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Original poster

Do you take your holidays in the school holidays or in term time?

112 replies

charliecat · 12/01/2007 18:50

I booked a 4 day holiday last night (sun breaks £38) and didnt give school a thought, just said to dp that he would HAVE to make work fit around it as there was no way of us having a holiday otherwise.
(Never had a holiday before and dds are 9 and 6)
Just realised its the week after they go back to school after easter....
Todays school letter, new headmistress, says that Parents must ensure thier children get a FULL TIME education and permission for holidays will be based on that....hmm, so it wont be then.
So. Im not going to ask, or should I?
We will be going anyway. Its booked now.
And thier attendance otherwise is great.
What do you do?

OP posts:
NAB3 · 12/01/2007 18:51

Our school would go mad. You have to ask first, they don't have to say yes and it is frowned on. I wouldn't do it.

Original poster
charliecat · 12/01/2007 18:57

So you go in the school hols then?
Whats the worst that can happen?

OP posts:
NAB3 · 12/01/2007 18:59

We have only had 1 holiday since my son started school. I just wouldn't contemplate taking him out of school for anything other than illness.

cece · 12/01/2007 19:00

But what would they do???? If it is less than 2 weeks a year my understanding is thye can do nothing? Or am I wrong?

Muller · 12/01/2007 19:03

I have taken my son out of school for a weeks holiday a couple of times. As long as no longer than 10 days a year the school are ok with it. If their attendance is excellent normally cant see the problem.

Original poster
charliecat · 12/01/2007 19:05

If I send in a note saying they were sick then its not unauthorised absence is it?(Lying it is though)

OP posts:
tenbygirl · 12/01/2007 19:07

You are allowed to take your kids off school for 2 weeks a year in term time. I take dd out of school for one week for skiing

Mercy · 12/01/2007 19:08

Once a child is legally of school age then you must have permission before taking a child on holiday during term-time. Otherwise it counts as an unauthorised absence which will be noted on your child's attendance record.

At least that's the policy for this borough - although I believe a holiday of up to 10 days may be granted at the discretion of the HT.

I think once in a blue moon won't matter, but every year would. So get permission first Charliecat!

pointydog · 12/01/2007 19:12

Why didn't you give school a thought?

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 12/01/2007 19:12

It's discretionary as Mercy said - not an entitlement.

If it's not agreed and you go anyway then it's an unauthorised absence which the schools don't like to have as it's something they are measured on.

Original poster
charliecat · 12/01/2007 19:14

I just didnt give it a thought till this morning, was too busy thinking...hmmm...cheap break.
I realise if I ask and school says no it will go as unauthorised, which is why im thinking of not asking.

OP posts:
themildmanneredjanitor · 12/01/2007 19:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hercules1 · 12/01/2007 19:16

All the teachers will slag you off in the staff room and you will be viewed as unsupportive of the school.

MordecaiAliVanAllenOShea · 12/01/2007 19:17

I would explain your position to the head tbh. Tell her what you told us - that you completely forgot to check dates etc. Then beg

hercules1 · 12/01/2007 19:17

Not giviny my opinion. The records for attendance I believe go to secondary school and the school also get judged on them.

themildmanneredjanitor · 12/01/2007 19:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

themildmanneredjanitor · 12/01/2007 19:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pointydog · 12/01/2007 19:22

Officially it will have to go as unauthorised but so what?

I doubt the school would really be that bothered.

Just surrpised it didn't occur to you to think of school dates beforehand.

pointydog · 12/01/2007 19:22

Ah, like what mildmannered has already said

Original poster
charliecat · 12/01/2007 19:23

The teachers slagging me off?
Im sure they have better things to talk about that my dds missing 4 days off school.
I really didnt think first, maybe I should have, and not the mistake has happened im thinking that in 10 years time when dds are looking back at thier childhood id prefer them to maybe, possibly and hopefully remember the time in the pool, or on the beach or falling out of the bunk bed or whatever that another day at school.
In comparison, a lot of dds friends didnt return to school for 2 weeks after the summer holidays.
Im not sure if they asked, or just did. Or lied.

OP posts:
Blandmum · 12/01/2007 19:24

I know of one person who didn't get a much wanted job because the school was honest when asked for a refernce. And it was well deserved, the kid was a nightmare. Sometimes stuff does come back to bite you MMJ

Mercy · 12/01/2007 19:24

As Hercules says, when it comes to entry to secondary school things like attendance records are take into consideration (or so I am told).

Also, if a school starts to fail in its attendance target then I think its noted on the Ofsted report etc.

btw I don't necessarily agree, its just what I am told

hercules1 · 12/01/2007 19:25

It does bother schools as it does reflect on them.

hercules1 · 12/01/2007 19:26

Things do get noted on personal records. I remember one girl who was awful at a school I taught at and all colleges refused to take her as soon as they saw her reference.

Tortington · 12/01/2007 19:27

your kids could be ill - you can phone school up and say they are ill