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Education

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Original poster

Taking kids out of school for holidays

25 replies

Minx · 02/09/2001 09:25

Does anyone know if there is an "unofficial" amount of time that you can take children out of school for holidays? I need to take my daughter out for about 3 days but, to make it worse she will have just started her reception class. However, since she's not 5 yet can the school really get too difficult about it? Believe me, I would really prefer not to take her out but I don't think I'm going to have an option - other than not go away, that is.

OP posts:

Janh · 02/09/2001 09:55

minx, there is an "official" allowance of two weeks. obviously it's better to keep it as low as possible - and the timing of yours is very unfortunate - but you are entitled.

how early in the term is it? if it's only a couple of weeks after they go back you might be better not starting her until afterwards.

Ems · 02/09/2001 09:58

Minx, I think most authorities allow you to take 2 weeks out of a school year, they have forms for you to fill in.

Honestly dont worry, you're not the first!!

Ems · 02/09/2001 10:00

OOh, Janh replied at the same time! I forgot to say, 3 days is fine, some children are off ill for that amount of time.

Faith · 02/09/2001 10:34

I asked a friend who is a primary school teacher what school's really thought about parents taking children out for holidays, and whether such parents were reviled! She said that as long as they have some notice, their feeling is one of relief... one less in the classroom for a fortnight! She also said that in primary school they will catch up quickly on anything they miss.

Tusky · 02/09/2001 11:51

I think that it gives the child the wrong idea (ie. it's ok to take time off school) and that school doesn't matter (even in reception) even if it's only for a few days - school term time is for school and holidays are for holidays.

Chairmum · 02/09/2001 13:39

That's a bit strict, Tusky. Although generally I agree that children shouldn't be taken out of school, there are exceptions. We live 600 miles from our family and so the only way we have been able to attend something like a family wedding is to take a Friday off school to travel. I think the chance to enjoy time with rarely seen family can be as important as school.

Nmd · 02/09/2001 18:24

when they're under 5 surely they're not actually obliged to be there full time? Lots of schools start them part time at such a young age.

Ems · 03/09/2001 09:56

But Tusky, this is time off for a reason and not just staying at home and having the day off, that WOULD give the children the wrong message.

Tigermoth · 03/09/2001 10:11

We're taking our son out of school for a two-week holiday in the autumn.

We chose not to go in the school holidays because of the vastly inflated cost and the crowds. Also - we are going to Corsica - I wanted to avoid the hottest high summer weeks.

I can see reasons for keeping an older child in school if exams loom, but for younger ones, I can't see a problem.

However it will be interesting to see what happens once schools are free to choose 6 shorter school terms, with holidays more evenly spread throughout out the year. Could those expensive high season holiday prices disappear? At the moment, don't you think it's madness that most of July has to pass before your child is released from class?

Chairmum · 03/09/2001 12:05

I live in Scotland and we have different terms to England, so can holiday at cheaper times. I suspect that if/when the English terms change, the times of high season holidays will change, too! I've recently been looking for a cottage for autumn and noticed that the rates go up for the English half term in October.

Puffin · 03/09/2001 12:50

I agree with Tusky. Children learn from a young age how we as their parents view things and to me taking a holiday during term time suggests that school is an option.I always find it amusing that it is the parents that have fought tooth and nail to get their child into a particular school that will quite happily take them out. (This is not directed at anyone who has posted a message!) I'm sure that the teachers would like to be able to have cheaper holidays too. The headteacher at my daughters' school specifically asked us not to book during term time in an effort to provide continuity in this the important first reception year,yes they are only four but this is why it is so vital.

Janh · 03/09/2001 12:56

my cousin lives in leicestershire; her childrens' school holidays are from mid-june to mid-august so they get holidays with the longest days and the cheaper rates. it's not faaaaiiiirrrr!!!

when my children were younger we took 2 or 3 holidays (altogether i mean, not in one year!) outside school holidays; the schools never minded and the children never felt "school isn't important". they KNOW it is. if they don't know that then taking them out or not makes no difference.

Bells2 · 03/09/2001 13:23

I used to be taken out of school occassionally in Australia in order to visit my grandparents in the UK and Ireland. It didn't have any bearing on my view on the importance or otherwise of school as that was determined by my parents' overall approach and attitude to our education.

Tusky · 03/09/2001 14:08

thanks,Puffin - you've said what I was trying to express perfectly.

Tigermoth · 03/09/2001 14:19

Chairmum, I too have noticed that rates go up during half terms. I do wonder what will happen when a 6-term year is introduced. I believe each school will be able to choose how they split the year, so for instance schools of mainly one religion can take into account special religious holidays. Surely this will have a big effect on bookings and prices?

As for whether it's bad to take children out of school during term time, I too think this should be seen in context with the parent's general attitude to school.

Puffin, I am suprised that your school has such a rigid attitude regarding holidays. Is the school as strict in other areas as well? Personally I would feel rather uneasy if a headmistress personally asked us to book our holiday at specific times.

Faith · 03/09/2001 14:37

I think 'education' is the responsibility of parents as well as schools. It does not exist solely in the classsroom, but children need as many opportunities as we can offer for different experiences, environments etc. If we need to take a few days off in termtime, so be it. Provided, as
Ems said, it's not just an aimless 'day off'. Two weeks in Corsica (or almost anywhere else) seems to me to offer umpteen 'educational' possibilities that could not be acquired in a classroom. I cannot see that this is goinng to persuade the child that education and school are worthless.

Puffin · 03/09/2001 16:35

Well yes,actually my daughters' school is "strict" in other areas aswell such as bullying ,childrens'security and school uniform,just like alot of others.I personally have no problem with it but we should all be able to express our opinions without being made to feel draconian and old fashioned shouldn't we.Thanks to Tusky for the supportive message.

Original poster

Minx · 03/09/2001 21:05

Wow, this has triggered quite a reponse! Her new teacher is coming for a home visit tomorrow so I shall ask her opinion - I shall let you know how it goes. Thanks for the varying viewpoints.

OP posts:

Suew · 04/09/2001 06:32

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Bloss · 04/09/2001 07:19

Message withdrawn

Tigermoth · 04/09/2001 09:35

I've just phoned my son's school secretary to let her know my son will be away on holiday for two weeks. There is absolutely no problem with this. We simply have to complete a holiday authorisation form, so it's taken as authorised absence. My son will be at school for a short while, so he'll have time to get to know his new teacher befor he goes.

He goes to a state primary and looking at the messages, perhaps this is where the main difference lies. Private school terms are usually shorter, so I can see that regular daily attendance is more desirable.

Puffin, I don't know what sort of school you child goes to. I don't think the messages here imply that you are being draconian, so please don't take offence. Personally I am surprised that you child's school would be so insistent on daily attendance during the first year of proper school, but you live and learn. I can see the attraction of this sort of conscientious school policy. It's just not for me.

One point that might be worth bearing in mind in this discussion is the high cost of most family holidays. I know of plenty of state school parents who can only afford (and not every year)to go away outside the high season. I know that many private school parents are far from rich, but I think it's far to say that a larger proportion of them are better off than their state counterparts. Therefore picking and choosing hoilday times, and nice holidays in nice places, is not such a problem.

Bugsy · 04/09/2001 10:16

During my 12 years at school, I missed several end of terms and several start of terms because of my parents' holiday arrangements. I can assure you that it never gave me the impression that school was something optional in my life and I managed to get good O & A levels and a degree too!
I think that parental attitudes over a whole range of issues are going to be what encourage a child to do well at school and missing the odd week here and there for a holiday over 13/4 years of schooling is not going to be the deciding factor.
Of course people try hard to get their children into certain schools. They want to try and get the best education for the child over a number of years. That doesn't mean that they aren't still entitled to go on holiday at a time that they can afford or at a time they can all manage. My husband is often away, abroad on projects and it is not possible for him to arrange holiday times during these periods. If this continues when our son is at school, then we may want our son to take a few extra days at half-term or Christmas or whatever so that we can all enjoy a family holiday together. What I am trying to say is that we shouldn't make judgements about why people choose term-time holidays, as we may not know all the reasons why that decision was made.

Bloss · 04/09/2001 10:27

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Minx · 04/09/2001 18:07

My daughter's teacher came today and she said there was absolutely no problem taking kids out for holidays - she has received about 4 holiday forms already. She only wished that she wasn't confined to school holidays for her own breaks! The view seemed to be that since peak times are so expensive, it was unrealistic to expect parents to be restricted to school holidays. Plus, my daughter is only 4 and there is no legal obligation for her to attend yet anyway.

OP posts:

Mel · 05/09/2001 18:22

You can actually take your children out of school for more than 2 weeks if you choose.However, anything over the 2 weeks will be classed as an unauthorised absence. And if you keep them out for ridiculous amounts of time, then you'll find the EWO calling!
I don't think that going away in schol time gives the wrong message - as long as you aren't dossing around at home, while all around actually go to school! It honestly doesn't make that much difference to a reception child, especially in schools with a staggered intake. No child has to be in school legally until the term AFTER their 5th birthday.
I'm a teacher, and would love to go on a cheap holiday, but that's the way of the world, and I do get (on paper), 13 weeks a year - so it would be churlish of me to complain, wouldn't it?

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