Headteacher says I can't go on holiday

[Scuzzymummy]

Ok so this might not be a problem in a few weeks and please please believe me when I say I have done everything possible to ensure my pupils have had my attention and expertise when needed during lockdown. I have recorded lessons, marked work, given feedback etc... I know lots on MN have some very strong feelings about teachers at the moment 😬.
So I have a holiday abroad booked for the 18yh August. I have been hanging on and hanging on to see if we can go. We are so desperate for a break- who isn't- but my headteacher has emailed today and said that of quarantine measures are still in place in September then holidays at the end of August need to be cancelled. What do I do, I know I need to be back in September, god knows I want to have actually children in front of me not a bloody screen. But if we cancel we will loose hundreds and hundreds plus the holiday. We can't change the date, my husband is not able to change. Help!

When did you book it?

Where are you based? As England not in quarentean so I don,t understand why head gets to say this and yu won,t be in school majority of time anyway will you? (Appreciater Scotland and Wales are different at mo.)

We booked it last November. It's all booked in bits rather than as a package. Insurance won't cover it because there's no reason not to travel as such it's the quarantine when we get back

Ah quarantine for fourteen days.

They should refund you, or your insurance?

Did you work through the previous holidays? Call it time off in lieu...

Speak to your union.

My work have made it very clear that we are expected to cover the quarantine time from AL. As a pp has said, I'm sure regulations will be changed (again) soon

Time off in lieu doesn't exist unfortunately, working through the last two holidays was kind if expected and absolutely fine, we were doing our bit to support the key worker and vulnerable children so I didn't mind.

Where are you going OP? Air bridges with a lot of Europe should be in place in the next week or so meaning you wouldn’t need to quarantine when you got back but that obviously depends on where you are going

To be frank, your holidays are your holidays. If your school starts back in September 1st, that's when you start back. Teachers have plenty of holidays as it is and very few bosses would allow their employees to miss their start back date to go on holiday.

@Turnedouttoes

Where are you going OP? Air bridges with a lot of Europe should be in place in the next week or so meaning you wouldn’t need to quarantine when you got back but that obviously depends on where you are going

I hadn't thought of that. We are going to Croatia. I know that it's very likely things will change again, it's just the huge disappointment and now dilemma. If we cancel then loose money only to find out we didn't need to I will be gutted. Or do we hold out hoping things change

Government is expected to announce quarantine free countries from next week. It will be a limited number of places-
I understand Spain, France and Greece are on the list and a few others.

You booked it well before Covid-19 was an issue. Hopefully the quarantine measure will be lifted by the time of your holiday. If you worked through the previous holidays that should also be recognised.

I don’t understand. Isn’t August your annual leave? If so, how can your employer dictate where you go in your own time?

Are you concerned you will have to quarantine for 14 days on your return?

Where are you going? Is it a country likely to have a travel corridor (or whatever they are calling it) in place shortly?
Whats the infection rate doing where you are travelling to?
Spain etc would be one thing, California/India/Brazil and other places where infections are rising would be very much different

@BostonCheers

To be frank, your holidays are your holidays. If your school starts back in September 1st, that's when you start back. Teachers have plenty of holidays as it is and very few bosses would allow their employees to miss their start back date to go on holiday.

She will be back by then. Did you read the OP?

Where are you going? There will likely be air bridges to the most popular destinations with no quarantine required. But to be honest I think it’s too early to say at the moment. We could be allowed to travel, banned form travel, who knows. Things are changing week to week and day to day.

HT is not in a position to tell you this as the holiday was booked pre-C19 and way before the recent quarantine rules.

Forward HT your dated booking form and say unfortunately it can’t be rescheduled due to other family commitments/annual leave, but you’ll be back on the first day of the new term or the first day after whatever (if any) quarantine period is in place come September- whichever comes soonest.
Happy hols

Our headmistress advised that if you booked prior to lockdown, you should be able to argue that you shouldn't be penalised. The problem is no one really knows what's going on. I really believe you should should stand your ground on this one.

@BostonCheers

To be frank, your holidays are your holidays. If your school starts back in September 1st, that's when you start back. Teachers have plenty of holidays as it is and very few bosses would allow their employees to miss their start back date to go on holiday.

I completely understand this point I really do. I have never ever complained about being in school over the holidays and I have happily and freely given up many days over the years, including this year obviously. I was a head of year 11 for 5 years and every summer at least a week of the holidays were taken up with results processing and transition to Sixth form interviews etc.

@emmelinegreen

The OP has told her head that she may be late back to school in September as a result of the 14 day quarantine period. Her head has told her no chance and she will have to cancel the holiday if the quarantine is still in place.

She can't direct how you spend your holiday period. And she certainly can't tell you to cancel, when things might well have changed by then. I doubt the quarantine thing will still be happening by the beginning of September. The govt are getting a lot of pushback on it, and they've said themselves that it's temporary and will be reviewed.

Please don't cancel.

Some great suggestions thanks. I think I will sit it out and hold my nerve for a few weeks. I mean in the grand scheme of things it's only a holiday, pretty sure the shit show we are returning to at school is going to bring me down with a bang and a strong dose of reality!!

I'd just go and take the chance. And if you need to go into quarantine you might get a sick note from your doctor. If the insurance won't let you have a refund. Can't see that they can sack you or anything for following government orders.

A lot could still change between how and August, OP, hopefully the government will rethink quarentine measures.