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Original poster

taking children out of school for holidays is ILLEGAL

588 replies

zippitippitoes · 08/03/2006 10:03

interesting news report here \link{http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2075270,00.html\ High Court Ruling}

so will anybody still be taking those unauthorised breaks and days off?

Will schools get tougher

and does your school say no at the moment?

OP posts:
GDG · 09/03/2006 10:58

Spidermama - one hour of gym? Don't they run around in the playgroun? Ds1 gets 3 playtimes during the day aswell as gym lessons. Plus, he can get plenty of exercise out of school - he's straight in the garden when he gets home and on Saturday has swimming and football lessons.

Your problems with school clearly run much deeper than whether you can go on holiday in term time or not. I really think you should get out of the system as you clearly hate it.

spidermama · 09/03/2006 10:58

I'm (almost) happy for them to conform most of the time enid, but I'm fuming that the state sees fit to criminalist parents who may feel that a term time break is appropriate for the needs of tgheir child,

My dh is freelance and has to take work when it comes. We don't know when he'll be available to join us on holiday so we have to take our chances when they come.

He's an actor. How do you expect him and other freelancers to do this then? Perhaps he should knuckle under and get a proper job and join the rush hour so that his kids can have fun at the time specified by the government. It's a shame though because he's a fantastic actor.

elastamum · 09/03/2006 10:59

Belive me I do want education to be free and high quality, even if we choose not to use this service, but I do not want the state to legislate every aspect of how I bring up my children.

Bozza · 09/03/2006 10:59

DS only does PE once a week also. But every day that is fine he plays out with bikes, scooters, other equipment etc which to me is as good really.

GDG · 09/03/2006 11:00

I'm a freelancer - I just have to turn down work in the holidays or go without holidays (like I did last summer - I was so busy we didn't get a holiday, I don't think my children will suffer any long term damage as they were quite happy with trips to the zoo, park, friends round to stay etc).

spidermama · 09/03/2006 11:01

Oh shall I just pop out of the system then GDG? Yes, so simple. I'll do it tomorrow in fact. Good call. Why didn't I think of that?

I wish I could see things in such simple terms as you seem to. Life would be so easy.

spidermama · 09/03/2006 11:03

Have you ever tried turning down acting work? Have you any idea how hard it is to get acting work?

My dh trained as an actor, it's all he has ever wanted and rightly so. He's brilliant at it. He should be doing it.

You don't know my circumstances or anyone elses GDG asnd you have no right to assume that the system works well for everybody.

GDG · 09/03/2006 11:03

I'm sure it's not simple - but at the same time, you can't be part of an institution and then expect to do what the hell you like within it. You have to accept the rules whether you like it or not, nothing is perfect. Like others have said, there is no need for a childs individuality to be quashed just because they go to school and follow rules there. You still have a huge influence on them.

Original poster
zippitippitoes · 09/03/2006 11:03

apparently the big increase in holidays during term time are second holidays in January and February which I imagine are times when quite a lot of work is done in schools

OP posts:
spidermama · 09/03/2006 11:05

No-ones suggesting kids do 'what the hell they like' within the school system GDG. I'm merely ssaying that a little flexibility at primary school level would be easy to achieve and the right thing for so many people.

No biggy.

GDG · 09/03/2006 11:06

Look, it is simple! Yes, your dh has every right to do whatever job he likes but then you have to accept the restrictions that go with it don't you?! And if you decide that the only reasonable and practical way to educate your children is through state schooling, then you have to adhere to the rules and restrictions that go with it. You might not like it but you can't expect rules to be bent and broken just because it's not quite right for you.

Bugsy2 · 09/03/2006 11:06

We all make choices in life. Surely it is obvious that the whole education system cannot be endlessly flexible around the holiday requirements of every individual.

pashmina · 09/03/2006 11:06

i think the point is if it is authorised its not ILLEGAL, and why did a local authority feel it right to take this woman to court? as parents we want what is best for our children, and there is nothing wrong with a little bit of flexibilty. if you really think its wrong then don't do it. if the school will not authorise then you can not take them - but taking a mum to court? a step too far, I think.

JennyLee · 09/03/2006 11:07

"How dare the state dictate to me when I can or can't take my holidays" - well pay to have them privately educated then!!!

A holiday is a luxury.

Yeah not just for rich people!!!!not anymore

Original poster
zippitippitoes · 09/03/2006 11:07

the more people you cater for the harder it is to be flexible though

withing a small group you can have flexibility nut as you scale up that becomes very difficult to manage

OP posts:
spidermama · 09/03/2006 11:08

GDG this is a new rule. Up for debate. I'm debating it. Don't tell me that's not allowed either.

harpsichordcarrier · 09/03/2006 11:08

bugsy I have to say that "the state" doesn't pay for our children's education
we all pay. it is a collective system and we are consumers of it
if we don't like it then we are absolutely free to criticise it and work to change or even just moan about it
it isn't a gift
we shouldn't be grateful
it's a service and we pay for it

JennyLee · 09/03/2006 11:09

I dont take the state education for granted just because I think it is okay to take kids on holiday in term time, I like my ds school, that is nothing to do with it I value his school and like the teachers and am involved with ds education, but I Still think it is okay as 2 weeks is only 2 weeks

prettybird · 09/03/2006 11:09

FWIW Spidermamma, I agree with you. And my own ds' primary school (which we are very happy with and which got a brilliant HMI report) appears to have that sort of attitude.

Bugsy2 · 09/03/2006 11:10

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, but the education system will only work if the majority are in the class all of the time. So by taking your children out during term-time - you do so in the hope that not many others will do this, otherwise the teacher will be repeating herself 30 times and all the children will be held back.

Original poster
zippitippitoes · 09/03/2006 11:10

I think the message from the original article is that it has confirmed that it is the state which will say whether you may have a term time holiday, if the school says no then it's no

OP posts:
harpsichordcarrier · 09/03/2006 11:10

by the way could we start a new thread with a new title because very time I read it in active convo's I have to say to myself:
....WITHOUT PERMISSION!"
It's starting to annoy me....

spidermama · 09/03/2006 11:10

No-one's talking about 'endless flexibility'.

At primary level there should be, say, ten days allowed during the term time of any year for any one child to have a as holiday. There should be dialogue between parents and teachers to ensure timing of said holiday is not disasterously disruptive.

JennyLee · 09/03/2006 11:13

well do you honestly think every parent that takes their kids out of school for a holiday should be criminalised? thats the bones of this argument is it not? Yes or no?

beatie · 09/03/2006 11:15

Ah yes - I can just imagine teachers getting their diaries out to find a good window for 30 children to take two weeks out of their classroom. A wise teacher would make sure they all took it during the same two weeks so they could bugger off for their own cheap term time break Grin

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