To want to go on holiday in school time for 1 week when I work 2 days in a school?

[nuttyworkingmum]

Hello,

I am stuck what to do, have the guilts!
I work 2 days a week at a school and even though we are not supposed to take time off in school time. I have gone and booked a holiday for 1 week in school time! uh oh
What am I going to do or say to the school in question!!

What is your role?

You may need to face the fact that your holiday may be refused. I know a school who lost their secretary over this issue. The governors could not favour a request from one person and refuse another.

You work in schools you holiday out of term time, its as simple as that I'm afraid.

Why did you book a holiday in term time when you work in a school?

What is your role in school?

What does your contract say re time off in term time?

Some heads may allow it for special circumstances, but it would be unpaid obviously. But sme would say no outright. It will depend on your head and your circumstances. You have to be prepared for them to say no though.

I am a Teaching assistant and on a Temp contract it runs out at the end of Aug, I havent signed a new one yet! Im tempted to lie but really dont want to!

Are you hoping for a reference from this school? What a daft thing to do.

A teacher wanted to take time off for his sisters wedding they said no!

Yes, YABU.

If you are a TA then I'm sorry bit that is unacceptable and most heads I know (and I have spoken toone at length on the issue) would refuse. In fact they may have no choice of the governors (as in the case I know of) have set a policy.

The only thing you can do is to apologise, say you realise you made an error and hope they allow you the time off.

My dh works in schools part time too and it is just something we have to accept.

So is it for next term - for which you haven't actually been employed yet. Or for this term?

yes YABU it is a term time only job!

yes cornsilk it was daft! I admit that.
Not feeling so great right now , thanks!

I don't know what you want people to say. You know that booking a holiday before you have asked for time off is daft. Especially on a temp contract. Why would you do that?

no for next term so haven`t actually been employed yet so to speak

Schools vary so much on this one. A few years back we had a vile Deputy who would phone and quiz you if you were ill, so time off for a jolly (child's graduation/close relative's funeral, you name it) was a no-no. Current Head is very flexible, and as along as you make up your hours, would have no problem.
With hindsight, would have been wise to check out the lie of the land, but as you clearly haven't, is there any chance you could say you'd booked it prior to accepting the job??

Ok, slightly no0t as bad then.

Yes, if your contract is extended then say it was already booked.

That's slightly different then nutty. However, I think you should have gone to speak to the Head first to see whether they intended to offer you a contract next term before you booked the holiday.

FWIW, the teaching assistant in my class has had several days off this half term, attached to the half term holiday so she could go away.

So for the term you are not employed for?

Is your contract likely to be extended? Has anyone spoken to you about this?

If your contract is up in the air and you have no reason to believe it is likely to be continued then that is fine. However if you do know it is likely to be continued it is ut of order really.

All you can do now is wait and find out if your contract is being renewed. When this is discussed you will have to disclose the holiday and hopefully, for your sake, they will allow you t, as a prearranged holiday, as unpaid leave.

I thought about saying that clam or that I booked it a year ago! Considering I thought I would only be working at the school for 2008/09 not 2009/10 too!

I found out today it is being renewed after all the waiting, I booked the holiday a month ago! just haven`t had the balls to say anything, now it might of been too late!

Be careful about lying, just incase they want proof of when deciding if to allow it as a prebooked holiday.

You must say something tomorrow.

Oh I see - the term after your contract expires. That's a totally different situation. Just say the holiday was already booked in that case. I know people who've been hired as teachers with ah holiday already booked and it's been fine.

Oh right, that is different. Have you spoken to school about next year? They are leaving it lat to sort out staffing for Sept! I would get a meeting ASAP to clarify Sept and tell them that you were uncertain as to whether you would be working so went ahead and booked.

Crikey Cornsilk, Im having kittens thanks for your words! I will ring them tommorrow, and tell them it was booked when everything was up in the air and I didnt know I would be working in September which it was! If they dont let me I will refuse my contract as I havent been abroad with my partner before and we have 2 children and have been together for 9 years, I`m desperate for this holiday!!

When I moved teaching jobs once, it involved moving counties. I had booked a holiday according to my old counties holiday dates and then discovered that my new county had different dates. The new school honoured my holiday and were absolutely fine about it. I took it as unpaid leave.

at my horrific typo. Of course I meant my old county's holiday dates