Term-time holidays to be banned, with fines.....

[LilyBolero]

Discuss

MrsHeffley-couldnt of put it better myself.

A UK friend in Oz wrote to her DC's Head to ask permission to take some school time off. He wrote back thanking her for telling him but enquiring why she felt she needed permission. They are her kids, aren't they?!!

The ishoo about this that winds me up most is the fact that this govt are doing everything possible to apparently 'devolve' power in school to schools, cutting out those nasty LEAs, working on the idea that 'the leadership of a community school knows what's best for that school'... YET comes in heavy handed and guns blazing, dictating 'national policy' on in-school time absence, completely riding rough-shod over the Head Teacher, his knowledge of the child, the school, the timetable, the demographic.

Once again, fear of tackling the real issues (in this case, feckless, couldn't care less parenting aided by benefits which are greater than that parent could hope to wrangle if child-less) by sledge-hammering the responsible middle, those who ask permission and can give good reasons- and accept a reasonable 'no' where it can be justified.

Not everyone has a choice about when to take their children on holiday. Most people who live and work in coastal areas have to work during school holidays. NO CHOICE!!! What do we do? This is not just about the cost of holidays. We as parents should have the choice on this, not be dictated to by government. They make laws without any thought of how they affect people. Maybe I should give up my job and Claim benefits. Then I could have the luxury of a school holiday with my child. If these teachers can not educate our children in the time they are given then they should not be teachers. It's not about the children it's about getting a good ofstead report. Please sign the e petition against this. Even if you do not agree with taking your own child on holiday in term time. You have the freedom to choose. That's the way it should stay, they are your children after all.

Music to my ears, you are so right.

The regime for fines already exists. Labour brought it in in 2003.

It's still going to be HT's discretion. And exceptional circumstances will still exist as a reason (it's only explicit mention of holidays that's going). If you have a strong case for it being exceptional, then it is still possible.

zombie.

ive had a holiday booked for nearly 2yrs to take my family to florida in oct. my little boy has cerebral palsy and struggles with masses of people but would get so much from this experience. he also would not cope with the heat from april-mid sept when its just too hot. he already struggles to get around, its just mean to put him in that heat. why should he miss out though just because I have a 7yr old too? seems unfair especially when hes had perfect attendance this year and is 18 months ahead with his reading and spelling and above target for everything else? I would even take work with us so that he did not fall behind.

it seems unfair for a family to scrimp n save for all this time to give the kids a once in a lifetime holiday for the government to take this decision away from the head. I know they say education is free in this country but its not. we all pay taxes. its paid for by u so why dont we have the choice? at the end of the day if a child can cope with the time off I dont see the issue.

as a child i was taken away during school time for 2 weeks every year as thats all my parents could afford. i believe holidays bring valuable life experience and first hand knowledge of other places. reading about it in a text book just isnnt the same. children learn from practicals.

i can understand why it is important to get your child to school every day but my son may have chicken pox for 2 weeks in october.

So why cant we home school our kids for a week or two while we are on holiday that way the kids wont miss lessons you cant tell me the teachers don't plan lessons in advance?

I would happily do this if it ment we could have a family holiday together but as it looks at the moment we will never have another family holiday again for as long as wek have a child in education and that stinks.

so hang on, let me get this straight. In the same week that they announced that schools are to be able to set their term times independent of central doE control, they are now saying that all schools will be forced to ban term time holidays.

agenda? much?

Flatmum. This appears to be a zombie thread started in feb2012

we are all going to become liars!! we have four children, how much would that cost us in fines. Bugs , summer colds, spread in familys, can prolong for days...even a week....