Allow students to be taken out of school for two weeks a year without penalty

[Kalevala]

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/658365

"Families face school fines for taking their children out of school to go on affordable holidays. This can be a particular issue for low-income families, and families with children that have additional needs, who want or need to avoid busier and more expensive periods."

The saving is usually far more than the fine anyway. I don’t think the petition will do anything, as Ofsted and therefore headteachers and other senior management are obsessed with attendance.

It's 2 weeks less of school a year and a holiday should not overide this

How would you feel if your kids' teachers just disappeared with their families on holiday for a random two weeks on holiday in term time?

No, I do not support this. Children from poorer families tend to do less well at school. They do not need to miss their education.

Sorry, cannot support this. This is 5% absence before the child has had any illness. Over R to Y13 it means missing the equivalent of more than half a years education.

I'll sign if you add in that teachers and school staff can do the same.

Nope.
There are enough school breaks available already. Prioritise your DC's education.
If you take holiday during term time, surely also this means you need even more childcare over the actual holidays?

Absolutely don’t support this. It’s a real shame that some parents don’t understand how transformational a good education can be.

actually this petition makes me quite angry.

Holiday companies would just increase prices across the year anyway.

2 weeks a YEAR isn't acceptable. Maybe 1 week or 10 sessions maximum every 2 years because I do think kids get a lot from holidays.

No.

I much preferred it when it was at the headteachers discretion. We only went during term time once when my partner returned from a tour (forces). Bet they can't even authorise that now? Also if a child has good attendance and works hard I don't see an issue

They're only obsessed with attendance because of gov pushing it so hard. Most children taking a week out once a year will suffer no ill consequence to their education. It's children who regularly miss Monday's and English every morning due to being late. If the gov released the pressure a bit, reduced attendance targets to account, schools would be able to as well.

I'm with you OP. I think actually investing in schools is a far better way of improving educational outcomes.

It's a stupid policy, frankly, that definitely works against lower income families. You only have to look at how much somewhere like Center Parcs hikes their prices in the holidays to see this. I think a fortnight is possibly a bit much, but If a kid has good attendance and isn't mid GCSE/ A levels then taking a week off school is not going to disadvantage them. (Saying this as a former teacher and school governor.) Have seen a huge range of extenuating circumstances that have led to requests for term time holiday leave - eg special needs issues, terminally ill parent or sibling, parents work situation - eg if workplace won't permit time off during vacations etc etc. Putting a blanket ban in place is unhelpful and draconian.

No way could I support this, it is cheaper for parents but detrimental for children to miss out on vital learning

Same here. Perhaps if these parents had to pay for their children's education they'd think twice about taking them off during term time. I feel sorry for their kids. Selfish parents who want a cheap holiday at the expense of their kids education.

No I don't support this at all.
It must be very difficult for teachers to plan catch up lessons - imagine doing that for 30 kids!

Isn't 12 weeks holiday enough?

If anything target the companies who put their prices up during school holidays.

I work as 1-1 support in a school. Should I be able to take 2 weeks off during term time? Or is it only the children allowed to miss when their parents want?

Much better to petition for staggered holidays between areas or something, this petition is ridiculous.

Why not a petition to ban holidays companies from raising their prices in the school holidays? Surely that's the deep root of the problem. Why are schools always to blame?

Absolutely not

A week maybe but 2 weeks nah!!

Bloody ridiculous idea, there would never be a full class in at the same time.
Teachers have enough to do without having to constantly help pupils catch up

This would put a huge amount of pressure on teachers, trying to catch individual children up on work throughout the year, surely?