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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:
JustUsTwo · 12/01/2007 19:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lapinrose · 12/01/2007 19:58

Family holidays are v important and I don;t really see a problem with the situation here, so long as the kids are getting the right message about their attendance at school. I have taken alot of pupils away on trips because I believe they are an essential part of their education, but have always done it out of term time.

hercules1 · 12/01/2007 19:58

But what do you think teachers do? Never go on family holidays?

lapinrose · 12/01/2007 20:01

We so camping too hercules1, as the costs in school holiday time are so high and we are both teachers, but we do have a lovely family time!

lapinrose · 12/01/2007 20:02

or go even

juuule · 12/01/2007 20:03

I would request a permission slip. Fill it in and send it back. If your child's attendance is usually good (I've forgotton the percentage) and there are no important exams etc then I don't think the school would have a problem with allowing 4 days.

motherinferior · 12/01/2007 20:04

(God, I loathed family holidays. Mind you, the very word 'family' makes me cringe as well.)

WideWebWitch · 12/01/2007 20:05

We don't go in term time.
It's £38, I think you should either have booked it in the holidays or you shouldn't be going.
sorry if that's not the answer you were looking for!

(haven't read thread, only your first post but bet there's a lot of debate!)

WideWebWitch · 12/01/2007 20:06

And holidays aren't a right in my world, they're a luxury.

motherinferior · 12/01/2007 20:11

(They're a nightmare in mine.)

poppiesinaline · 12/01/2007 20:12

If I couldnt go and stay with my parents in Wales we would never have a holiday.

For some families they just can not afford to do a holiday in school holiday times because they are so expensive and yes, holidays are a luxury.

If the child's attendance is normally good then missing a few days off school for a holiday is not the biggest sin, as long as you are not taking them our during SATS or exams.

I would be honest about it though.

lapinrose · 12/01/2007 20:14

Teachers with families have no choice.

Fillyjonk · 12/01/2007 20:15

hang on charlie

um-I'm sure i saw your name on another thread a few days ago...which kind of suggestetd that your family does really really need a holiday together. and might also explain why you didn't think of school...?

Is that right or am I confusing you with someone else? sorry if so...

Original poster
charliecat · 12/01/2007 20:17

It was me, and ive arranged to go just an hour drive away, in case I end up having to drive just me and the kids there
But things are ok at the moment.
Cheers.

OP posts:
poppiesinaline · 12/01/2007 20:17

oh and as I said in my earlier post - I personally have never taken my children out of school for a holiday (fortunately because we can go away to my parents) but also as I do understand the other side of the arguement BUT imo, if it means a child gets a holiday or not get a holiday, I think holidays are just as important as schooling.

It does hack me off though when the same people do it every year or twice a year, especially when they can afford to go during school holidays.

beckybrastraps · 12/01/2007 20:17

charliecat - have you started a thread like this before. I'm sure I remember a ruck about birthdays.

Or am I thinking of someone else?

Do you have 'form'?

mysonsmummy · 12/01/2007 20:19

the fact you booked it last night before anyone else means you would have got the school holidays if you wanted. i got easter week 9th april and summer half term - can you not ring them and change the dates they are still available.

They will still miss a week from school wont they as it mon - fri. agree you cant ask the children to lie.

Original poster
charliecat · 12/01/2007 20:19

PMSL. Ive managed to leave out the fact My dds also have one day off a year for their birthday as they were born on the same day 3 years apart and I want them at home with me that day.

OP posts:
poppiesinaline · 12/01/2007 20:19

thats their choice to have that profession - sorry but it is and I think teachers are very lucky to have that many weeks off a year with their children.

handlemecarefully · 12/01/2007 20:20

hercules - you should hear what the parents say about the teachers!

beckybrastraps · 12/01/2007 20:20

That's it!

SO you must know what to expect...

Fillyjonk · 12/01/2007 20:20

oh charlie, i do like your approach with the birthdays there.

Original poster
charliecat · 12/01/2007 20:21

I didnt look at school holiday dates I looked at the dates where it was as cheap as possible as my mum is paying for it. I had april 7th, 11th 16th and some dates in May...I put those in and it gave me 1 selection. I took it.

OP posts:
hercules1 · 12/01/2007 20:21

I remember that thread, Charliecat

hercules1 · 12/01/2007 20:22

The thing is the thread title asks wahat you do and that kind of sparks a discussion about who does and why.

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