To ask if you agree with term time holidays to please sign this petition...

[TermTimeHolidays]

here

It needs 100,000 signatures before it can be discussed in parliament.

But then most people wrongly assume that a child must attend a school. Do we stop to ask children if they would like to sign up for this with its attendant rules and restrictions? no.

Teachers are adults who have decided to teach in schools and sign a contract. If that means that they can't take holidays when they like then they have agreed to this when they accept the job.

I don't agree, SDTG. They've got you over a barrel and they know it.

Most of us don't have the luxury of opting to home ed' our children so it isn't a case of staying in school equals agreement to any rule changes the LEA decide are necessary. You just aren't given any choice in the matter.

The attitude of "if you don't like the rules, opt out of the school" at least ties in with the wholly unfair and inflexible attitudes shown by Gove, LEAs and many on this thread, anyway.

"Teachers are adults who have decided to teach in schools and sign a contract. If that means that they can't take holidays when they like then they have agreed to this when they accept the job."

Exactly.

And it's not like they're short on weeks to choose from! I wish I had 12 weeks leave...

Another thought is why aren't teachers offered some kind of discount scheme for holidays? I would support that.

Can't see this being too popular to be honest. With or without taking the extra 2 week's holiday, if you are a working parent you'd still have to find childcare for the 13 weeks of scheduled school holiday plus sick days.

As has been pointed out, it isn't obligatory to send your children to school. However, whether you decide to sign your children up for school or take part in a home ed co-op once or twice a week, if somebody has planned a series of lessons/experiences for your child, it makes it more difficult for the organiser/teacher if people don't turn up when expected.

Noble you're wrong.

I have countless friends with dc in secondary who can't afford and don't go on trips to France,ski-ing,Greece,New York etc that others go on.

The only holiday where I'm truly on holiday (as in doing no work and not being primarily concerned with work) is the 5.4 week summer holiday. Hardly longer than anywhere else.

I teach A level and am held directly responsible for my students' results. What can I do if a parent decides to take their teenager out for the first two weeks of the year? Do you have any idea how much time it would take to catch that kid up to the rest of the class? And having spoken to students, parents' inability to choose leave has never once been cited as the reason.

Well if we are worried that children might miss a week or two, why not just extend the terms. I would be in favour of schools being open 51 weeks of the year with parents and teachers having some discretion about when to take their 4 weeks annual leave, see how the teachers like that and remember it can't be taken if it clashes with exams, Sats, christmas, training, sports days etc,.. and no more than a few staff off at any one time!

I am thinking that even with 100,000 signatures this might not be discussed in parliament...

so if you take your child out of school to home ed - and then after two weeks decide it isn't working and your child returns to school - if there is still a space - that would be legal, wouldn't it and no possibility of a fine just the fact that there might not be a spar any longer

Well you cope I'm sure with those going ski-ing etc with school.

So rich kids get expensive school trips and holidays with family but the less well off get nothing- nice.

Yeah, great idea mini. And with various teachers and pupils off at random chance, how do you suggest they achieve any level of continuity or progression?

If I had to work 48 weeks of the year, my wages would rise considerably.

Depends if there is a waiting list ivykaty44

I think the fines are arbitrary and parents that can afford holidays are the same parents that can afford the fines, they could therefore take their holidays in the school holiday. Those that can least afford the fines are the very same families that can least afford the premium prices in the school holidays.

Far better for HT to use their discretion and if they feel that parents take the piss, offer the child's place to someone on the waiting list. No bum on seat means no guarantee of a seat, should you take your child out without approval.

I think this business of 'It's detrimental to the education of the other children, to have to go over things again', is a complete sanctimonious red herring. In any mixed ability class (which I imagine is the majority in most primary schools, at least) differentiation is commonplace, surely, as children will be working at various levels - some will grasp things quickly, others will take more time to absorb information and in our school anyway, 'consolidation' (i.e. repetition) is strictly adhered to, even for those children that had grasped a concept terms ago!

OttilieKnackered why so serious?

IvyKaty

Yes you are right it would be legal but doubtfully practical and not in the best interests of the child.
Once deregistered the school have 7 days to inform the LEA that your child has deregistered. Then you would have to apply again and unless you decided to continue H.ed take the first school with places offered, like a mid year application.
Certainly lawful though.

Mini - because teaching is my job, and I like to take my job seriously.

Yeah, I don't think that Mini's 48 week term idea was all that serious.

Pfffft.

Are you allowed to joke on your pre-ordained time off OttilieKnackered I don't think it would work, but I do think that we are clinging to old ideas that went out with the harvest.

I have no opinion on this either way. but. Did you know, that this petition has 87,000 signatures.

The petition to stop the privatisation of the probation service - the service that protects you and your children from harm - has less than 30,000 and is in the process of being sold off even as we speak. Did anyone know that?

Get some perspective OP and those who sign this. 87,000 people care more about 10 days holiday in a cheaper place than ensuring their children are kept safe from potentially very, very dangerous people?

Pavlov, mate.

Is there a rule written down somewhere that says you can only sign one petition? Cos if so, I have broken that rule. I have signed both.

I (and presumably others) am able to care about more than one thing at a time but then I am a very amazing human so you won't be surprised.

marmalade yes, I agree in theory but, less than 30,000 versus 87,000 means that you are in the minority, and more people give a shit about holidays for their family than whether their safety and those of their family get passed entirely into the hands of G4S.

I think that that's probably untrue. If you did a straw poll on the street, 'which concerns you the most?', the probabtion service quashing would win out. I am sure.

These petitions are ultimately pointless and only representative of how many Facebook/Twitter shares they get.

Marmalade Completely off-topic, but happened upon the added extra to your name, whilst scrolling. Would you? Really??!

I bloody well would!

And so would you, if you're being honest.