Any teachers out there?

[nappyaddict]

MIL has got her 60th birthday coming up July 2015. She wants to do a big family holiday abroad but has asked me how I would feel about DS missing the last 4 days of school.

If DS was in your class would this piss you off?

I can understand if he was in year 9+ it being a problem, but is he really going to miss much?

I am a teacher and I would say go for it. That is providing you are prepared to pay the potential fine the LEA may impose. I would think it is unlikely that you will be fined as lots of people will probably do the same. However it is best to factor it into the costs.

From an academic point of view it really isn't a problem though!

It entirely depends on an honest answer to how many days has he already had off this year?

If his attendance is 100% or almost, it really shouldn't be a massive problem as long as you accept that the school consider it unauthorised.

If your son has had 10+ days off, or even maybe 7+ days off this year it becomes more of an issue.

It only annoys me when people aren't honest and don't let you know the child won't be there. There are always things that need organising and handing out, like children's work, important letters, homework etc. Would be nice to know in advance so these things can be sorted out.

Our LA only fines when there are more than 5 days in a row taken.

would it bother you at other times during the year or are you just saying go for it because its right at the end of the academic year?

Because it is end of academic year. I would never suggest taking time out unless it was last week of year or 2 days before Christmas. All other times are vital in my opinion.

Our school have signalled that the LA are tightening up on this from September, so you are likely to be fined, even if it's only for a family occasion at the end of the summer term.

other question is what about a week where Monday is bank hol, Thursday is election day and Friday is inset day?

re attendance percentage would it affect the next academic year's attendance or does everyones start at 100% again in September?

It starts afresh in a new academic year, but if you were trying to argue a case as to why there were exceptional circumstances why your child's attendance were low, but then they look and see it was low each year, then it kind of weakens your argument.

With the BH/Election/INSET day week, it would mean the dc were only missing 2 days and if that were the only 2 days they missed in the year probably wouldn't be too serious, but - going by this thread, it appears you aren't talking about exceptional circumstances, you are starting to see how many ways you can get round the system, which is slightly different.....

This would be authorised holiday by the way so not trying to get around the system. Just want to take him out when it would be least disruptive to him, his teacher and the rest of his class.