holidays in term time parents win a victory over the lea

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.........\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."

I don't think 5 days away on holiday at Reception are going to make that much difference, I'm sorry.

What about the kids who are frequently ill? I think of one particular child in DD's class who is frequently absent from school. DD was absent from school herself for a week with a particularly nasty stomach bug. It doesn't seem to have affected her in any way.

And maybe I'm lucky that she's bright and keen to do well. But then if she was struggling at school I wouldn't even contemplate taking her out to go on holiday.

Thanks for the apology US

I spent a year out of school when I was eight - bumming round Europe with my family. My mum's mate and her two kids came with us - she was a nursery school teacher and, on just a few hours schooling a day (just in what would have been term time) we all came back miles ahead of the class. That's not saying that we were all G&T (am coming down with some bug and can't be arsed to ruck with Cod :) ) just that travel really can expand the mind. (Sod reading about Vesuvius in a book - we walked up it in a thunder storm. How thick was my mum?)

With the right support, kids will learn wherever they are - be that two weeks in Lloret de Mar or elephant trekking in Thailand. Travel does broaden the mind - that's why so many people do it.
I'm lucky, I can just about scrape together the cash to go away in the holidays - but I only have one child. Why should someone less fortunate be prevented from holidaying with their family of four? Same goes for the length of a holiday - my nephew missed a week or two of school to go backpacking in Thailand. The only way my sister (single mum) could afford the flights was to leave before the rush and come back after it. The longer holiday worked out considerably cheaper, despite extra living costs. So my nephew got to have the most incredible experience - and all with the full permission of his school who, magnificently, saw it for the opportunity it was.

And no, I don't hold with that "I never felt left out" view either. Course you didn't - because hardly anyone went away on holiday in comparison to how many people travel abroad now.
It is criminal the way that prices are hiked up for the holidays - and no, it isn't just to do with supply and demand. The big tour operators will charge 4 adults a damn sight less than a family of 4 - for the identical holiday, same date of travel, same hotel.

That said, I do think families should limit their absences. Of course your child is going to miss out if they are constantly missing school for skiing, summer hols and winter sun. And if you can afford to do all that then you can afford to go away out of term time.

Here endeth the lesson.

Great post Willow.

We are taking our children out of school for a week mid-end of june to go on holiday. Ive checked verbally with the schools and although they cant say "yes please feel free" they did indicate that if they refused authorised absence then we could still go and be down as unauthorised absence. They also said they are not taking the financial penalty option either. In fact the only thing missing from our conversation was "send us a postcard"

I am a teacher - and while I am self employed and could take my holidays any time I take them when the kids have them, as that way I make more money - which I then spend on going away for the whole 2 weeks twice a year and maybe a long weekend for the other 2 holidays.

Yes package holidays are more expensive so we brave the rain and go away in our own country (but I guess NZ is on most peoples to visit list). Renting a cottage in the holidays is the same price as any other time, but you do have to book a long way ahead.

Dh can get his leave slip in well ahead because we know when the holidays are years in advance.

"uncodincitional dischagre doenst exist i think
< goe soff to check>

According to net, you can be sentences with an unconditional discharge which does not ocount as a conviction or a setence. Not actually sure what is means though.

well isntthat odd
we have never had one
i have had absolute dischagre ie you are guilty but you have no punisjment) and a conditonal one

Can be given longer and shorter times attached to it - such as 12 months. Can also be supervised or unsupervised. And can have fines attched to it.

So they have not been let off as such.

how od
il look it up tomorrow
i am in court anywa.

I bet you want to try it out now Cod, don't you?

yes to all and sundry

horribel hting at our meeting tonight about distraction burgalries
av age of victom is 81a dn thre have been 75 in our area this year so far.. most are NOT reported htough ( and htis is SAD) as the old folk are scared their kids will think they cant cope and will putt hem into a home.

in birmingham police follwed a family as they did 32 crimes and only £ were reported

VERY many victims die afterwards.

:(

and this family have 4 million int heir bank accounts for them
tis a way of life
so WARN old folk you knwo please.

What are distraction burglars?

Families should be able to go on holiday when they want. Kids learn loads on holidays. The teacher could give the work to be followed for the time away.

How much lesson time is there actually in a school day? - taking out breaks, time wasted between class start & finish, transport to & from school, lunch, time wasted in class with noise & disruption & the few hours of tuition could be done by parents whilst on holiday - or by the kids themselves.

When my dd1 missed 3 weeks due to an operation she got all her work , completed it herself & was fine when she went back.

If I want to take my kids out of school for an educational visit or to see family then this is fine to me.

Oh I didn't know it was called that. It's quite good that they've given it an umbrella term.

only just managed to catch up on this thread. Sheesh it kicked off some. I am a perfectly responsible mum with a fab, happy and brigth 6 y/o. I try my best to be the best mum I can and this thread pisses me right off as I believe that at 6 taking 2 weeks out of a school year is not going to damage his education. Would be diff if during exams.

I kinda feel sorry for some of the kids whose parents take such a moral high ground and when holiday feel the need to make sure the kids keeps learning thier lessons. KIds learn best through play and sharing books etc. A holiday is a holiday at the end of the day and when i go on holiday I will not be taking my 'patients' with me so why should ds take his work with him.

Totally agree that everycase is individual but really resent snootiness and superiority. Gets right on my tits.