Taking kids out of school for holidays

[mary70]

he will not miss out on enough in a week to affect anything and especially not at this time of year at his age, have a good time kirsty

 

[katie05]

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

Too true! My hubby twines his backside off about the fact i can never go away out of the holiday period.

 

[Princess_Puddles]

to say a child doesn't learn anything in primary school is ridiculous

I didn't say that and can't see anyone else who did. I said that I don't feel it's really important. Sorry but thats my opinion & you're entitled to yours. I probably am coming across as someone who doesn't care and will let my Son have loads of time off which I won't, I'm not like that but for a week or two once or twice a year isn't going to hurt.

 

[missac]

A week or two once or twice a year could add up to four weeks, which when the children are already getting 12 weeks makes an awful lot.

I appreciate it is your opinion, and as you say we are each entitled to one.

 

[mary70]

my son never had above 81% attendance due to health problems of one sort or another and it never did him any harm so dont worry girls and i have taught for 9 years too

 

[foxymum]

we are going away next month & the kids will be missing 11 actual school days, the holiday was £1000 cheaper coz its NOT in the school hols
both schools have put it donw as un-authorised & sent me a shitty letter, even though we've not been on holiday for 3 years!

i say do it but just not frequently, mine are sooo excited to be going on holiday & i think its so important for them to have had the experience of going away.

mine are 11,6 & 20 months & have only had 1 holiday, obviously Louie whos 2o mth hasnt had a holiday atall coz it was before he was born.

have fun hun

 

[jennywren]

to say a child doesn't learn anything in primary school is ridiculous

I didn't say that and can't see anyone else who did. I said that I don't feel it's really important. Sorry but thats my opinion & you're entitled to yours. I probably am coming across as someone who doesn't care and will let my Son have loads of time off which I won't, I'm not like that but for a week or two once or twice a year isn't going to hurt.

You don't think reading, writing, basic maths and the other basic life skills you get taught at Primary school are important??

I don't know if I would do it or not, would have to see at the time - however my friend has been telling me in our area (she works for schools council) from this sept, or it might be next (I was half listening half watching ER) they are introducing a play based learning from 4-6 and only then at 6 starting the ''proper'' learning, so perhaps before DS was 6 I ''might'' take him out for a week but it would depend at the time really.

 

[Happybunny]

Just wanted to add that it isn't the school that usually minds the absence - it is the local authority. The schools have to follow their guidlines unfortunately and that is why they appear shirty.

As a teacher myself, I have no problem with a child missing a few days during the year to go on holiday. Maths, English and Science are VERY important, but I also think children learn a lot from going to new places with their family - skills and experiences that can not be replicated in the classroom. Admittedly they could do this in the school holidays, but I myself am appalled at the prices hikes during these times. I really think the government should do something to reduce these costs if they want children to be in school during term time.

Having said that - a few days or a week is fine. Consistently taking your child out of school is irresponsible. (I know families who take their kids out for up to 4/5 weeks every year - they are now in big trouble with the local authority)

 

[Nicola]

We have just had our village school undergo an Ofsted report. Everything was fantasic but what brought it right down was parents taking kids out of school for holidays in cheap time when it suited them - DH works there and is always saying how it effects their ratings etc. People know when the school holidays are, people know how important a good education is so it's my opinion that people should be more organised and plan holidays around the thousands of holidays, half terms, inset days etc the school has each year, and like Valentine said it means extra work for the teachers when the kid gets back to get them caught up on what they missed and more work and stress for the kid to catch up with his or her peers. I wouldn't do it and think it's wrong for others too.

I expect I'll get shot for writing that but it's just my opinion.

 

[foxymum]

the thing is though, some of you saying you shouldn't take kids out of school for holidays, haven't actually got school age children yet.
so at the moment you can go on hols/away for a few days, without needing to worry about this.
maybe when your children are at school it may be another matter.
i have 3 children & then me & hubby, so it is a LOT more expensive to go away in the holidays, its not about being more organised & arranging hols around the school holidays for me, its 100 % the cost i'm afraid.

i dont do it every year & couldnt afford a holiday every year anyway.
i'm not having a go at anyone & am just having a friendly discussion plz

 

[Princess_Puddles]

to say a child doesn't learn anything in primary school is ridiculous

I didn't say that and can't see anyone else who did. I said that I don't feel it's really important. Sorry but thats my opinion & you're entitled to yours. I probably am coming across as someone who doesn't care and will let my Son have loads of time off which I won't, I'm not like that but for a week or two once or twice a year isn't going to hurt.

You don't think reading, writing, basic maths and the other basic life skills you get taught at Primary school are important??

I don't know if I would do it or not, would have to see at the time - however my friend has been telling me in our area (she works for schools council) from this sept, or it might be next (I was half listening half watching ER) they are introducing a play based learning from 4-6 and only then at 6 starting the ''proper'' learning, so perhaps before DS was 6 I ''might'' take him out for a week but it would depend at the time really.

I'm only going by what It was like when I was at primary school, things have probably changed alot now. I went to school everyday at primary school & rarely missed a day but I can honestly say we didn't learn much we spent most of our time playing games, painting and singing, when I went to middle school Is when I found it hard because we had to knuckle down and thats when I remember learning alot of the important stuff.

 

[Nicola]

the thing is though, some of you saying you shouldn't take kids out of school for holidays, haven't actually got school age children yet.
so at the moment you can go on hols/away for a few days, without needing to worry about this.
maybe when your children are at school it may be another matter.
i have 3 children & then me & hubby, so it is a LOT more expensive to go away in the holidays, its not about being more organised & arranging hols around the school holidays for me, its 100 % the cost i'm afraid.

i dont do it every year & couldnt afford a holiday every year anyway.
i'm not having a go at anyone & am just having a friendly discussion plz

True, I don't have school age children, my DS is only 8 months bless him (eeek...nearly 9 really!). Anyway he's not at school but DH is, he works full time at school and we HAVE to take our holidays during school holidays so even when my DS Goes to school our holiday dates will remain the same - we book WAY in advance, we booked a Caribbean curise followed by a week in a 5 star hotel afterwards for February 2009, we booked it in 2007, if we booked it today we'd not be able to afford the same holiday if that makes sense as the price is sky high - and yes that's during school holiday time, the half term break they get.

Plus another thought, going on holiday say during February half term is a lot cheaper than going at the height of the season in say June.....I guess why go away in June/July when the weather in the UK is lovely, we alway have our big holiday in February every year, plenty of hot destinations, Canaries, India, Caribbean, Australia etc and cheaper than booking up for June/July time....and again do it WAY in advance (get organised girlies!!) and you can bag a real bargain!!

 

[ShineyHappyPeople]

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.

Agreed. I didn't take any interest in Primary school and to be honest, I struggled with my maths and english in secondary school. I now realise its vital they get a good start.

 

[valentine]

the thing is though, some of you saying you shouldn't take kids out of school for holidays, haven't actually got school age children yet.
so at the moment you can go on hols/away for a few days, without needing to worry about this.
maybe when your children are at school it may be another matter.
i have 3 children & then me & hubby, so it is a LOT more expensive to go away in the holidays, its not about being more organised & arranging hols around the school holidays for me, its 100 % the cost i'm afraid.

i dont do it every year & couldnt afford a holiday every year anyway.
i'm not having a go at anyone & am just having a friendly discussion plz

Hey,

I don't have school age children but have a school teacher OH so this is still relevant to me. Okay, I don't have 3 children, but regardless of that, we just don't go on holiday - we can't afford it. We go to day festivals or stay with family instead.

Valentine Xxx

 

[valentine]

we alway have our big holiday in February every year, plenty of hot destinations, Canaries, India, Caribbean, Australia etc and cheaper than booking up for June/July time....and again do it WAY in advance (get organised girlies!!) and you can bag a real bargain!!

But still far too expensive for most people!

Valentine Xxx

 

[HappyAlice]

I guess in October he was under 5, isn't it when they are over 5 they legally have to go to school - so u could mention that if they moan

 

[Misslarue]

we alway have our big holiday in February every year, plenty of hot destinations, Canaries, India, Caribbean, Australia etc and cheaper than booking up for June/July time....and again do it WAY in advance (get organised girlies!!) and you can bag a real bargain!!

But still far too expensive for most people!

Valentine Xxx

Also you'd need more than a week to go to Oz/Caribbean. With the flight times it wouldn't be worth it!

 

[Nicola]

If you left on the Friday night school let out you'd have 10 days if you came home on the sunday....we done it 3 years ago to attend a wedding, got a full week out there as used the extra days for travelling. Still a bit of a treck though I suppose.

How about places like Eurocamp, Keycamp (there are others but I can't think of their names) they have camp type holidays (like our Haven etc) all over Europe, southern Spain etc where it's warm in February. Might be another idea.

Just trying to help

 

[x-kirsty-x]

Oh bloody hell, I wish I hadn't asked now

I've just sat for 30 minutes trying to write a reply that doesn't sound offensive or directed at anybody - I give up now

I couldn't get a holiday during half term as it was a last minute decision to go anywhere, so I'm taking Josh out of school for 5 days so we can go away as a family. It's not ideal, but some of the comments in this thread have been a bit OTT... it's not the end of the world if he misses 5 days, I'm not gonna beat myself up about it 8)

 

[babsi]

If we are living in the UK when Kai is at school then we will not be giving our trip to see my husband's family in Argentina. If Kai misses school so be it. The only months we will go are from April to October at a push because the other months it simply gets far too hot. We find April a good month to go as it is still warm even though their winter is starting. And at that point it will be 2 adult fares plus probably 2 child's fares to pay, so yes we will be going in the cheap time as it is very expensive to fly in the school holidays and then the only time would be easter, probably double what we would pay if we wait a few weeks.

It's even worse with the school holidays here in Canada , 1 week in March, June, July and August off and 2 weeks at Christmas and the prices go right up in those times.