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

386 replies

LilyBolero · 19/02/2012 14:15

Discuss

OP posts:
HumphreyCobbler · 19/02/2012 20:15

some teacher are quite keen on Gove too you know Wink

ByTheWay1 · 19/02/2012 20:17

a week once or twice a year may not affect some kids education, but when 10 members of the class do it, and teachers are constantly playing catch up, and the TA who normally helps the slower members of the class keep up is spending time with kids who have been on holiday explaining the work that has been missed so they are not sat around looking blank, perhaps it is the kids whose parents haven't bent or broken the rules who end up suffering the most.

Perhaps these rules are being tightened to help the poor blighters who are having to backpedal after popular in-term holiday breaks - whilst having to listen to little "Johnny's" recount of his trip to Disneyland ...

HumphreyCobbler · 19/02/2012 20:18

That is exactly the point I was trying to make - when one does it is doesn't matter, when lots go it is a PITA.

HJisthinkingofanewname · 19/02/2012 20:21

Shock really Humphrey? I've not met anyone who likes him!

HumphreyCobbler · 19/02/2012 20:25

I am quite keen Grin Not about everything, but certainly about synthetic phonics. And surprise inspections.

I think I am seriously in the minority here though. Although I believe I have seen Moondog speak approvingly.

MoreBeta · 19/02/2012 20:27

It is clear that the fines will have to be very very high to deter anyone.

Unfortunately, holidays out of term cost more because there are only so many flights available and hotel rooms. Holidays in term time simply cannot be the same price as in school holiday periods - there would be too much demand if prices were kept low in school holiday periods.

Our children go to private school so we get longer holidays and yet there are still parents who repeatedly take their children out in term time for a holiday. The school has a rule that it should not happen but it plainly does.

Hulababy · 19/02/2012 20:30

ByTheWay - tbh, it really has little impact on me, as a TA, in the classroom, nor on the teacher because we do not recover missed work as such. We do make sure the children are up to scratch with key things obviously, but in my experience, a week or two doesn't make most children fall behind enough to warrant additional support in class beyond a quick 5 or 10 minute recap at most. And the way the curriculum works no key elements of the curriculum are covered as just a one of. They are all recapped on at various times over the year and then again in subsequent years.

I work in a school where we have many children with families overseas and many take term time holidays, especially linked to visiting family. It is only when children are off for extended times - such as 3 or 4 weeks or more - or several times each year that we notice an issue. And tbh that affects any child who misses a lot of school be it for holidays or illness, etc. But this is very unusual, so it is one or two children in the year group or school, not several per class.

That is my experience anyway.

Obviously once in upper years of Y9/10 and onwards it is very different.

HJisthinkingofanewname · 19/02/2012 20:30

Actually surprise inspections is one that makes sense cos at least it avoids that mad panic putting displays up & tarting up the school. Those schools who hide pupils won't get away with it either.
Am v anti most stuff he has suggested.

HJisthinkingofanewname · 19/02/2012 20:31

Sorry got cut off! Especially Academies/Free schools which are causing problems for us at work at the moment.

Portofino · 19/02/2012 20:31

Here (Belgium) you can have ONE day without a doctors note. If I took dd on holiday during term time, she would lose her school place.

Mallinky · 19/02/2012 20:32

Seriously, how much catch up is required at primary level?
You could get a whole class off at some point or another due to chicken pox or a bug going round. How much 'catch up' takes place then?

tralalala · 19/02/2012 20:34

bye bye holidays :(

Mallinky · 19/02/2012 20:36

Its just another money generating exercise.
I bet the fine won't be enough to deter people. It'll be £50 and most people who want to take the kids out will just pay it.

Hulababy · 19/02/2012 20:41

Surprise inspections wouldn't bother me either. TBH if it meant the mad panic that currently occurs as soon as they get the call it has to be better in my mind. And, thinking about it logically, a school should be judged on what they do normally anyway, regardless of the day of week, etc. But OFSED shpudl take into account that classes may be out of school, doing one off fun activities, etc too.

MrsHeffley · 19/02/2012 20:42

No apparently the fines are going to be very steep.

NotYetEverything · 19/02/2012 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

maybenow · 19/02/2012 20:51

sirzy - the link that somebody posted to the Guardian story said that these two 'discretionary' weeks are going to be taken off HTs if Gove gets his way.. because the poor HTs are 'being pressurised' to grant the weeks for 'ordinary' school holidays.

Juule · 19/02/2012 20:53

"Children only have one chance to get their education right"

I don't agree with this. It might be simpler to get qualifications at school-age when in theory that's all you have to consider. But it's not the end of everything if you don't.
What happened to lifelong learning?

Juule · 19/02/2012 20:54

"partly because it reinforces the already widespread idea that learning can ONLY take place in a school,"

NotYetEverything I agree.

Portofino · 19/02/2012 20:59

I don't agree that this is a problem. A free education is a priviledge - one that many, many children don't have. Kids in the UK are really, really lucky in the general scheme of things to have this.

So it is wrong imho, to show it the finger and declare that your RIGHT to 2 weeks in Greece/Benidorm/Florida overides the provision made for your kids, and the hard work the teachers put in to planning lessons etc.

Hulababy · 19/02/2012 21:09

"Children only have one chance to get their education right"

Disagree. There are many ways in which a child or an adult can be educated, at all times in their life.

holidaywoe · 19/02/2012 21:58

If the law states children must have a full education suitable to their needs can I not put my term time holiday down as a residential?
In our last holiday which was 3 days of term time tagged on to the half term my boys:
Read everyday and had time to talk about what they were reading
Wrote postcards home
Swam everyday and played volleyball
Learnt quite a bit of spanish
Learnt to use a new currency and went shopping
Cooked and ate local foods
Devised and went on treasure hunts with maths clues
Worked out the bill and what change was due in restaurants
Learnt about a different culture and way of life
Visited places of historic interest
Documented their experience in pictures, videos and photos

I reckon that in a court I could truthfully stand up and say that in the 3 days they had missed of school I had indeed provided them with quite a good education!!!!

HumphreyCobbler · 19/02/2012 22:03

how much catch up can be needed anyway?

Quite a lot actually. There is in my school anyway.

holidaywoe · 19/02/2012 22:07

Really at primary

KalSkirata · 19/02/2012 22:12

piff. If Gove really cared about education he might find out why its taken 3 years to assess my child for a VOCA. 3 years of no speech.
And there wouldnt be time of for the stupid jubilee/Quens birthday/royal wedding and other crap.
Its about raising money.

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