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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

447 replies

MidiMitch · 17/02/2018 09:05

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.

OP posts:
worridmum · 17/02/2018 10:52

What would solve it would be fine children can go on term time holidays but no catch up time will be given by the teachers / TA parents would have to pay for tutoring or simply the child misses out and it will be the parents problem to solve rather that the teachers.

As currently catch up effects ALL the children because ether the teacher needs to go over some again so rest of class miss out on their time or the TA has to do it.

SuburbanRhonda · 17/02/2018 10:52

suburban Its exactly the response we get from our headmistress

In your previous post you said it was a “headmaster”.

Pengggwn · 17/02/2018 10:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 17/02/2018 10:54

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

My children are 19 and 14 and in all their school lives they have each missed ONE DAY due to teachers striking.

I have worked in schools now for 5 years and no teacher I’ve ever worked with have been on strike.

StylishMummy · 17/02/2018 10:56

YABVU - parents have the autonomy to decide what is best for their children! Travel and experiencing new and diverse cultures is enriching and educational. £4K in school holidays is £2k in term time. I'll be taking my kids out of school and wouldn't give a hoot.

southeastlondonmum · 17/02/2018 10:57

I am on the fence on this one. My DC are in a really low income school. Most of their classmates don't leave our part of London for the whole six week summer break. Recently one of them got to go on a short break in term time to Spain. It is probably her only holiday ever and I was glad she got the opportunity to go. We are removing the children for two (possibly 3 days depending on inset days ) in October for one once in a lifetime holiday. I have no guilt about it. I will be honest about where we are going but if I get fined so be it. Will be cheaper than the flights

Basecamp21 · 17/02/2018 11:00

When I took my children out of school for holidays I was fulfilling my obligations as a parent to give them a complete full time education appropriate to their age and abilities - which by law is my responsibility not the schools.

In addition to the lessons they learned from the actual travel they were learning about making decisions on how to maintain a work/life balance and how to have a healthy attitude towards authority and rules.

Valentinesfart · 17/02/2018 11:00

Because unless you are the head’s conjoined twin, you have no way of knowing what conversations he has with parents about unauthorised absence.

Our school says the exact same thing. I don't think they're any more relaxed about it but take a pragmatic approach that punishing parents who are going to do it anyway isn't how you create good relationships within the school. I know, because I spoke with the headmaster, the receptionist and other parents at various times.

Riverside2 · 17/02/2018 11:01

I'm really surprised people are fussed about this

it's so easy to catch up, especially at a younger age.

Valentinesfart · 17/02/2018 11:02

YABVU - parents have the autonomy to decide what is best for their children!

People frequently forget this. It's not abuse, it's parenting differently to the way the government has decided is best. The government which always gets it right Hmm

SuburbanRhonda · 17/02/2018 11:02

In addition to the lessons they learned from the actual travel they were learning about making decisions on how to maintain a work/life balance and how to have a healthy attitude towards authority and rules.

That does sound quite a boring holiday tbf Grin

SinisterBumFacedCat · 17/02/2018 11:06

What would solve it would be fine children can go on term time holidays but no catch up time will be given by the teachers / TA parents would have to pay for tutoring or simply the child misses out and it will be the parents problem to solve rather that the teachers.

I was at school in the 80's, passed age 6 there were no TA's. Teachers never acknowledged in class that I had been off for the previous week. This didn't effect my educational in the long run.

MelanieSmooter · 17/02/2018 11:09

I actually do not care what the teachers think about us choosing to take our kids away for 4/5 days at primary age. Honestly there are just no fucks to give about it. They’re my kids, it’s my choice, they won’t die/suffer because they miss a few days. They’ve missed more for illness but that’s acceptable. Hmm

Beetle76 · 17/02/2018 11:11

There are many valid reasons for a child to skip school. Going on a family holiday is not one of them. By doing this, you are undermining the value of a formal education in your child’s mind. You are saying that “fun times” are more important than school. I find the attitude of parents who do this incredibly disrespectful. They never seem to think of the money that has been spent in providing this education that is simply wasted if the child is not present. Just because (state) education is free, does not mean there is no cost! Makes me incredibly angry that tax payers essentially fund these CFs while they are off “making memories”.

Groovee · 17/02/2018 11:13

I took my children out on the last day of term once as we save £800 to go that day. They only had a half day to miss and the school were doing fun things.

I did take them out of school for a day and a half in December as it was my 40th. Dd only missed 2 classes on those days and Ds missed core classes rather than subject ones.

I do know of parents who often book the wrong week and it's happened every year. Ironically their eldest is really struggling at the moment and they cannot understand why.

lljkk · 17/02/2018 11:14

I sometimes take my kids in term time to see family in California.

When my California cousins take Their kids out of school, the school authorises it and gives the kids a pile of work to do. This is ordinary.

phoenixtherabbit · 17/02/2018 11:16

beetle what is the cost of say 1 week of school for one primary age child then?

Nicknacky · 17/02/2018 11:16

suburban I get the feeling you are trying to "catch me out" but it was another poster who made that comment and used the term headmaster. I agreed as it is a female head at our school.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 17/02/2018 11:17

Penggwyn I was pointing out that it has been mooted over time. I know it’s impractical for everyone, but there have definitely been suggestions about rejigging term dates and holiday dates, particularly reducing the six week holiday. I was an assistant head, so I do know about the difficulties.

I did go on strike once- for half a day, during my first year.

JustDanceAddict · 17/02/2018 11:17

I’ve taken the kids out maybe 2 or 3 days in their whole school career: to leave a day earlier/come back later from a hol. Once due to prices (only dd in school then, Reception, one for a holiday with the grandparents - and one for a day off for a family function (this was the only one in secondary) and they’re years 11 & 9 now. No detriment but I have never taken out for a whole holiday. They have to catch up a lot if they’re off sick for one day or go on a school trip thereby missing lessons.

BoneyBackJefferson · 17/02/2018 11:17

As long as you don't
Complain about things that your child has missed.
Demand worksheets that will never be done.
Expect the teacher to put in extra time for your choices.
Complain about bad grades in tests that were done when your child wasn't there.
Or berate the teacher for the impact that your choices make

Then as far as I am concerned you can do what you like.

SuburbanRhonda · 17/02/2018 11:17

I actually do not care what the teachers think about us choosing to take our kids away for 4/5 days at primary age. Honestly there are just no fucks to give about it.

Upthread someone said if schools didn't issue fines (they don’t, the LA does), it would lead to better relationships with parents. When you read comments like this one, it’s clear that there are parents who aren’t in the slightest interested in having a good relationship with schools. They’re the ones who fuck it up for other, more reasonable parents.

Nicknacky · 17/02/2018 11:19

beetle I asked another poster with the same opinion as you but got no answer. Does that mean my family should miss out on all holidays until the leave education? I work through the holidays generally.

Thehop · 17/02/2018 11:19

I have done it and I would again.

It’s not disrespect of their education, more a desperate need for family holiday.

SuburbanRhonda · 17/02/2018 11:22

nicky

You’re right it wasn’t you. The confusion was because I commented on the post with the headmaster and you replied to it, as if my comment was directed to you.

I’m still Hmm that you are privy to your head’s conversations with parents about attendance though.

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