To consider a term-time holiday

[ScatteredMama82]

So I'm looking at prices of flights for February half-term next year to go skiing in Germany. For a family of 4 it's £1300 just for flights in half-term. For a different week it's £280! It's just a crazy amount of money. We love skiing, and are just getting back into it now that DS2 is old enough (he's 4). DS1 is 9 (will be Yr 5 next year). I think we're going to go in term-time. We did it this year, and it got approved by the school as DH is military and had been away all summer so we didn't get a family holiday. We won't have that excuse this time though (unless he gets sent away between now and February which is unlikely in his current role).

Would you do it?

Go the week before the Christmas or Summer holidays so that they aren't missing too much. A lot can be missed in a week.

@ScatteredMama82 you might not expect the teacher to do anything extra to catch your child up (but there are a lot of people who do!) but the reality is the teacher will have no choice but to spend extra time with your child to make sure they understand the work that has been missed. Teaching and learning is an ongoing process, not one off stand alone lessons. For example, if your child misses learning about the basic concept of fractions because they are on holiday for two weeks, then they will not be in a position to do the next level of multiplying and dividing fractions when they return because they have missed the first bit. So the teacher has no choice but to spend time away from the other children (who were in school) while they catch your child up.
I agree that family time, experiencing different cultures etc is important, but not to the detriment of their education and not at the expense of inconveniencing others. That is what the school holidays/annual leave from work is for.

Would you be ok with your child’s teacher going on holiday during term time to save money? Or would you say that given children and teachers get 13 weeks of holidays a year that they should book during those times?

I think more people should ask themselves this ... if they wouldn't be happy with their child's teacher or their child's teaching assistant (TAs are particularly poorly paid) to go on holiday during term time, then is it really reasonable to take your child out for a cheaper holiday (AND expect the teacher to make sure they learn about everything they've missed while they're gone).

Yes I would do it and I wouldn't think twice about it.

If it was an option for teachers to take a couple of weeks out you bet your life they would!

Would you consider driving? Depending where you live that could be significantly cheaper

My son takes his kids away in term time for a week. Its cheaper to pay the fine than it is to pay an extra grand plus on the holiday, just because its school holidays and the travel companies want to rip people off.

Yes, I'm sure that when they end up in a dead end job because they failed their exams as their parents thought holidays were more important than their education, they can think about their skiing trip whilst they stuff pickled onions into a jar on the factory line.

Because they took one week off?

Utter bollocks.

I've never done it but everyone else seems to.

We got merry hell for taking out two out of school for 1 day!!

The very next term, we found the teachers were all doing in house training and the TA's were in class playing games for two days and then - cheeky buggers held parents evening - during the day - so again, the kids had a games day and we went in to meet the teachers in the school day! Annnddd thennnn.... end of term - guess what - school chucked out at 1:15pm - DESPITE all the kids having to register for the afternoon session which they were even't frigging there for! Which is just dishonest really. Especially since the staff all cleared off for a late pub lunch.... during time the kids were registered as being in school.

Our two get top grades, are fit active, healthy and bright, and have attendance of 98%.

One day we missed (saved us £1200)

Sorry schools - but you can't say they need every minute in education - but then change your mind and call a games day or a pub afternoon when it suits you"

@cantpissinpeace yes I bet they would too, but it isn’t an option and they knew that when they signed up for the job, just as parents know that it is expected their children attend school during term time.

I take mine out of primary every year for a week. Never been fined.

Agree @ CarolDanvers.
We used to take our kids away during the term due to it being a hell of a lot cheaper. They have very successful careers as adults, so i agree with the utter bollocks sentiment.

But it IS an option for the OP, so go for it.

Yep i would take them out of school. We take ours out every year (still in primary school).

We are taking ours out of school for a week to go to centre parcs. It's so busy during the holidays and over priced. I'll take them out a week every year, at least in primary. Our school so far hasn't fined people but I'd happily pay if they did. 5 days off just isn't going to impact their education that much but it will be valuable and needed family time. They have fantastic attendance otherwise.

Go for it OP - we cant follow the rules ALL the time.

I'd do it. Children on school ski trips (in secondary school) and miss a week of lessons.
As long as they have good attendance usually I'd go.

I'm a rule follower and would be worried that it sent the wrong message to my kids about the importance of school vs holidays.

It must be tricky for teachers to deal with throughout the school year.

@cantpissinpeace, no, saying they are ill is taking the piss. I wouldn't do that. I'd also have to ask the children to lie?! Not an option.

WeTookVows

What a boring outlook to have on life. So if you have 3 kids or more, you could spend 30 years having children in school and never going on a holiday.
That's like saying if you ever need treatment on the NHS you must abide by all the guidelines.

We did this some time ago, and saved about £400.00 (our spending money or thereabouts!).going to Florida .However you do run the risk of a fine .You need to weigh up the savings ,against possible fine costs and the stress of it weighing against you.Pop Tart our children dont get a free education ,sadly we have to pay for it in our Council Tax!

I never lie that my kids are sick I just say I'm taking a weeks unauthorised absence. Never been fined

Our primary school just took 2 classes to London for the week.
I went on a ski trip with the school at 14, that was term time.

Yes, I'm sure that when they end up in a dead end job because they failed their exams as their parents thought holidays were more important than their education, they can think about their skiing trip whilst they stuff pickled onions into a jar on the factory line.

Take that pole out your arse!

I hate the sanctimonious hyperbole you get on these threads.

1. An unquestioning deference to 'authority' isn't a good thing.
2. These rules and fines affect the poorer much more than the richer.
3. Family holidays are important, wherever they are.