Holiday during term time

[MeerkatsUnite]

Just wonder what other Mnetters think of these passages which I have copied verbatim today:-

New Head writes:-

"Parents do not have a statutory right to 10 days leave of absense in an academic year. It is the school's decision that a leave of absense for holiday can be approved in exceptional circumstances to a maximum of 10 days.

Cheaper prices cannot be considered to be a valid reason. We have to prioritise education before finance. The cost of educating a child for a week far outweights the savings to be made by taking time out of school for a cheaper holiday".

On a personal level only this does not affect me as my son is going on holiday during half term next April but feel some disquiet at the above as I feel it is adversarial in tone.

The above has been sent to the parents of an Infants school.

zippitippitoes - I wasn't expected the school to go through it. However, when I was teaching we did have one lad who often went abroad for both short and long periods of time - his dad was a cricketer. His parents made an educational plan. As a school we did not check it, but his mum did come in and have a chat to the head of year about it - just a 5 minute or so appointment. No marking, etc. was expected. So it IS possible. And he was not the only one it was done for.

I haven't time to read the rest of the thread now - but my personal opinion is that for most primary kids one or two weeks away on holiday to a new environment will be as important in their development and understanding of the world around them, as anything they may have missed at school.

Any concientious (sp ?) parent will make sure they don't miss anything important, or will make up whatever they miss anyway.

Parents who are not so concerned about schooling won't give a toss that their kids are missing school anyway.

For secondary school I would probably try harder not to miss school for holidays.

The parent's holidays is another valid reason. When I was growing up we had to take all out holidays in term time as my dad only had holidays at factory shut down, and they were not in school holidays.

having said that - we will (hopefully) be taking the DS's to Zimbabwe next year. And if we want to most the most of it (ie see all the relatives who've never seen the boys) we'll probably have to go during term time.

School holidays out there are different to here and with so many of DH's family being teachers, and/or their children - including my youngest SIL and BIL's - being at school/university, and my FIL's employer (the Civil Service LOL) are VERY awkward about when he can and can't take his holidays.

I wouldn't see the point in travelling over to see him, staying at his house, and him not being able to see his grandchildren (he works in a different part of the country to his house, so only goes "home" at weekends and on his very limited holidays).

Yes hula we were in a similar position re the shutdown for my Dad although there was only one week out of the school hols for us. But I think fewer places have shutdowns these days than when we were kids although having said that my Dad still does work at such a place. So my Mum and Dad in their mid-50s have to go on hols the last two weeks in July at sky high prices whereas people on here are saying they will take their children out of school to get the cheaper rates. Doesn't seem right...

We have taken our kids out for two weeks every June/July for the past 4 years for a trip to France. We have to apply for the holiday every year, but I never go when SATS are on. I am a nurse and of the five of us, only one can be off at a time- work that one out for the holidays!! (I only work evenings, so school holidays themselves are not a problem.) Some professions do need a bit of slack cut I think. When the kids hit secondary school, then it will be my turn to take the summer holidays, until then it belongs to those who have older kids. Fair enough I think.
Also the school say it is beneficial for the kids to spend some time abroad and look upon it as an educational trip aswell as a holiday.

slapheadsrock, I agree trying having an airport based job and getting holidays in the height of summer