Moan about term dates

[Bozza]

I am currently looking at booking our summer holiday. I have noticed that the prices for where we want to go (France) reduce significantly from 18 August. However to go for a fortnight that would then take us up to Friday 1 September. But I have just been on the LEA website and lo and behold - term starts on 1 September. They don't get 6 weeks holiday, they get 5 weeks and 4 days. How ridiculous is that?

Are you sure that isn't an inset day, does seem rather odd.

I dunno. Last year it started on Thursday 1 September. So maybe the LEA, in their wisdom, have decreed that term has to start on 1 September? Bit rough on the teachers though if it is an inset day.

It is sorely tempting to take him out for that one day.

Similar thing happened at my ds school last year. So many parents had booked the last 2 weeks of August because it was cheaper that in the end the friday ended up being a training day.

Do it, Bozza! Bet you there is an inset day, it would be madness to bring them all back for one day.

i would just do it tbh, what can they possibly miss thats so importnant on their first day back??`

I would do it too, it's only one day. Do the School have a good track record of allowing time off for hols and things?

DS's friend has just been to Eurodisney for a week. Do you think if I asked in school they would know at this point if it was a training day or not?

Yes, they will, Bozza - we used to get a notice with 4 terms' worth of dates on from primary school at the start of the year. (If not then the Head should be sacked!)

Message withdrawn

Not wishing to be contraversial, I would go anyway and miss first day back if that was the case.

Here teachers have 2 days inservice training before the school officially starts so it is highly likely pupils will not be going back on that date.

BTW - google you actual school and check their website. It might be more specific.

Here the children go back on Tues 5th sept and there is an inset day on Monday 4th, which I know for definite as I work there.
I had the problem the other way round, we fly to Portugal Fri 21st July which is the last day of term. I am owed some hours so I have wangled the afternoon off and I am picking the dss up from their middle school at 12.30 and we are off.
(yippee).

I've been teaching for 9 years now, and have never had the children in on the first day of term in September. It has always been an In Service day. It's definitely worth speaking to the head teacher on Monday.

Also, it's worth bearing in mind that some school dates differ from the LEA dates. We sometimes agree slightly different dates with all the local schools - primary and secondary, so that we can organise our training days more effectively.

Right well I've just been on the school website and it has a calendar that goes up to 31 August. Well it goes beyond that but nothing is marked in - not just for 1 September but also for half term and Christmas. I will ask tomorrow.

I say stuff the school. It's your holiday and your child. Who are they to set his priorities?

But I just didn't really want him to miss the first day in his new class.

But its all OK I have asked the administrator and that day is definitely an inset day.