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Parenting

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Original poster

gutted!

9 replies

linzoid · 13/02/2004 16:06

I was under the impression that my ds school allowed time off for holidays in term time so long as it was within 2 weeks per year and it was to be authorized beforehand by the head teacher. I have asked for permission to take my son out of school on his birthday so that i can take him somewhere and spend the day with him and it's been turned down
How i'll drag him away from his presents that morning i don't know and seeing as he falls asleep exhausted by 6:30 every night i won't be seeing much of him. What is the policy for holidays at your schools?

OP posts:

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ponygirl · 13/02/2004 16:21

We're "allowed" the 2 weeks for a holiday. The LEA says it is "permitted" but our lovely school secretary said that the head was quite happy to allow the holidays as he appreciated how much more expensive holidays were in term time. We've used 7 days this year on 2 separate occasions when we went away. I think it has to be for a holiday though, rather than a day out. Bit rough on your ds's birthday though!

DSW · 13/02/2004 16:22

Linzoid - I can't comment as dd not at school yet, but if I were you I would be very tempted to take him out of school for the day anyway (bad mum alert!! )- that or would he settle for swapping his birthday to the weekend - so that it is extra extra special. Either way I hope he has a special day - and you both enjoy it!!

StripyMouse · 13/02/2004 16:26

sorry to hear that your plans are up in smoke linzoid.

At the last school I used to teach in, the only time allowed for personal holidays was when there were personal circumstances that meant that the parents could not take time off for a break in the usual school holidays - eg. dad is a pilot and not allowed to take breaks peak season, small company and all school holiday time already booked up etc. etc. We knew that several parents abused this system and made up stories but never went so far to challenge them. Shame really that parents are forced to tell lies in order to take a break, esp. when the real reason is often down to money (as we all know how much more expensive taking a break in holiday time can be.)
I have got to say that I am of two minds about taking large amounts of time out of school (2 weeks or more) as I know how difficult it can be for even the brighter pupils to catch up -esp. with so much coursework and assessment even in Primary schools. The main reason for trying to be tough is that it is easier to have general sweeping rules that are black and white than to explain to one parent why they can?t have the day off to go to the seaside when they allowed another parent to take their child out to go to the museum for a limited special event...it gets too mucky and too much room for argument and problems. Do you let only the brighter kids out for the odd day becuase you know they can catch up easily? Do you let them out if the event seems worthy enough and of educational value? Who is to say the seaside doesn?t have it?s own set of potential lessons to learn etc. etc. etc. Pity it is so tricky as I can?t see what harm the odd day spent as a family would really do to his education.

If you really want to have the odd day off school and believe that he would benefit more for spending that day away for personal reasons, then you have 3 choices - 1) take an unauthorised absence and do it anyway in the knowledge that you have told the truth and feel that you are doing the right thing, hang his record. or 2) pull a sickie and deal with the moral explanation to your child about white lies..or 3) give in, send him to school and have a treat at the weekend.
Sorry can?t be of more help I do sympathise with you and hope you can enjoy his birthday whatever you do.

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Mummysurfer · 13/02/2004 16:35

there was another similar thread a few weeks ago.
i'll see if i can find it for you

Mummysurfer · 13/02/2004 16:40

this is it here
Maybe some things mentioned here will help you understand

butterflymum · 13/02/2004 16:58

I think everyone, children and adults alike, should be allowed off school, work, whatever on their own birthday (not others birthdays as that would lead to chaos). It is a special day, after all, recalling when we were born and we all only have one a year!

It should be a 'personal right' for everyone from day one.

butterfly
(wondering which part would be brave enough to put that in their manifesto)

JennH · 13/02/2004 19:01

I was always really sad my birthday wasn't in the holidays to be honest I say have a nice time with him at the weekend.

JennH · 13/02/2004 19:02

bum didn't preview.

I was always sad my birthday WAS in the holidays! OOps.

kiwisbird · 13/02/2004 19:21

Umm I'm pretty bad as my son goes off with his natural father for some hols, they always leave on day early or come back one dat later, its just what the stupid man arranges and well we get used to it,
the excuses we make are incredible! rainstorms plane delays,illness etc
They have never queried it, my son does well at school I do not know if this is why they dont bother, we never do it at the exam time of year!

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