lets start a campaign! parents rights to take kids on hoilday

[jayne222]

just want to rant a bit how unfair that schools no longer permit family holidays, the authorised absence thing is ridiculous for infant and junior children, the letter following and "unauthorised absence is threatening and rude, the fines are insulting and I feel mad about it!! I want to take a a short family holiday when it suits my family, I want to be concientious and make sure my child doesnt miss out on schooling, but this no longer feels like a free country!!

do you ever lie seeker? I mean ever??

getting the child to lie is a bit shit, of course

but if schools are talking about fining parents, (and possibly shaming kids in front of the class/school- I've seen this happen on here) it doesn't give parents a lot of leeway, does it?

"do you ever lie seeker? I mean ever??"

Yes of course I do. Your point?

my point, exactly! Nuff said

What on earth do you mean? Yes, I lie on occasion. But I would not ask my children to join me in the lie, unless, I suppose, it was to spare somebody's feellngs. A very fragile somebody. There are no circumstances in which I would ask my child to lie to her teacher, her friends, her friend's parents - practically everyone she knows- just because I fancied 2 weeks in Ibiza in term time.

I had a child in my class last year who went on holiday to Disney Land Paris (short break ... badly kept secret). When she returned the note said she'd been to the opticians because of headaches... the child went into huge detail about what the optician had said and which glasses she had chosen ) Weeks later when she was screwing up her eyes to read I asked when she was getting her glasses. Blank look!
Moral ... never get your child to lie because they forget

Why couldn't each area have its own staggered school hols. So the SE, SW, N, NW etc would all have their own schedule and not force everyone to not compete for the same time?

I don't think that hol companies "exploit" school hols. There are only so many places and everyone wants to go at same time, so it is basic economics of supply and demand.

That does happen with half term holidays already. I've often attended training in other LAs in my half term holiday because of this difference
My neighbouring LA has different term dates to mine but it creates problems for staff with children in one area and working in another. .

I take a family of 4 on holiday for a week in August. We enjoy unspoilt, uncrowded beaches, beautiful scenery, lots of different activities, great dining, and everything else you could want from a decent holiday - all for under £1000.

It is possible for most people to afford holidays in school holidays. I can never understand why friends take off to crowded, and often unhealthy, resorts in term time - they almost invariably spend more than me.

My other August holiday - camping in Wales, looks like it will cost me less than £200 for just under a week.

Why couldn't each area have its own staggered school hols
Summer is when summer is in the UK. Ok, so the best bit is often may/june rather than july/aug - there is the constraint of public exams which have to be done synchronously towards the end of the summer term.

And if you know anyone living near a border with children in different LAs, or teachers ditto - staggering can be a huge headache. Actually that's a case where I would hope for schools to allow some flexibility on children missing a bit of term.