To think this is a bit out of order

[teaforme33]

I've seen loads of people going on holiday today. Obviously prices will have gone down as the kids go back to school but aibu to think this is a bit shitty for the kids? I'm not against term time holidays and have taken mine out before but never right at the start of a new year.

I think it's massively unfair for kids who are moving up to a new school to totally deprive them of those first few weeks of meeting new friends and settling in to a brand new environment. I would say it's also quite unsettling for those who are just moving up a year in the same school. It's still a change of dynamic, teacher, routine. By the time they get back everyone will have settled down and it just feels like they are starting the year on a disadvantage.

And yes we're in a cost of living crisis and people do what they need to but I honestly can't imagine having 6 weeks off then choosing to whip my kids out of the first week of school just to go to center parcs or something. I would rather find a cheaper holiday during the time off.

With my teacher hat on, I feel taking children out of school in the first week or two of September is very disruptive to them, not only academically but socially also. Not every class goes up with the same children year on year in primary. They are often mixed up! Imagine a child arriving in their new classroom on 10th September to a number of faces they don't know, with friendships already established. That would be very unsettling.

I'm not against term time holidays - I appreciate that parents use them in order to save a lot of money. If I wasn't in the job I am in I would too, though I have no choice. I do feel there are other weeks of the year that could be used though.

The first week isn't about just "settling in". The first day certainly is but from then on, it's maths, English and others. In secondary, children begin the new curriculum from day dot.

Children bring taken out of school is one of them, people do it and it doesn't matter what others think or if fines are involved - it still happens.

I don't think it matters too much in established classes so moving from year 5 to 6. And in the long run it probably doesn't matter when changing to high school (middle etc if you're three tier) but DD started high school yesterday and there is no way I would take her away at this time. It's such a big step and forget education wise, I think it's a really important time for groups and friendships to form. Some of DDs friends are starting late because of holidays (mostly back to home country) and I was surprised to hear because it is such an important time but again, in a year, they will have forgotten who was there in the first week and who wasn't.

YANBU

Generally speaking you’re right - I get that some people might feel they have to take their kids out of school for a holiday, but this isn’t the week to do it. Especially if they’re yr 7. Do it in July or something if you must.

There will obviously be some exceptions - some kids will have disabilities that mean this is the only or best time for them to be away - but broadly YANBU

Especially if parents expect the teachers to go over things again for their DC (which they will)

But I do also think it is possibly to legislate to prevent the holiday companies etc having such starkly different prices for holidays and term time

I can’t even imagine how this would be possible. It sounds from this conversation, that many people are traveling out of the UK during school time to avail of cheaper accommodations and air fare. The British government would not be able to tell resorts in Spain, France, the US etc that they can’t charge market rate during busy season. It’s economics, supply and demand.

My DH and I love a resort about 2 hours from our home. In the winter, a weekend night is $100, this summer, it was $350. They aren’t going to sell rooms for $100 until they can’t fill them. We are peeved, but won’t be going until it gets cheaper.