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

[LilyBolero]

Discuss

They can fuck off. My kids have had disrupted education due to moving house & country several times and because we've happily taken them on holiday during term-time It hasn't affected them educationally in the slightest. In fact in some ways I think they are more well rounded individuals thanks to their travels than many of their peers.

I also might add that they rarely miss a day through illness.

I will continue to do what suits us and just pay the fine. Obviously I'm mindful of not taking them away during important exams and what not but at primary school I really can't see the problem.

And yes, holiday companies need to be regulated bit more.

It wouldn't bother me if i was in the paper for taking DS out of school. I'm sure there would be a long list of us. It's not a crime i would be ashamed of.

You don't currently have to go to court unless you don't pay the fixed penalty.

it's a ridiculously blunt instrument i think - friend of mine currently has her school-age child in asia visiting another friend who is living there for a year for a special once a year festival.
It's the most AMAZING experience which she will never forget for her entire life and so much more educational than any school project on other countries other religions or other cultures. some parents don't value education, others value education in it's whole sense not just 'schooling'.... depending on my personal circumstances genuine zero-tolerance of term-time absence might actually drive me to home school.

It's going to change..... The current system will get tougher

I am another one who will still be going in term time, gove can shove it up his arse.

My kids get a great experience on holiday and there is no way i can do a week in school hols.

We only go camping in devon bty.

They can take me to court and i will pay the fine at a.£1 a week.

Yes - I said currently, correcting your statement.

could we have a version of the story with a source OTHER than the Daily Fail?
Then I might actually give it some credence

I don't think there is one TalkinPeace. It was a leak.

but this isn't going to actually solve persistent truants, or help people whose children are having problems through bullying

yet again they are picking on the wrong people

A grand fine! Per child!!
Omfg
Never ever piss off the middle classes. The lower order revolt but the middle classes vote

So those who will take their kids out anyway..... Can I ask, how do you feel about contributing to ( negatively) your individual schools league tables

Cleverly
More like its a bilge Daily Fail story.
The fines system has been in place for years.

I have friends who have been hit over the last three years : £10 per child per day.
It was still cheaper for them than the premium on the flights.
AND the not letting kids who've been on holiday go to the prom - that was under the last government.

Sorry ladies but you've all fallen for a bit of Daily Fail Froth of Gove trying to see which way the wind is blowing BEFORE jumping.
The new way of doing policy : test it on Mumsnet and the Daily Fail comments page.
OH JOY.

Guardian story

Lilac, I think a lot of people would answer that they couldn't give a stuff about their school's league tables if they are based on shit like this.

Lilac, I feel less concerned about that than my kids never getting a holiday,

IMHO my kids spend too much time with their bums on seats and not eoungh time being kids!!

Telegraph

Will it affect their ofsted?

Lilac - my children contribute significantly to the league tables in that they bring up the standard as they are clever. The stupid stories that taking your child out of school - and I am talking primary level here - makes the school academic levels go down is not always applicAble. We take our kids out of school and they are above average academically and well rounded. Holidays are extremely important to us and if we choose to take them out of school so be it.

There are children who miss more school due to illness than mine do. Will they be fined in due course?

Parents should be fined if their children are out of school and sitting around at home doing bugger all..... This is truanting. The government should concentrate on why these kids truant and look at their families.

Teachers can't take leave during school time because they signed up to a job that dictates holiday time. Just like doctors can't get every weekend off. Part of the job that teachers have chosen.

Mine are mainly secondary.

But being absent without authorisation from school is truancy - whether it is parent sanctioned or not... whether it is for a posh holiday, a day at the zoo, a birthday, or hanging round the shopping centre smoking....

Secondary Is different ..... Though I would let them miss the odd day or last few days of the term.

All parents will do is say the kids are sick.

Sorry it's terrible, the poor won't get a holiday and kids life experiences will be less
The rich on the other hand will get cheaper holidays because private schools have different holidays.
We go camping in the summer and costs a fair wack, certainly more than it used to

I didn't get any leave alloacted in August this year. The only half term I was got was feb.

No holidays in the warm weather for us then. Dh works Saturday mornings as well and finds it impossible to get a Saturday off, so we can't even do a weekend camping holiday.

Tbh I'd be inclined to send dd2 back to school, after a week a off and tell her to say she was unwell.

I don't want to advocate lying in any form, but what choice would we have?

Being on holiday may be truancy but my children are having quality family time, experiencing new things and learning.

Truanting in the typical sense, ie sitting on their arses in front of tv or wii because they can't be bothered to go to school is absolutely completely different.