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Original poster

holidays in term time parents win a victory over the lea

215 replies

zippitippitoes · 23/05/2006 12:29

.........\link{http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/23/nedu23.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/05/23/ixuknews.html\ story here}

"When they returned home to Park Farm, Peterborough, from the visit to Cape Town to see Mrs Donaldson's family last Christmas, the local education authority ordered them to pay a £50 fine for each child. The penalty doubled after the fine was not paid within 42 days.

When that was not paid, they were ordered to appear before Peterborough magistrates, charged with failure to ensure their children's regular attendance at school. However, the couple were given an unconditional discharge, with no fine and no costs."

OP posts:
UglySister · 23/05/2006 13:50

2 weeks holiday in term time in one school year is not significant imo and I say that as a mother and a teacher. Especially when taken at the end of the academic year. Perhaps I am out of touch as I´m not familiar with the number of tests children of all age groups seems to have sit now in the UK but I maintain that it is ridiculous not to be able to take your children out of school for 2 weeks in order to do what you think is good for them and for your family. When my children are at school I won´t be dictated to as to what is best for them although of course any course of action should be taken in cooperation with the responsible teacher.

MamaMaiasaura · 23/05/2006 13:51

hear hear uglysister - bet your more like cinders Grin

UglySister · 23/05/2006 13:54

Who´s Cinders? And is this a long-term discussion thread then on MN?

Twiglett · 23/05/2006 13:56

didn't mean to piss you off ..

I understand you have course commitments that don't finish till september .. but as each term is only 6 weeks long I don't see any reason you can't take them away doing half term ..

I don't think children should be taken out of school ..

that's my view

SaintGeorge · 23/05/2006 13:56

Most schools allow up to 10 days for authorised absences.

Awen, they are excuses. Sorry if that offends but you are not the only one in a similar position. You are covered by the 10 days with permission anyway.

My family holidays are ruled by my DH's annual leave, which forces him to take his leave in July and August. We choose to either not have a holiday or find a cheaper alternative. In 17 years together we have never taken an overseas trip.

DS1 has had one foreign holiday courtesy of my mum. Yes, we took him out of school for it - after asking and gaining permission.

poppadum · 23/05/2006 13:58

10 days is not enough time to spend with two sets of grandparents you see once a year, after enduring a 12 hour flight, IMO.

nzshar · 23/05/2006 13:58

At the end of 2003 me,dp and dss(9) went to New Zealand for 4 weeks. This ofcourse meant that dss had to have 14 days leave form the acedemic year. This was authourised by his head.
This was the first time that both dp and dss had met my family and I felt it was very important as i was 3 months pg at the time and planned to spend the rest of my life as part of this family unit.
A lot was learned by dss on our trip and i dont think his schooling was affected. Though now that he is in secondary school I dont think we would do it during term time again.

Blu · 23/05/2006 14:04

UglySister - but, as reported (if accurate) this family took their kids out for longer than the 'accepted' two weeks - i.e 10 school days, and took themout for 18 days - i.e three and a half weeks.

In our borough schools do not keep places open for children off for more than two weeks. In an over-subscribed school you would come back to find you had no place!

MamaMaiasaura · 23/05/2006 14:04

Because i am on placement through halp term too - have my finals on JUne 5 - have looked at ALL other possibilties. Only chance to get away is September with any chance of reasonalbe weather.

Right, what is the difference between excuses and reasons?

Excuzses generally mean to me whining and that there are lots of alternatives.

This will be out first proper family holiday as have been studying like mad for last 3 years. When I am qualified and get a job will not get child friendly hours and will have to work through bank holidays and christmas etc. So yes I think i have a pretty good reason for taking ds out in september.

An excuse would be that despite having the chance to have time off in the summer I am not taking ds on holiday then (although if that was the case I wouldnt be able to afford it on my bursary).

MamaMaiasaura · 23/05/2006 14:06

cinders = cinderella.. uglysister.. [sigh}

UglySister · 23/05/2006 14:09

(Embarrased.. forgot my own name.. no, more the ugly sister!)

PrincessPeaHead · 23/05/2006 14:12

correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no legal obligation to send your children to school. there is a legal obligation to educate them (this is why home education is fine). accordingly as long as you can show that the trip does not mean you are breaching your requirement to educate (eg by doing school work while you are on it, or otherwise showing that you are educating), then there is no breach of the law.

There is truancy, there is taking the piss, and there is taking your children out of school in a responsible fashion. You can argue the toss about whether that is a good thing to do or not, but it is not against the law, and I object more to the LEA wasting a huge amount of money in pursuing a middle class family who paid for extra tuition, ffs, just to make some sort of crappy point. Which they failed to do.

They should spend their money on the kids that NEED it.

MamaMaiasaura · 23/05/2006 14:15

very well said princesspeahead. Think that is why i have got riled and annoyed because i do support school and have a lovely well-behaved (mostley Grin ) ds. I know there are parent who cannot get their kids to school on time or dont bother at all and have a really neg view of schooling. That makes me think of excuses iykwim

MamaMaiasaura · 23/05/2006 14:19

A reason is the basis or motive for an action, decision, or conviction. A declaration made to explain or justify action, decision, or conviction.

An excuse is to explain (a fault or an offense) in the hope of being forgiven or understood: He arrived late and excused his tardiness in a flimsy manner. To apologize for (oneself) for an act that could cause offense: She excused herself for being late. To grant pardon to; forgive: We quickly excused the latecomer.

I am not looking for forgiveness as I feel I have sound reasons for requesting leave for ds, which I am sure will be given (having already spoken to his teacher). T

Caligula · 23/05/2006 14:20

What PPH said. Well put. I wonder how many habitual truanters this LEA has prosecuted.

Twiglett · 23/05/2006 14:21

hey .. its your child and you believe you're doing the right thing for them .. at the end of the day that's all that matters

MamaMaiasaura · 23/05/2006 14:22

yep you are right twig.

Twiglett · 23/05/2006 14:22
Smile
UglySister · 23/05/2006 14:23

PrincessPeaHead says it better than I can.

MamaMaiasaura · 23/05/2006 14:26

:)

GDG · 23/05/2006 14:32

I'm with Twig and often smile through gritted teeth as other parents tell me 'yes, he'll be off for a week and there's nothing they can do about it'

Ah well, not my problem.

MamaMaiasaura · 23/05/2006 14:38

ffs. what the hell is that meant to mean? Am I hormonal or something cos I am getting really naffed off with some of the attitude here.

SueW · 23/05/2006 14:38

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

MamaMaiasaura · 23/05/2006 14:39

how condecending is that?
tssk!

niceglasses · 23/05/2006 14:43

Awen.......case of here we go round the mulberry bush. I think we had a sim thread v recent. For what its worth, I'm with you. I think you've put forward reasons not excuses.