Holiday fines for taking kids out of school, is the government missing the point?

[Supersares]

With the government announcing today they’re increasing the fine from £60 to £80 per parent, does anyone else think the government is missing the point here? I assume that the reason most parents have holidays during term time is to avoid the extortionate cost of going during the 6 week summer break. Wouldn’t it be better to clamp down on holiday companies hiking their charges instead… or am I missing something?

Where did I say it was life or death?.........

You seem to be taking it personally, but it really is just a fact - if a kid misses that particular lesson, they’ve missed it. It really is that simple.

I couldn’t give a monkey’s that you take your child out. But please don’t pretend they aren’t missing anything!

We are taking our year 4 child out of school for 9 sessions this coming term. First time we have ever done it.

I'm on mat leave so taking our opportunities where we can.

Spoke to dcs teacher on parents and the teacher has said that dc will probably learn more during that time than they would while in school. We will take books, weekly spellings, do some math problems and explore and use things like GPS and compasses. Historical guided tours and sites tied into their history topic, walks, outdoor activities and the list goes on.

We were also reassured the dc will catch up with no issues due to their nature and is at above expected levels for their year currently.

It's also about having proper quality time as a family without having to worry about expenses.

We really ahemmed and ahhed over doing this. We probably won't ever do something like this again.

I think sometimes, parents need to parent how they see fit and be allowed to make these decisions without fear of judgement or penalties.

the teacher has said that dc will probably learn more during that time than they would while in school

🤣🤣🤣

Per parent, per child, per holiday

You literally said taking a holiday isn't going to kill them

Jees do you take everything so literal

They may have missed it being taught once but that is not the same as they have missed it and will never learn it.

DC attend a private school where term time holidays are permitted when it’s due to a sibling being at another school. They are clear that they will not provide extra teaching for this but will send parents a picture of the work that was covered as it is completed. The school is academically selective and the curriculum moves fast yet those who have missed are always fine. Because they have engaged parents who are invested in their education.

I have no doubt that the majority who do miss for holidays have parents who are invested in their education but simply cannot afford holiday prices. In the grand scheme; their education remains unaffected and the evidence points this way too. The children who repeatedly miss school for the smallest of reasons and with parents who care little about schools are the ones suffering and they continue to fall through the cracks. They are the ones research suggests will have poorer educational outcomes and will continue to do so with these new increased fines in place.

It is all targeted at the wrong people

Big question we should be asking is the academic school year fit for purpose of modern families?

does 6, sometimes 7 weeks holiday in July/aug really benefit kids long term? Some studies show it’s detrimental especially for poorer kids to be away from routine and school for that long.

is 13 weeks holiday in every academic year too much generally? Do we need 13 weeks off?

how could we change the academic year to better suit modern families because childcare bills are bloody unreasonable and for some parents they’re fighting with other parents for limited Annual leave slots AND fighting with childcare providers for holiday club slots as well as trying to have a decent holiday away.

would many more 4 day weekends spread throughout the year, differing by school, help? Take them off the summer holiday and spread them out through the year allow more families to take short breaks and have the time for proper day trips too. would it be easier?

I know for me as a SEND parent having a couple of 4 day weekends A year especially in 7 week terms would’ve helped with burnout of DC . A shorter summer Holiday would’ve helped with burnout for me.

@SauronsArsehole yes I think we do need 13 weeks off a year. Parents still have to work and a lot of kids are getting up and out of the house early and attending holiday camp. So in my house its not exactly time off as such. I do not want faffing around with the school holidays!

And if you bother to spend 5 minutes on Google you'll find a number of studies by "experts" and others along with all the statistics you could want saying it has no effect

13 weeks holiday in every academic year too much generally? Do we need 13 weeks off?

Yes. And there’s no way that the government could afford to pay teachers for more than 190 contracted days anyway - they can barely afford to pay skeleton budgets as it is. So there’s no way that’s happening.

Why would anyone believe studies by "experts" when they could read ones by experts?

I agree the fines are way too cheap. I also think the system needs to be stricter. fines for the first strike, visit from social services and exclusion from school to follow.

Some studies show it’s detrimental especially for poorer kids to be away from routine and school for that long.

Most of those kind of studies focus on places like the US where summer is literally months long. UK children have the shortest school holidays in Europe.

Should parents in private schools have fines and visits from social services for term-time absences, or just those in state schools?!

but that's not going to happen is it. its about the majority, no the few, and the huge changes needed in the whole of society to be able to change the term structures would be impossible. not a battle worth fighting.

yes they should

Should children in private schools have 17 weeks off?

Why shouldn't they?

I used to camp in Wales with my DPs as we couldnt afford foreign hols (term time or holiday time) which was fine, although i understand the temptation of the sun. I dont know i would want to camp in the rain as an adult.... fortunately we are able to go during the school hols although do often stay in the UK

That was in answer to the question of do state school children need 13 weeks off.

i think there are so many little things "wrong" about the current state of education that the value of it has been tarnished.
both sen and behavior issues need proper legislation and both of these factors mean that lessons are constantly being repeated, material not fully covered, and some days not a positive learning experience.
equally has parental employment changed and what other factors are affecting school attendance.
increasing fees to me seems like a cash grab and red herring to a complex problem, one by which a 20gbp increase here and there will not touch.

They also need to fix the situation where a NRP who has limited contact gets a fine for a decision made by the RP. (I'm the RP here for clarity). How to inflame already tense situations.

The government is not missing the point.

Parents are... you really shouldn't take children out of school during term time and if you can't afford two weeks in Benidorm, during the school holidays, then don't go.

I say this as someone who regularly had to teach catch up classes to children taken out of school in Primary school as they'd missed multiplication, division, use of adjectives, use of punctuation etc...

But you do you. Who cares?