To think children shouldn't be taken out of school for holidays?

[MidiMitch]

Just that really. An article today says four million school days a year are being lost by parents removing children for holidays. I am a teacher so probably rather biased on this but I think it's dreadful that children are taken out of school because of a cheap holiday. I definitely think that more needs to be done to stop the hiking up of prices in holiday time but I don't think the answer is to disrupt a child's education.

NewYear I expect people are ignoring your comment because it’s clearly ridiculous, but: How many school days are lost with teachers incessantly on strike?
I’ve been a teacher for almost 30 years and I’ve been on strike I think 3 days in all that time (and if I’m asked to strike by my union, I strike). Could be a couple more. Let’s be really generous and say 2 weeks. In 28 years. Bit different from all child taking a week or two every year, don’t you think? I also don’t think it can be classed as ‘incessant’.
Even if there were lots of strike days, can’t you see the difference between one child missing a lesson everyone else has and needing to be caught up, and nobody having the lesson because the teacher is not there so the teacher reschedules all work for everyone to cover the curriculum in the time set?

I'd be reluctant to take DS out of school in term time, but would consider it in primary school - I did take him out of nursery for a week (not compulsory, so I know it's different) because my in laws booked a holiday during half term, unfortunately our half term dates are different. As we don't see DHs side of the family that often I felt it was important for DS to have that time with them, especially as some of his aunts, uncles and cousins were going as well.

If the same thing happened now he's in reception or in the next couple of years I'd consider taking him again.

I'm confused, so to pps who have taken their children out of school in term time, how have you done this - does it need to be "authorised"? Do you have to lie about it? Is there a fine if you are found out? I can't work out how this rule is being enforced, it sounds like lots of people are doing it anyway. My children are in foundation Year, so I am still ignorant about these things...

Munchey since the OP is a teacher she wouldn’t have the opportunity to think otherwise. She can only go in holidays.

I think that a blanket ban isn't good, but that it should reflect the progress the child is making.

A child who's well above their target going away for a week in march? Fine.

A child who's really struggling going away for three weeks in may? An absolute disaster.

Also re the teachers having to mark extra work if kids are away. It literally never occurred to my parents or myself to expect this. When I missed school I just asked what was covered while I was away and then went over the chapters in the text books on the way back. tbh even at A level I had one teacher who just used to get us to read one chapter and answer the questions at the end for homework every lesson, so it was pretty simple to catch up lower down the school.

My son is 7 has good attendance but has had sone time off unauthorised when my other son was born, and some when we went away for a few days when his great grandmother was unwell. Both times I felt him being with us was more important. I also believe that there are learning opportunities everywhere in life not just at school. I also believe it is none of my business what other parents choose to do with their children

I don't take my children out of schools for holidays although I know lots of people who routinely do.
For me personally it's a combination of not wanting them to miss any learning (one of my children is dyslexic and struggles to keep up anyway with good attendance). Also I think it doesn't set a good example about commitment and expectations. The message of you are supposed to be doing this but we're not going to do what we are supposed to because we want to go on a cheaper holiday instead, to me isn't a good one.
I do wish holidays were more spread out though and different for different areas to stop the mad rush and price hikes for the holiday periods.

To be honest ds is in y6 and feel that all they are being taught this year is how to pass sats. I am taking him out for 3 days after half term as wouldn't be able to afford the holiday otherwise.

I don't agree with taking children out of school just for "cheap" holidays, if you can't afford it then save up and go every other year and do a cheap (UK?) trip in between.

But I do think there are circumstances where it is ok - some people work in industries where they don't get to choose when they take their leave, if the dates dictated by their employer/industry don't coincide with school holidays then those families have no choice.

I also think there are arguments for taking them out to do things which are educational/cultural but which don't take place during school holidays.

YANBU, the local authorities should make the fines much more so that nothing is saved by going in term time to stop all those that do it.

It sends a message to the child that school and education isn't important and can be ditched whenever something more fun comes along. Some parents even get their children to lie and say they were sick so then are likely to go on to do that when in employment as they won't see anything wrong with it as it was parent taught.

There are thirteen weeks holiday in a school year and 39 weekends on top of that so it's not like they don't have any time off school to do things.

So many using excuses such as needing family time (because it only counts as family time if on holiday) or that travel broadens the mind (two weeks in Disney or being placed in children's clubs so mum and dad can relax is apparently a wonderful educational experience).

How many school days are lost with teachers incessantly on strike?

To be fair I've only been on strike for one day in 21 years.

I couldn't afford to take my son on holiday during the mass price hike on the holidays. I take him in the school term, because fun and memories are important too. Learning is still happening with different cultures. If doesn't have to be in a classroom.

Lots of assumptions there yellow

just don't think missing school did any harm. I don't have pushy parents but I was academic and diligent when I was there and happy to catch up by myself as most things were taught from text books and I went over the chapters myself

well thats great for you, but how many actual people who miss school do that well later on? obviously a very high proportion of MNers, but outside this group? i think its the minority

I sympathised with the teachers strike, and of course it isn’t ‘incessant’ or akin to annual holidays, but nonetheless it does somewhat put some schools’ pearl clutching about a child missing a day for a family wedding into context.

We're taking our two primary aged children out of school for the first (and only time) this year for a week preceding May half term. It's the best time for us to take them on a 2 week long haul holiday with regards to weather and crowds. I priced up August and it was similar pricing but it's too blinkin hot!

Dd has had 100% attendance for the last 3 years and ds was 100% for his first year, they are both bright and doing well so don't think it will have a negative effect. They won't be missing SATs, not that I particularly agree with them anyway. I can't see why it would affect the teachers either to be honest. I realise that if everyone done it, it would be difficult for a school to manage but they don't in reality so I'll only concern myself with my own children.

I hate the middle class smug snobbery that says trekking in Nepal is fine but not a Spanish package holiday.

To visit an elderly relative who lives a long way away, or someone who is near the end of life, seems reasonable to me. A week's holiday such as that which the dad who went to the High Court over is not in my opinion.

I am not sure that fines are always the answer though. Allocating secondary school places with preference for those who have not taken time off for holidays I think would work better, as long as genuine sickness is not taken into account. If parents are prepared to 'rediscover' their faith to get a good school place, I am sure they would forego holidays in term time for a few years.

yellow You donunderstand that some of us work during the school holidays? Are us and our kids just never to have a holiday until they have all left school and uni then?

I'm confused, so to pps who have taken their children out of school in term time, how have you done this - does it need to be "authorised"? Do you have to lie about it? Is there a fine if you are found out? I can't work out how this rule is being enforced, it sounds like lots of people are doing it anyway. My children are in foundation Year, so I am still ignorant about these things...

I've never done it, but there are a few options.

In our school parents tend to tell the headmaster, (Usually in writing) that they are off to xxx on these dates. He says 'great, enjoy, you do realise it'll be unauthorised?', parents say 'of course'.
If they are off long enough, parents have factored in the fine to cost of the holiday, and just pay it.

Or they pretend the child is sick and lie.

Or they see if they can get it authorised (funeral, wedding, education off site etc) and if the can't, go anyway and pay fine if necessary.

No snobbery here.

Our LEA in wales authorises up to 10 days a year as long as your attendance over the previous 12 months is over target (think it’s 96%)

We took them out of school (primary) last June for 3 days as it was cheaper to fly midweek to midweek than on the weekend and if we had stuck to the half term we wouldn’t have been able to afford to go - it was over £1k difference so holiday that cost us £700 for 5 people would have cost £1700+