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Original poster

Booked holiday, moved primary school, SATS problem

144 replies

kangaroopelicanartic · 09/05/2023 14:30

I'll try to keep this short.

-booked a holiday this time last year. We are due to go on the 22nd
-was given notice that we had to move house
-moved and had to change the kids' primary school. Notified them of the holiday and was told as it was pre booked it wouldn't be a problem. It was booked for the first school's half term.
-just been notified by the school that my oldest kiddo (he's 7) has sats the same week we're booked to go in holiday
-holiday company will let me move the dates but it's so expensive I simply can't do it. It would double the cost and it's just not possible

I have no idea what else to do. Money is very tight and part of the reason i booked so early was to pay in installments so we can afford to go! Not to mention the house moving costs have totally wiped out my savings.

Any ideas please? It's been such a totally shit few years I was really looking forward to a break!

OP posts:
Clymene · 09/05/2023 20:18

All schools have May half term at the same time. All of them.

Bluerhododendron · 09/05/2023 20:19

It’s been covered @Clymene

Clymene · 09/05/2023 20:23

Bluerhododendron · 09/05/2023 20:19

It’s been covered @Clymene

Has the OP said she her kids got two weeks where they used to live? I must have missed that.

Clymene · 09/05/2023 20:24

But the holiday is booked and SATs are pointless anyway so she's going to have to pay the fine.

I wouldn't cancel a holiday.

Bluerhododendron · 09/05/2023 20:32

She isn’t going to have to pay the fine, it should be honoured by the school.

Augend23 · 09/05/2023 20:38

I'd apologise, explain it was booked for the original half term and ask them to authorise it. Agree you are happy to e.g. facilitate SATs once the kids are back or similar.

You didn't know, no point feeling guilty about it.

Rhodes123 · 09/05/2023 20:40

Year 2 SATs can be taken any time during May, so if a child misses it they have tkme
to catch up.

chocolateisavegetable · 09/05/2023 20:52

Honestly SATs have no importance at all for your child. Enjoy your holiday

RBKB · 09/05/2023 20:54

@Onlinemum22 I went on strike to protest at the teachers' pay from coming directly from schools's existing budgets. That's textbook, exercise books, breakfasts and subsidised school trips. I very much have two very caring and concerned legs to stand on. I lost a significant chunk of pay but I care about the kids.

Do your research as to why we striked please.

PaigeMatthews · 09/05/2023 20:55

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 09/05/2023 14:46

As other op have said, SATS are important to the school and have no bearing on your child.

that is true for year 2 sats but year 6 sats are important for the child, even if they dont realise.

Littlesticklebrick · 09/05/2023 20:57

I teach year 2 and sats need to be done in May so there’s a window for them. I’ve children that are going away and we work around that. Children are given a ‘teacher assessment’ level, sats are purely for data. Please don’t worry and I wish you all a very lovely holiday.

Original poster
kangaroopelicanartic · 09/05/2023 21:01

First school had two weeks, second one only has one week. First school is a church school, second one isn't.

OP posts:
Clymene · 09/05/2023 21:09

Littlesticklebrick · 09/05/2023 20:57

I teach year 2 and sats need to be done in May so there’s a window for them. I’ve children that are going away and we work around that. Children are given a ‘teacher assessment’ level, sats are purely for data. Please don’t worry and I wish you all a very lovely holiday.

Well there you go OP. Teacher's blessing Smile

Have a lovely holiday.

careerchange456 · 09/05/2023 21:13

KS1 lead and Year 1 teacher

Year 2 SATs don't have a fixed date; they just have to be completed during May. If you're going away and have informed the school, the teacher can administer the papers to your child before you go - better than him getting a 0 from the school's perspective.

It's annoying for the school but they can work around it. DO NOT change your holiday plans.

FYI - don't do this when they're in Year 6. You cant administer those papers whenever so it is a pain!

savoycabbage · 09/05/2023 23:21

You don't even have to submit the data for new children. He can do the papers at a different time if the school wants.

How insane is the idea that neighbouring counties have the same holidays. Every single area is next to another area so how would that work?

EsmeSusanOgg · 10/05/2023 03:17

TuesandThursNero · 09/05/2023 14:34

State schools? And different half terms?

Common between different LAs.

sashh · 10/05/2023 06:21

TuesandThursNero · 09/05/2023 14:34

State schools? And different half terms?

It happens.

It has always happened.

I went to RC schools, because we had days off for 'holy day of obligation' our half term was only 2 days.

One year we had 2 days half term, Monday and Tuesday, a HDO on the Wednesday and another on the Friday.

Wisenotboring · 10/05/2023 07:00

BeforeLight · 09/05/2023 15:29

May half term is the only one in the year which all local authorities have the same date. This is due to GCSEs, SATs etc.

so not sure how this can be right. Any other half term yes but not this one

Only senior schools due to external exams. I can assure you that in my area I know of three different sets of dates.

NeverForgetYourDreams · 10/05/2023 07:32

TuesandThursNero · 09/05/2023 14:40

You “think” two different authorities?

OP neighbouring primary state schools in the same authority or adjacent will have the same half term.

Show quote history

Not always. I’m Dorset and we used holiday club in Hampshire near my office. They had a different February half term once. Was a right pain !

ScootsMcHoy · 10/05/2023 07:41

The primary school at the end of my street is in a difficult county from the secondary school it feeds into (both catholic) so it keeps the same holidays as it's secondary school when they are at different times.

I never seem to remember and panic a bit when I see children in school uniform merrily walking past the window when we are all still in our pyjamas.

JessicaBrassica · 10/05/2023 08:03

I'm surprised that May half term differs. It's usually the week starting with the bank holiday - because otherwise teachers get an extra day off and most LAs would rather teachers were in school when they were being paid.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 10/05/2023 08:03

TuesandThursNero · 09/05/2023 14:40

You “think” two different authorities?

OP neighbouring primary state schools in the same authority or adjacent will have the same half term.

Show quote history

This isn't true. If they are different local authorities they may have different half terms. Our school and one a few miles away have completely different holidays.

CheersForThatEh · 10/05/2023 08:05

Skip SATS and go on holiday. Unless school are prepared to arrange and facilitate at another school.

Poopoolittlekitten · 10/05/2023 08:07

Year 2 SATs are even more pointless than year 6 ones - go on holiday

Harebrain · 10/05/2023 08:09

Go on holiday and miss the SATS. They’re not important.

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