In being annoyed with the schools holiday poicy?

[crazylazydaisy]

Must admit i dont know the law re this and only have word of mouth BUT I thought by law we could take children out for hols for up to 10 days a year. My request to school for 4 days has been denied, and DD will be put down as unauthorised absence. Have ds with disability which means its better to go away in school time as its quieter for him. Have explained this in 2nd letter to head, but no response to this.

[crazylazydaisy]

SMBKnocker, for the first time she really loves school so her attendance is very high, not sure what but at least 95-98% i would think. Its interesting that the link Blu gave said about cohension of the family as that was one reason i gave in my second letter to the head- that he hasnt replied to- as one reason for taking the time out. Little DS having been hospitalised twice and it being an awful year for all DCs, they need a bit of family time.

[Saggarmakersbottomknocker]

Sounds like he's considering his 'whole school picture' rather than your individual circumstances cld. Your reasons are precisely the same ones I took mine out for.

Hope you get it sorted.

[pointydog]

just go.

no one's that bothered

[crazylazydaisy]

Thanks pointydog. Will put that on the form.

[pussinslippers]

Watching this one with interest. We also have a son with SN. School have asked that one of us should accompany him on this year's residential visit (otherwise he can't go). OK, we said, if we can take our other two children with us and stay nearby -- but the Head is arguing with this as it affects overall absence rates!

[sleepysooz]

I think if your children like mine are never off school, very rarely sick, thank goodness (lucky) shouldn't have a problem getting a week off, we usually go on holiday the 1st week in July, and I know for certain most of the years hardest work is over, we can't afford holidays and we camp, so we can't get a cheaper holiday, anything more than £100 per week is too much for us, we don't drink don't smoke, don't go out for meals, we just don't have the money, but we will not let the children go without a holiday.

Infact my DS is in year 6 and their school trip this year is £200 so thats put paid to our planned summer holiday!

[sleepysooz]

£200 for 4 days, to our 8 day camping trip for £100

[bundle]

blu, lol @ "having a haircut" and "couldn't get up" as not being reasons to authorise absence on that website

[beckybrastraps]

One ofmy form brought in a note once saying he was absent as they had to buy new shoes...

It went down as parentally condoned truancy.

[Blandmum]

forty plus I teach right up to the last day.

If they have been very good on the last day they either made posters on one of the topics we have been studying or if they have been exceptionally good I show them a film all about paracites!

I simply don't have the curriculum time for a week of 'fun' lessons

[beckybrastraps]

I play biology pictionary on the last day - with key words from that term's topics. I love the reproduction term!

[Blandmum]

[off topic hijack]

becky....yesterday was very windy and all the kids went slightly bonkers.....as they do.

Even my sixthform were antsy, so for a plenary (we had just finished water transport in a plant.....yawn) we went outside and they drew root hair cells, casparian strip, vessel elemnts and traceids and the structure of the leaf.

They then pretended to be water molecules, did the aoplastic/symplastic route, showed how cohesion and adhesion work, the effect of root and hydrostatic pressure and transpiration. As it was windy they could all explain the effect on water potential!

It was fab, they had a great time and it was very memorable!

[end of hijack!]

[beckybrastraps]

Oh what a great lesson. I love getting them moving. I was notorious for it

You're making me all nostalgic

Apologies crazylazydaisy...back to holidays...

[Blandmum]

ohhhh we ought to write a kinesthetic science handbook!

make our fortunes

[crazylazydaisy]

No problem! Just wondering if the reason i didnt understand most of martianbishops post on the lesson was cos i took too many holidays whilst young

[beckybrastraps]

[mistressmiggins]

oh bu@@er!

I have booked to go on holiday with my family last week in June/first in July
Just realised this is actually 11 DAYS!!!!

my DS is in first year so I kinda thought for once that it would be ok

now Im worried as we've already booked & paid!!

better get writing my letter

[mistressmiggins]

lol mummyinfife

is it different where you live then?

[mistressmiggins]

surely age must have a relevance or how near to end of year?

my DS is in first year so while Im not saying he wont be learning anything, surely its not so important as when older

oh well - nothing I can do now

have written to headmaster a grovelly letter so hope it will be ok

[ironingqueen]

One of the problems with taking children out in school term time is that then you really need to not moan about spellings/reading books/homework, but sit back quietly for half a term afterwards. And in my experience, it really annoys teachers when you ask for extra work or reading books while you are away, and you lose a lot of goodwill.