Do you take your children out of school for holidays etc?

[Emily-Elizabeth]

Just a multiple choice poll... when I was in school their wasn't too much problem with taking us out of school for a family holiday - was wondering what the attitude is now.

Way the poll works is answer yes or no separately to Primary or Secondary school. I.e. you might take them out in Primary and not Secondary or both neither etc

[cheezemonkhai]

IIRC can't the government shaft you in some way for doing this now. Not that we're living in a nanny state of course

[Emily-Elizabeth]

I remember reading/hearing somewhere that schools can fine parents for taking their kids out for a week holiday. If it is true, I expect it is still cheeper than paying the premiums expected of you for holidays in school breaks

[Stuart_J]

Your going to a relatives wedding in wherever, arent you

[postmanpat]

You missed out middle school! We have to beg permission to get Nathan out of school, but it is for a good reason, Friday off to get up to the Lakes for the camping trip

[jec]

I have done it once before and we are doing it again in 3 weeks' time

My son has just finished his GCSE's (well, his last exam is tomorrow), so no problem there, eldest daughter is on her summer break from Uni, but 12 year old daughter will be finishing 2 weeks early to go on holiday, the reason why we have to do this is because the school holidays in my area have been altered this year (there was a right furore about it in the local papers) and we have always gone away in the first 2 weeks in July but now the hols have been moved, we cannot afford to go when we should. The flights are an extra £1000 if we went in the proper school holidays. In the last couple of weeks before the holidays, the school never do any work, the teachers just let the kids watch DVDs.

The kids are allowed 14 days off before the school start questioning it, I have filled in a form and listed my reasons for doing it and the school has not said anything to me about it, so Cyprus, here we come

[ZootyRS]

Not done it yet, but may be doing so soon.

My daughter starts primary school in September. The rule at her school is you can book time off for holidays if the parents' work prevents you taking time in school holidays. You can't do it just because it's cheaper

Quite what happens if you just take them out anyway, I don't know...

[Dr Zoidberg]

SWMBO liberated her son from school so we could go to New Zealand last year - just over a week tacked onto the easter holiday I believe.

I wouldn't see the problem in doing it at secondary school either as long it was at a sensible time (not during exam season for example) and for a "special" holiday like another trip round the world rather than just a week in spain.

[sharkrider]

Originally Posted by cheezemonkhai

IIRC can't the government shaft you in some way for doing this now. Not that we're living in a nanny state of course

we have taken HC out of school for holidays..... we asked the school for the time off (as it was a "time-share" lodge, and we couldn't vary the dates!) and the school said no.... they also told us we could be prosecuted for doing it!

we did anyway, and they didn't give us any hassle.... its not like she has alot of time off school anyway, i bet some other kids have more time off just by being sick and suchlike.....

[vRSLen]

Originally Posted by postmanpat

You missed out middle school! We have to beg permission to get Nathan out of school, but it is for a good reason, Friday off to get up to the Lakes for the camping trip

How did you manage that

[sharkrider]

Originally Posted by postmanpat

You missed out middle school! We have to beg permission to get Nathan out of school, but it is for a good reason, Friday off to get up to the Lakes for the camping trip

lol.. our HC isn't having friday off...... she's having monday off though

[vRSLen]

My son is young enough to know everything, but I caught him
out yesterday

[postmanpat]

Originally Posted by cheezemonkhai

IIRC can't the government shaft you in some way for doing this now. Not that we're living in a nanny state of course

Depends who you are, Radio 2 yesterday they were on about the number of young Asian (etc) girls who dissapear out of schools for 6 months to be sent 'home' for arranged marriages. Allthough the emphasis was on the fact that the maariage was often against their will, it also focused on the fact that schools/ police/ authorities turned a blind eye in these cases for fear of appearing rascist etc.

Originally Posted by vRSLen

How did you manage that

Still awaiting permission slip

[jec]

wayhay, my flight tickets have come this morning, they have altered the flight time by 3 hours, but thats ok, getting all excited now

[anewman]

Not that I have any kids but I can't see the harm if they're not preparing for any exams, or doing coursework for exams etc (basically years 10 and 11). I personally think GCSE exams should be taken earlier than 16.

[soviet]

Originally Posted by Emily-Elizabeth

Just a multiple choice poll... when I was in school their wasn't too much problem with taking us out of school for a family holiday - was wondering what the attitude is now.

Way the poll works is answer yes or no separately to Primary or Secondary school. I.e. you might take them out in Primary and not Secondary or both neither etc

Hi Emily-Elizabeth,

I would say certainly not for this one, as it would be having the bad effect on Soviet junior, and would upset the learning. I think that those that do this thing are showing the bad example and lack discipline, to have the holidays at the right time.

May be things are becoming too 'free and easy' to do this thing.

Soviet

[vRSLen]

Originally Posted by soviet

Hi Emily-Elizabeth,

I would say certainly not for this one, as it would be having the bad effect on Soviet junior, and would upset the learning. I think that those that do this thing are showing the bad example and lack discipline, to have the holidays at the right time.

May be things are becoming too 'free and easy' to do this thing.

Soviet

Sorry Soviet, but the children can only teach the teachers so much in a day

Just give them a break

[andy2407]

I voted no - but the reason is because its hard enough to cover looking after them in all the holidays they get - never mind having more.

I have the boys for two weeks in the school summer hols. And yes - flights are expensive - so we go camping. Nowt wrong with holidays in the UK

[smstext]

the couple of times ive asked the school they say ive got to pay a donation to the school i.e. a fine. told them to forward it to my accountant. i always get the request of the odd day at ther start of half term so we can get away quicker, but i know HC's mother (we dont live together) has her out on a weeks holiday at least once a year in term time, maybe she got the fine last time that the school so fondly spoke about.


Oh forgot to say you also get a page long email saying how the school are against taking children out in term time and how much damage it does to their education etc etc. if the school turn you down ask for the coursework they be missing out on and teach them (or do it yourself if you feel intelligent enough lol)

[Aspman]

SWMBO is a teacher and she thinks it's ok to do it after the exams. The kids don't do much between the end of exams and the end of term so they're not really missing out if they head off for a week.

Head teachers tend to get a bit uppity about it. But they live in a different world anyway.