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Original poster

travelling vs school

40 replies

whymummy · 16/07/2003 12:34

i really need some opinions on our situation,ds started school last september and has had 4 weeks off for holidays,3 weeks that i took him to spain as i needed a break after being very depressed and not getting on with dh and one week for a family holiday,the school is obviously not happy with it but the problem is dh loves travelling and can only go on holiday when his boss says so going on half term is not always possible,i always teach ds when were away, this year he was at reception so not so bad but the problem is dh wants to travel next year for 2 months and i think is too much for ds to miss school but at the same time i know travelling is great and hell learn lots as well,what do you think and would you take your children off school to go travelling?thanks in advance

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WideWebWitch · 16/07/2003 12:44

whymummy, I don't know how old your ds is but yes, I'd go for it if we had the time and money, definitely. Are you in Spain? If so, do they allow home ed as they do here in the UK? If so, as long as you home ed while you're away there shouldn't be a problem but maybe whereever you are the authorities expect you to do one or the other. If you're in the UK, hmm, tough one since according to our school we're only allowed up to 10 days authorised absence in any one school year. I've taken 8 to do things I consider important but I can imagine they wouldn't be impressed with my taking ds out for 4 weeks in term time. I do think travelling is educational (and fun!) though and if your ds is 5/6 yo then I think he's too young to be at school anyway (as is my ds at 5.9) I wish we were allowed to send them at 7 yo as they do elsewhere in Europe. But maybe your ds is already 7? I'll be interested to see what others say about this. sorry, that's probably not much help though!

jinna · 16/07/2003 12:58

I believe children benefit a great deal from travelling - i certainly noticed this in my 5 year old son when we went to spain for holiday this year
I feel schools are too harsh when it comes down to holiday time and i wonder if this is more to do with how the schools report looks to inspectors at ofsted - i know they do hype on a bit about school attendance
as long as you take work for your son so he doesn't fall behind too much i would go for travelling - i think it is the best teaching especially when they are young

Original poster

whymummy · 16/07/2003 13:12

thank you www and jinna
ds is 5 and we do live in england,www i did get the nasty letter saying only 10 days and his teacher has been really funny with me since,when we got back from morroco ds was very dissappointed that his teacher didnt ask him about his holiday im sure it would have been very educational for the other children as well to hear what ds had to say,so im faced with a very hostile teacher that makes me feel awful jinna i agree with you about the reports,thats all they`re after

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SueW · 16/07/2003 14:15

If you remove him from school and take his name off the roll when you go on your long trip, surely they have no comeback? Obviously you might not get a place in the same school on your return.

I don't think you need to take work for him either at that age. He will naturally soak up info and develop at his own pace during the time you are away. Unless you plan to keep him in a vacuum, never talk to him, never let him explore using all his senses, that is

tamum · 16/07/2003 14:20

SueW has alluded to the point I was going to make, but from a slightly different angle. I'm in Scotland, so the rules may well be different, but I'm pretty sure here that if you take a child off the roll for more than 6 weeks the school will no longer guarantee a place when the child returns. Obviously this would depend on how over-subscribed the school was, but I should think it's worth checking. I agree that travelling would be lovely and educational in itself, but it may be a different decision to make if your ds may lose a place at a school he's happy at.

Original poster

whymummy · 16/07/2003 14:32

thank you sue and tamum,that would be awful if he loses his place at school ,he absolutely loves travelling and never wants to come back and he does learn a lot,last time in spain i took him to see lots of castles as hes into medieval soldiers,also museums and trips to the mountains looking for fossils wich he also loves,hes been to 4 different continents and learn from each one and seen how other people live,different food,languages etc,so i know is good for him but i don`t want the teachers to dislike us specially ds

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prufrock · 16/07/2003 14:42

whymummy - have you tried explaining to your sons teachers what you intend to do when he is away, and make it clear to them that you intend to use this as a cultural learning opportunity, rather than just taking him away on a bucket and spade type holiday?

LIZS · 16/07/2003 15:12

I agree that children can benefit enormously from travelling. Will he have the same teacher next year. It is certainly worth pushing the educational value of his trip and perhaps keep some sort of journal and send postcards to maintain the contact and keep him in the minds of the other children (of course would only work with teacher's cooperation).

When we first moved over here we thought ds would return to UK in time to finish at his nursery school so we sent letters, photos etc for a year, until his contemporaries had left. ds was their friend in Switzerland and provided a different view of weather, nature etc. His letters were displayed in the classroom so the Mums could keep tabs on us too!

From the school's point of view it would set a difficult precedent and the absence might be interpreted as truancy by Ofsted. However it is hardly disruptive to have a child of that age absent for a prolonged period unless there are exams or specific course work involved. When we were little there was often someone off with chickenpox, measles, tonsils etc for several weeks at a time. (I started one school at least a month late due to Mumps). Would it be possible to straddle one of the holidays such as Easter so that not all the time is at school's expense?

A difficult decision especially if it is gambling with his school place but if you don't do it soon would you have another opportunity later ?

judetheobscure · 16/07/2003 15:12

The problem from a teacher's point of view is twofold - first - so many parents take the children out of school with no intention of maintaining their education, and for the feeblest reasons. second - it's very hard for the teacher to organise the classroom / curriculum effctively if children are contantly absenting themselves - it's hard enough with the absences from sickness / appointments etc. without holidays especially longs one thrown into the equation. There is also the added problem that your child may end up losing his friends if his away too often - children want friends who are going to be there.

However, it sounds to me as though your sound would gain enormously from travelling. If you are confident that he would be able to pick up his friendships, and that the teacher would help you to keep up with his classwork I would go for it.

Would it be possible to talk to the headteacher about all your concerns? - and find out the legal position at the same time.

SueW · 16/07/2003 16:03

Also forgot to mention, two pupils from DD's school left at Easter and will be returning in September. They have gone to visit an ill relative in one of the Scandinavian countries, I believe. I haven't heard that anyone sees that as a problem but since it's a private school, the parents have paid to retain their places, I understand.

The DD is in Y1 and I believe she has an older sibling.

Original poster

whymummy · 16/07/2003 16:18

thanks everyone!
prufrock i still dont know who his teacher will be as theres 2 year 1s but like you said i will tell her as soon as i meet her
lizs good idea about keeping his friends and school posted,as that is one of my main concerns about him loosing his friends
judetheobscure thanks for your teacher`s point of view and i will talk to the headmaster like you said
big thank you to everyone your comments are really helpful

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Original poster

whymummy · 16/07/2003 19:30

i forgot,LIZS we will make sure that theres a haf term in between so he doesnt miss so much,and you`re right we might not have the opportunity to travel once he starts with exams

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beetroot · 16/07/2003 19:44

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Original poster

whymummy · 16/07/2003 19:53

thanks beetroot,did your children enjoy it?did they have problems getting their friends back when you returned?

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beetroot · 16/07/2003 20:06

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Original poster

whymummy · 16/07/2003 20:16

i`m pleased they enjoyed it and i think is a good idea to write the school a letter,thanks!

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Mumski · 16/07/2003 21:26

We took a year out when ours were 2 and 3 and had an amazing time. However dispite the fact they had Mum and Dad on tap 24 hours a day + so much stimulation, the first time there was a problem with one child, taking her out even though it was nursey school, was use as a stick to beat us with. I still maintain it was a hugly benificial experince. They are very adaptable, eat anything and sleep anywhere without being disturbed - and that is priceless! Travel, lifes too short not to.

codswallop · 16/07/2003 21:31

I agree that I think It is alittle unfair on the school ,especially if they are oversubscribed, to remeove a pupil. If this is deemed unauthorised abscence the whol schools % rate will be affected.

Surely summer holidays are long enought to travel i? they are 13 weeks a year! I also feel that you must show that school is a commitment that you cannot drop in and out of at a whim.

judetheobscure · 16/07/2003 21:50

summer holidays - 13 weeks? you must be kidding? ours are 6 weeks.

codswallop · 16/07/2003 21:51

sorry meant all the hols in total

Claireandrich · 16/07/2003 21:52

I think codswollap was referring to the 13 weeks throughout the whole year, which is pretty standard in state schools - 6 in the summer, 1 in October, 2 at Christmas, 1 in february, 2 at easter and 1 in May.

Claireandrich · 16/07/2003 21:52

There you go - beat me to it!

codswallop · 16/07/2003 21:54

what do you think, Miss?

Original poster

whymummy · 16/07/2003 22:45

oh cod dh really cant take any more than 2 weeks in the summer,and the journey were planning needs at lesat 7 weeks but like i said we wont be doing this when hes doing exams.
thanks mumski,i`m glad you and your children enjoyed travelling,mine are really adaptable as well wich is really good

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SueW · 16/07/2003 22:47

Out of pure nosiness, can I ask where you are going?

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