Parents need to stop lying about term time holidays

[Ljcrow]

If parents want to take their kids out of school for a term time holiday because it's cheaper, I wish they wouldn't give the bullshit that it's an "educational experience". There's an article about this on the BBC today, but working in a school I've heard it all before. Can we not pretend that an all-inclusive to Lanzarote or similar is a rich cultural and educational experience?! If you want to take your kids our because it's cheaper that's up to you but don't try claim the moral high ground, no one's falling for it. (Fwiw I think holiday companies shouldn't be allowed to hike their prices up in school holidays, it's disgraceful, and as a parent myself I have no choice but to pay those inflated prices. It sucks.)

Of course it's my opinion. I was very much expressing my own opinion. Obviously.

But not thinking about it enough to choose the same island for your example lmao.

Anyway, as I said, it's a well worn path on here. You are far from the first person to have chosen a Spanish AI when complaining about parents taking DC out of school.

No you’re right, I do take it a bit too personally sometimes and I get that it was a lose-lose situation for everyone. It has SERIOUSLY affected that cohort of children in a very noticeable way also. It just grates a bit (a lot) when people bring it up like we were just sitting around loving life, when we were actually running around like bluearse flies trying to be everything to everyone.

I also resent how it is brought up in relation to term-time holidays, as if teachers are personally chasing people down for it because they have a vendetta. I get it, holidays are expensive, and I really don’t judge. As I said in a previous post, as long as nobody expects me to catch these children up it’s all good.

We're lucky, we live in Ireland and don't get fined, school is aware kids get taken out. I've done it lots of times when they were in primary school, they don't miss much in a week so would have taken them out in May and September and it's half the price, I don't have to pretend it's educational, a week in Turkey or Greece isn't educational. Never took then out in secondary school as I feel they would miss too much school work.

Schools shouldn’t make parents feel so guilty.
Local authorities should get back in their boxes.
Other parents shouldn’t judge.
everyone needs to do what suits their family needs.
airlines and hoteliers shouldn’t hike their prices (don’t blame overall travel companies, that’s not how it works).

People need to get off their high horses, everyone deserves a break.

Also agree with people who suggested teachers getting annual leave in term time instead of only the school holidays. I would happily swap a week out so I could go to Glastonbury, for example, because it falls during term time so I’ll never be able to go as long as I’m in teaching.

So agree with this.
And a actually I get to decide what is best for my children not the LEa or the government

This new legislation will just cause even more divisions and push more people to 'home schooling ' not many employers are going to be bothered about a criminal conviction for a few days of missed school.

Its not supporting or targeting those children and families that need the help for school and attendance

Typically the emphasis is on education on school trips, obviously.

Most holidays are primarily for enjoyment. Which is as it should be, it's just dishonest (in the case of most holidays) when people try to dress them up as being primarily educational.

At last someone speaking sense 👏

I would also add that as a teacher I definitely DO think holidays can be beneficial and educational for children. The curriculum is absolutely jam-packed and, in many cases, developmentally inappropriate (year ones being expected to memorise all number bonds up to and including 20, for example). This leaves absolutely no room for building social skills, having any down time or even things like reading for pleasure or making Mothers’ Day presents etc. We are also now having to dedicate time to things like teaching children to brush their teeth, which is boring for children who already know how to and eats into our timetable even more.

So if you’re responsible and you’re going to catch your child up on missed content, or even just accept that they can build a sandcastle but not recall all of their number bonds to 20 at the age of 5, then of course you don’t need to convince me that your holiday is going to benefit your child. The problem is that the absence figures don’t differentiate between a child who’s had two weeks off for a nice holiday and a child who’s had every Monday off for a term because their parents don’t want to get out of bed and bring them to school. That is why we have to show that we have followed the absence up and had a boring meeting about it.

I take my kids out a few days before the holidays so they don't miss a whole week, usually end of May half term or just before the summer. Absolutely an educational experience for them, education is more than just learning in a classroom!

Both my kids have high attendance apart from the 3-4 days off for holidays. They are past the stage of chicken pox and can mange to get into school with a cold. Academically at age appropriate levels, (12yo is in fact working a few years ahead), she was out of the classroom for 9 months while I applied for her EHCP, she had alternative provision and we paid for tutoring, she learnt the whole of year 7&8's curriculum in that 9 months, she actually excelled both educationally and emotionally and now back into a suitable school.

I never had a holiday as a kid, I got NO GCSE's! My parents were not really interested in my education, rather saw it as childcare, I'm very much involved with my children's education.

Will I stop lying to the school..? No I bloody won't!

Be careful the law has changed on the administration of fines, if you are referred to court you may incur a hefty fine, both parents matched to each parties income . There is the fine itself and then money to paid to the victim, i.e the school and also a criminal record which remains with you for at least 11 years.

Exactly this. I'm sure those who go on about regular termtime holidays being their 'right' would be very happy to turn up for school to be told 'sorry, take your child home, their teacher has gone on holiday'!

In my view, teachers work so hard for OUR children in difficult circumstances, why would I make their life even harder by taking my child out during termtime on a regular basis, it just feels so disrespectful, especially those who lie.
It should be exceptional circumstances only, and just be honest

My daughters desk partner goes on at least 2 termtime beach holidays per year, and she ends up having to catch her up before they can get on with their next piece of work, as her her friend has no idea what she is supposed to be doing. Plus they offer her catch up sessions due to her being on pupil premium

Why would you take your child home? We've had kids teachers take tine off for weddings, volunteer work abroad, all kinds of things. It's not a problem.

The UK is so obsessive about education and hysterical about teaching, yet has lower rates on all markers than countries who are far more chilled about it.

Where I live, kids go on term time holidays, teachers can take days/time off, nobody fines anyone or acts like teachers are chained to their desks, we have longer school holidays, shorter days,....AND we have happier teachers and are higher in any table (literacy, numeracy, 3rd level etc) than the UK.

What your doing isn't working. Maybe start with unclenching

This one’s even better. Grandmother complains about fine received for taking her grandchildren out of school during term time because her 18 year old son who isn’t even at school can’t cope with the crowds at Disneyland Florida otherwise.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgrzzmy8zvo

If their teacher isn't there, who is going to teach them? Leave 30 of them in a classroom on their own?

If a teacher wanted to do voluntary work abroad, they would take an unpaid sabbatical, and their salary would pay for a replacement, but never going to get a replacement to cover a weeks holiday, except a supply teacher costing a fortune which schools can't afford.

Every teacher I know planned their weddings for weekends and school holidays

I know! It's like going to Disney is a compulsory part of a childhood and they will suffer terribly if they all don't do it!

Yes, family time is important, but children get as much out of camping in their back garden as going on an AI to tenerife. I lead a Rainbows group in an affluent area where most children go on many luxury holidays each year, but without exception they say their favourite things are camping at home, sleepovers in their lounge, going to the local beach and burying their Dad in the sand. They don't need expensive holidays, they need focused time with their families which can be anywhere and cost virtually nothing. The luxury holidays are much more for the benefit of the parents than the children. And that's not wrong, people who work hard all year benefit from a break of course, but all this 'it's family time' is a nonsense excuse for termtime holidays, just own that you want a holiday!

The problem is the lying, not the holiday. The lying is so much more corrosive to the school / parent relationship.

And it’s pointless. Schools can’t authorise educational holidays any more than they can authorise non-educational ones.

Own it. Say you are going on holiday. If 5 days or under, with no other unauthorised absence, you’ll currently be ok. More than that, you risk being fined, but you know that and weigh up the cost.

But tell the truth. ‘We’re going on holiday, we know we’ll miss some school learning’. No teacher I know would think worse of you for being upfront - all judge the sneakiness of lying.

Yep. This.

Schools don’t judge parents - they administer the unauthorised absence process on behalf of the LA and have incredibly little freedom or discretion. They are essentially a delivery service for standard absence letters, and if they do not do this, they are punished themselves.

Don’t blame the school.

Best post on this thread.

I tend to think that “luxury” holidays as well as package holidays demonstrate a lack of imagination and knowledge. Much more fun to go camping in the wild or a museum for a day.

It's a tax on poorer families. It's ridiculous.

Nah. I'll judge any busbody who tries to destroy a parent's right to go on a nice holiday with their kids. And I give zero fucks about the arse lickers who cannot bear the notion of a week off school because they are too terrified to break stupid rules. And I absolutely do not care at all about slippery slope shit.

The big bad boys made me do it doesn't wash. Either schools know it's shit overbearing behaviour and don't stand up to it or they are fine with it.

Either way - Nah.

A different teacher, obviously 🤨. A job sharing teacher does a few extra days, assistants help, the principal can teach. If necessary, class can be split and added to other classes (we don't have 30 in a class, it's too much).

You're proving my point. It doesn't have to be so complicated. You talk about education as if it's a religion, and keep adding more pressure,vehicle outcomes keep getting worse. Your education system is not working.

(Btw, teachers have family and friends that also have weddings)

Not a lack of imagination. If anything, you might be experiencing a lack of imagination - YOU might think camping in the wild or a day in a museum is much more fun, but my children and I don't. We can do a day in a museum whenever we want and we are fed up of crap British weather and want some sunshine, to see somewhere outside of Britain, meet people outside of Britain. Is it really that hard to think about what other people like? Seems like a lack if imagination and knowledge to me if you can't...