their education. I'd go for it personally just not at assessment or exam time. Life is too short to worry about one week.

Wolfiefan · 31/08/2016 18:59

You sound like you've decided already.
I took my eldest out once. I was on maternity leave and my husband couldn't get any time off in holiday time. We didn't go abroad.

OwlinaTree · 31/08/2016 18:57

Be aware they may be practising for nativity play type things last weeks of Nov. Maybe beginning of Nov/end Jan might be easier?

ample · 31/08/2016 18:56

I hear lots take out for skiing
Yes they do. And for Disney/Florida, Europe you name it.
Personally I wouldn't (and haven't). School holidays are for holidays, expensive as they may be. There are plenty of weeks available during the year without having to disrupt schooling.

Not all schools charge a fine. My primary doesn't and I was told it is up to the discretion of the headteacher.
Our local secondary do fine and 'holiday' permission is not granted. End of.

NickiFury · 31/08/2016 18:53

Do you know that in some countries, girls are denied an education.

Do you know in this country many children with additional needs are denied school places and/or forced into home ed because the local authority cannot will not pay for a suitable place for them? Highly intelligent children who simply cannot function in main stream environments.

Funny how no one cares about those kids isn't it? Attendance and outcomes seem irrelevant to those children.

I find the hypocrisy and earnest entreaties not to wreck your child's future with regards to term time holidays sickening to be honest when the above is so prevalent and when the rules do not apply to private schools.

It's fine OP, one week abroad as a family during term time is fine. MNetters catastrophize it for some reason and on a site that questions pretty much everything I really don't understand why they unquestioningly swallow this particular unfair piece of legislation tbh. But there we go.

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thepenguinsrock · 31/08/2016 18:53

I think parents that do it get judged as crap parents.
I'd save and pay for a holiday in half term.

Trifleorbust · 31/08/2016 18:52

Another teacher here: I can't see it making a big difference to her education at that age. Crucial periods like Y6 and Y10/11 are different. In my opinion, you should still be allowed to take them out, but you should have to sign a letter saying you are happy for your child's results to be discounted from school figures because you accept that your choice to remove them from school may have a detrimental effect.

Gmbk · 31/08/2016 18:50

As a teacher it makes bugger all difference if your child misses a week. Really it doesn't.

The thing that has the biggest effect is persistent days off. Eg every Friday off has far more impact than 5 consecutive days.

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