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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

When term time holiday is not authorised...

146 replies

Lukethe3 · 19/04/2013 16:29

....how do you politely tell the school you are going anyway? An email on the Monday morning or a letter? Or do I just tell the class teacher?

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Jinsei · 19/04/2013 18:26

jensei - only in 'in exceptional circumstances' that is as far as their remit goes

Yes, but they have the discretion to decide whether or not the circumstances are exceptional. That's the whole point.

Lucyellensmum95 · 19/04/2013 18:31

No, my not caring a shit about box filling regarding my DDs attendance is actually because I am a sensible parent who values attendance at school, as i have said, this year my DD has had 100% attendance (she is hardly ever sick, shes lucky) so far and hopefully will have until the end of the year. She was in year 2, i ensured that the holiday in no way interfereed with her SATS, i also deemed, as i am entitled to do, as her parent that she needed this holiday after some difficult times the previous year. I actually think my DDs school shared my view, they just coudlnt officially authorise it.

Your comebacks are a bit nonsensical, i'm not actually trying to score points, just point out that i think its all a bit of twaddle and parents should be given enough credit to be able to make a decision as to whether or not a week off school (5 days!) will have a detrimental affect on their child's education. My DDs teacher is excellent and probably has enough boxes ticked in other parts of her performance review. so as not to get her knickers in a twist about a child missing 5 days during a school year.

Jinsei · 19/04/2013 18:32

I guess what I am concerned about are the lessons where the child will miss something and the way some on talking on this thread - they dont really care, not their issue etc etc. As long as they can take their child out of school whenever they want!

I care. I care deeply about dd's education, and I have always impressed upon her the importance of school. But education doesn't only happen in the classroom. On the three occasions when we have taken dd out of school (with their blessing), she has had the most amazing educational experiences that simply couldn't be replicated at home. Those too are valuable.

I do not expect the teachers to go over anything with her that she has missed during her absence, and the need has never arisen. If I thought she would suffer as a result of the absences, I would not take her. Thankfully, our teachers have always agreed that some things are even more important than school.

FasterStronger · 19/04/2013 18:32

jensei - I can only repeat that a holiday is not exceptional circumstances.

Jinsei · 19/04/2013 18:33

Surely it depends on the reason for that holiday.

FasterStronger · 19/04/2013 18:35

I thought she would suffer as a result of the absences, I would not take her.

but what about all the children where parents don't care as much as you about education?

what about their classmates when the teacher needs to assist them?

you cannot have one rule for children doing well and one for the one for those already behind.

Jinsei · 19/04/2013 18:36

My DDs teacher is excellent and probably has enough boxes ticked in other parts of her performance review. so as not to get her knickers in a twist about a child missing 5 days during a school year.

Quite.

Lucyellensmum95 · 19/04/2013 18:36

handcream, that is certainly not my stance on it, my stance is about common sense. Surely you would agree with me that one week, in year two is not going to be devestating, in the scheme of things. That week in year 6 would clearly be something quite different and I would want to take the schools advice as to whether or not they felt it was OK or not. What i don't want the decision to be based on, is the schools attendance record - i don't care about that. I care about MY child's education. The same for secondary school, I wouldnt be taking DD out of school at term time once she hits secondary school, and probably wont be repeating the holiday absense during primary.

TravelinColour · 19/04/2013 18:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FasterStronger · 19/04/2013 18:38

Jinsei Fri 19-Apr-13 18:36:20
My DDs teacher is excellent and probably has enough boxes ticked in other parts of her performance review. so as not to get her knickers in a twist about a child missing 5 days during a school year.
Quite.

so your DD is in a failing inner city school with a head brought in to turn the school around, right?

Lucyellensmum95 · 19/04/2013 18:38

Exasperated now - actually my child is behind, she is dyslexic and as such gets lots of extra support in school as it is, I don't think the five days we took out of school last year will make one hoot of a difference in the grand scheme of things.

Lucyellensmum95 · 19/04/2013 18:40

WTAF does it matter what sort of school my DD is in? It isn't all about your DPs school and his performance review you know!

FasterStronger · 19/04/2013 18:42

of course not - its about making schools better. which is clearly not helped by parents taking their DCs out of school.

JedwardScissorhands · 19/04/2013 18:42

Faster, your DP may work in education but you don't. Have you acquired an in depth knowledge of education law by chatting over dinner? No, evidently not.

Jinsei · 19/04/2013 18:42

I believe that the head should be able to use their discretion. If he/she believes that the absence would have a detrimental impact on the child in question, then the holiday should be refused. If he/she believes that it is in the interests of the child to authorise the holiday, then I think it should be authorised.

Attendance targets shouldn't be the driving force. It should be about what is in the best interests of the child.

Jinsei · 19/04/2013 18:46

And I don't believe that the type of school should be an issue either. It shouldn't be about the school in my view. The guiding principle should be the best interests of the child.

binger · 19/04/2013 18:47

I don't ask for permission but I write the week before to the office, cc teacher, advising of dates they will be absent. The school just want to be informed and it's only polite to do so.

FasterStronger · 19/04/2013 18:47

jedward - you are right but I do tell him what people post on MN & he responds.

I think its quite sad that people value school so little - but its a free country.

jinsei - Attendance targets shouldn't be the driving force. this is a govt measure so if you are a HT it doesn't really matter what you personally think.

handcream · 19/04/2013 18:49

So what are the reasons for taking your child out of school, there are so varied and I suspect unusual and biased towards what YOU want to do that the school year would be in disaray if people just decided to do what they liked.

FasterStronger · 19/04/2013 18:49

jinsei - the best interests of the child the children DP works with are often very far away a life involving their best interest.

handcream · 19/04/2013 18:51

Just a message for all of you who are going to fib about why your child isnt attending school. A colleague of mine a few years ago reported in sick. He was then seen in the front row of a snooker match by another colleague who mentioned in passing during a meeting that they had seen him the previous day not realising that he had pretended to be sick.

He was fired....

Jinsei · 19/04/2013 18:51

jinsei - Attendance targets shouldn't be the driving force. this is a govt measure so if you are a HT it doesn't really matter what you personally think.

Yes, I agree, and I think the current system needs fixing. Nevertheless, the current system does give headteachers the discretion to decide whether or not circumstances are exceptional. And when exercising this discretion, I'm sure that the best headteachers will prioritise the needs of the child over and above the government's attendance targets.

Jinsei · 19/04/2013 18:54

jinsei - the best interests of the child the children DP works with are often very far away a life involving their best interest.

Sorry, not sure what you mean.

FasterStronger · 19/04/2013 18:54

jinsei - I'm sure that the best headteachers will prioritise the needs of the child over and above the government's attendance targets.

needs of the child yes, wants of the parent no.

handcream · 19/04/2013 18:55

My son goes to a private school. I had an important birthday looming. That weekend (he is a boarder) was Remberance Sunday a very important date at this particular school. They lost a very large number of ex pupils during WW1 and 2.

I had already signed a document to say that I would abide by the school rules and one of them was that I wouldnt take him out of school during key dates like this.

So, we had to shift the party to later, pick him up and then literally start when he arrived. Bit messy but doable. I really dont understand these people who dont value education and think they can do what they like and state they 'dont give a shit'.

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