Taking kids out of school for holidays

[x-kirsty-x]

I was looking for short breaks yesterday and wanted one for half term but we only wanna go to Havens or somewhere and there's no availability at all unless we go next week, Monday to Friday, so I booked it.

It's really short notice and I'm scared of what Josh's school will say when I tell them, especially with him being off the following week anyway.

Do you think they'll be ok with it? It's not like he's missing his GCSE's or anything, and it was alright for them to go on strike the other week

 

[evemarie8]

Whatever they say don't let it worry you, they are your kids and you need family time just as much as they need school time, its not like they are missing loads and like you said they are happy for your children to miss out when it comes to them striking for their own gain, I would definately bring that up if they argue with you!

 

[mrs_tommo22]

Tell them hes sick!

 

[evemarie8]

Tell them hes sick!

What about when he gets back and wants to tell everyone about his amazing holiday??

 

[mrs_tommo22]

Very true!

Dont they go mad now if kids are taken out of school unless its a sporting holiday?

 

[valentine]

I wouldn't. OH is a teacher (but wasn't on strike, we're in Scotland) and its very frustrating when parents do this. It also often involves extra work for him to get the child caught up again. I also think that the teachers who were striking were doing the right thing.

Sorry, don't mean to be a pain the bum, just saying personally I wouldn't - but then I'll never have the option as we'll never be able to go on holidays outwith school time.

Valentine Xxx

 

[mary70]

you are entitles to 10 days authorised holidays a year out of school, they dont like it but cant do anything about it

 

[chickadee1976]

Camerons school sends a letter to you saying it is against Scottish office rules and he will be marked as unauthorised abscence.

So they dont like it but not alot they can do.

 

[x-kirsty-x]

I told them and they said it shouldn't be a problem as long as I fill in a holiday form tonight when I collect him

 

[evemarie8]

I told them and they said it shouldn't be a problem as long as I fill in a holiday form tonight when I collect him

Hope you have a great time then!!!!!

 

[Babylicious]

i've done it loads of times but then i always send a nice letter in first

 

[Urchin]

At Mason's school you just fill in a request form and they authorise up to 10 days a year. We've got a week away planned next month, but in January (the next school year) OH family want us to go to SA for 3 weeks so he will have to be unauthorised for 1 week of that. I won't do it when he's older but for now we do it

 

[x-kirsty-x]

That's what worries me, he went away last year in October with MIL & FIL and he was absent for about 10 days then, so really he has no days left to take this year and it might go down as unauthorised

I don't see why we should miss out on a family holiday just cos they've already used the days up though, I never wanted them to take him in the first place. Anyway, that's a whole other rant so I won't go there

 

[mrs_tommo22]

Aww well its sorted now so have a great time!

 

[Princess_Puddles]

I would, personally I don't give a hoot what the school/teachers think, they don't have to pay for your family to go away in the holidays (the most expensive time) and primary school I don't feel is really important, what ever you learn there you re-learn at secondary/highschool anyway. I wouldn't take Harrison when he's older and his education is more important but untill then I don't see why not

But anyway I hope you have a lovely time and the weather stays good for you!

 

[Kelly G]

We are going to centre parcs om monday and Brooke's school was fine about it. We only have to give them a weeks notice.

We went away the same time last year too.

 

[Krystal]

I would, personally I don't give a hoot what the school/teachers think, they don't have to pay for your family to go away in the holidays (the most expensive time)

Teachers only get to go on holiday in the most expensive time too you know

Personally I would try to limit how often Jack was out of School but certainly at Josh's age i'm sure a weeks holiday won't cause too much damage to his learning.

Hope you have a lovely time hun

 

[daftscotslass]

I would, personally I don't give a hoot what the school/teachers think, they don't have to pay for your family to go away in the holidays (the most expensive time) and primary school I don't feel is really important, what ever you learn there you re-learn at secondary/highschool anyway. I wouldn't take Harrison when he's older and his education is more important but untill then I don't see why not

But anyway I hope you have a lovely time and the weather stays good for you!

Uhh last time I checked we primary teachers taught kids to read, write and do maths without which high school and most of life in general when older would be pretty difficult?

Personally I think it's fine as long as it's once a year or so. There are folk at the school I work at who regularly take their kids out of school 3 or 4 times a year for a fortnight at a time. As a teacher I secretly enjoy having a smaller class a few times a year but it is a pain to catch the kids up (though generally it involves sending stuff home which doesn't affect me so much). I won't be taking Becky out of school when it's not the holidays cos it's not the holidays for me

Enjoy your holiday!

 

[katie05]

As an infant teacher i think it is awful that holiday prices go through the roof during school holidays. For that reason i totally understand why parents book holidays in school time or that overlap with a holiday. I authorise them no probs as long as its not frequent or not a a crucial time (SAT'S etc). I would'nt worry hun as you obviously dont do it often. Have a great time! Have also had parents who send their kids in with a sick note after a weeks off only for the child to announce they have really been to spain etc

On the other hand i TOTALLY disagree with the comment about primary school not being important. It is these years that shape them and gives them the best start! If you view it as not being important, it wont give them a very good mindset towards secondary when they start.

sorry for being 'teachery'

 

[missac]

To be honest I don't think it is the best decision, Primary School is extremely important, it is where all children learn the basics, reading writing maths etc, to say a child doesn't learn anything in primary school is ridiculous they go to school with only a limited reading knowledge and they leave fluent in reading writing and numbers (most do) I do agree that a lot does get repeated in high school but not all of it and certainly not the basics.

The problem with taking a child out of school during term time is that any groups that they are in will be ahead of them when they get back, maths groups will have more than likely learned a new topic, topic work will have moved on without them etc, It is a shame for teachers to have to try and help the child catch up and it is a shame that the child is being put in a position where they might get left behind.

At the school I taught at any holiday taken during term time went down as an unauthorised absence.

Kirsty I rarely disagree with you (although I am not on here much at the moment) so please don't think I am getting at you, just wanted to let you know my opinion!