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Do you take you kids out of school for family holidays?

137 replies

Hai1988 · 24/01/2011 11:37

Just wondered if anyone on here does.

DS is in reception and we will be taking him out of school for a week at the end of June

Are on a tight budget so couldnt afford the summer holiday prices, plus i h8 how busy these places are in school holidays.

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Panzee · 30/01/2011 11:50

No, but I'm a teacher and you'd probably be all pissed off with me if I did. :o

Take your kids out if you want, they're your kids and you can tell whether it's a 'crucial' time or not. But if they're in my class don't ask for work. Whenever parents ask for work I suggest the child writes a diary/takes photos. Nobody has yet, which proves to me that handing over a load of worksheets (which I don't use anyway) is a waste of time, ink and paper.
Oh and don't expect me to reteach whatever it was that you missed. Cause I'm mean like that.

Takver · 30/01/2011 12:26

On a similar note, Panzee I was surprised that the TA in dd's class was able to take her holiday in term time.

I don't mind at all - obviously the school felt it was ok & could cover for her, but I had imagined that it would be a no-no.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 30/01/2011 12:29

Panzee, I think that is fair enough. We've taken DS out for a week in Reception and Year 1. We don't have to pay for childcare, otherwise we would have to go in the holidays.

We've never asked the teacher for any work as we feel he does enough during the day with us.

We do ask the teacher if there is anything important he will miss though. Would that annoy you as a teacher?

mrz · 30/01/2011 12:51

We do ask the teacher if there is anything important he will miss though. Would that annoy you as a teacher?
not annoy but it's a pretty pointless question unless you plan to cancel the holiday if the answer it yes

JiltedJohnsJulie · 30/01/2011 13:17

Didn't quite explain that one properly. Obviously we wouldn't cancel the holiday, but if say they were working on a subject that was important, we could do some of that with him at home.

NorfolkNChance · 30/01/2011 13:18

Ditto to mrz.

Can't speak for primary but yes anything I teach in my classroom during term time is important, we don't have the luxary of DVD days here!

mrz · 30/01/2011 13:23

Say the something important is a visitor/speaker introducing the work to be covered for the next few weeks? Sometimes things can't be covered by parents no matter how informed I'm afraid. I'm thinking of a series of workshops with a local museum at the end of which children had to produce a piece of work to perform to parents. One child missed the full in put and obviously couldn't contribute to the performance yet the parents complained because she was off stage Hmm

RoadArt · 30/01/2011 18:34

I think parents have to accept that their children will miss something, and it could be important, interesting, different, and not give teachers grief if their children miss out on further opportunities along the way.

However, experience is the best education of all.

Schools give children a fantastic base of knowledge and parents extend this through other means. Schools teach our kids through play, practical maths lessons, first hand experiences of museums, school trips etc and they are all really important.

Family trips can extend children's general knowledge immensely. One example is geography, naming places within the country, seeing the different kind of rocks, soil, and the different colours and textures. A teacher can talk about this forever, but if a child experiences it they are more likely to remember.

A child is taught maths, but if they practice the numbers by using equipment, they are more likely to remember.

Education outside school is just as important. Schools are very important and the teachers work really hard to do the best for your children, but you as parents can also teach them.

I am not suggesting you take lots of weeks out of school, but once or twice can be good for children.

I mentioned below about beach holidays not being educational, but they are very good for developing social skills. Children will meet other children and play with them, and they are in a different environment so their skills of people handling will be practiced and they will learn from this.

ednurse · 30/01/2011 18:35

Was at Centre Parcs this week for a midweek break and was VERY shocked at the sheer amount of children who'd been taken out of school. I know it's a cheap time to go and all that...but still

RoadArt · 30/01/2011 18:36

Another factor why some parents have to take their kids out is when their children go to two or even three different schools and they all have different holidays.

This does happen. Primary school has one set of dates, Secondary another and the College has a third. None of them are the same weeks all the time.

What are parents supposed to do then? Not take a holiday at all?

RoadArt · 30/01/2011 18:39

Ednurse - you just reminded me of a comment from one of our teachers, that the first couple of weeks of school and the first week of term time is the worst time to take time out.

This is the time that friendships are formed and if a child starts later then this can affect them.

Last week of terms always seem a good idea (what do teachers think - yes or no?)

laughalot · 30/01/2011 18:39

I do my ds is in year 2 and my dd in nursery. I am a travel agent so I see how many people do.

mrz · 30/01/2011 18:46

Out of the long summer break there aren't two weeks that coincide?

laughalot · 30/01/2011 18:48

mrsz was that question for me ?

MigratingCoconuts · 30/01/2011 18:49

I am also a teacher and agree with Panzee and Mrz.

I teach secondary and find it surprising how many parents do, and in important years.Shock

Following on from and early post, you are not 'allowed' 10 days...it is at the school's discretion and some schools don't approve these absences so easily

MigratingCoconuts · 30/01/2011 18:49

Grin at Mrz! I was thinking that!

mrz · 30/01/2011 18:51

no laughtalot

MigratingCoconuts · 30/01/2011 18:51

ps Roadart...they are the same dates if you are at state school in the same county...

laughalot · 30/01/2011 18:52

I take mine out now because they are little and I can afford for them to have a decent holiday. My ds works very hard at school and I think all children deserve a holiday but not everyone can afford it.

laughalot · 30/01/2011 18:53

Hee hee mrsz thought I was going mad.

RMCW · 30/01/2011 18:54

Yes.

Will be doing so this year and next year.

ds1 is only in year 3 so its not like he is in the middle of GCSEs or anything!!

For us, its quite simply a matter of either we take him out before the holiday price hike or we dont go.

Luckily the HT is very sensible and understands.

My dis does this too.

RMCW · 30/01/2011 18:55

...for example this year we are going to Menorca in mid may...2 weeks later (i.e. spring For exactly the same holiday. We cant afford that.

Next year we are planning a big holiday as dh and I are 40. We will be taking him out for the full 10 days "allowed".

RoadArt · 30/01/2011 18:57

ps Roadart...they are the same dates if you are at state school in the same county...

Our Primary School and High School have different holiday dates. They are under the same Council.

The College is in the next town and they are different again.

Panzee · 30/01/2011 19:22

RMCW have you considered not going at all?

When I was little my parents had jobs that meant we couldn't go away in the summer. But that just meant we didn't often go on holiday at all. Strangely we coped. I think this means that I don't really get the obsession with going away each and every year.

Feenie · 30/01/2011 19:44

Ha - "only in Year 3". Hopefully, the Year 3 teacher won't have the same attitude to Year 3 schooling as you obviously do! Wink