Having no alternative this year but to take my son out of school for four days, thats what we did, unfortunately the school are always on your case if they require you to do what they wish, but this year I put in two holiday request forms ,several emails and telephone calls, but to no avail , my son kept asking where the consent form was only to be told wait until Monday (the day we were due to go) We had no choice to carry on regardless with our trip. Still todate we have received no response from the school.

As a parent of two young kids myself, I think it should be up to parents and NOT schools to decide the most suitable time for taking children on holiday.

Obviously I would not condone a child being taken out of school during an important time such as exams, but at other times parents should be free to decide what is best for their own kids, free from the jobsworth shackles of school bureaucracy.

My children gain far more from going to a foreign country for a week than they do from sitting in a stuffy classroom having their learning stunted by a teacher who struggles to grasp the basics of the subject they are teaching and being distracted by unruly kids whose parents haven't bothered teaching any manners to.

Jo, just to warn you exactly the same thing happened to a friend of mine - she put all the forms in and kept asking them but didn't get any response - and they fined her. Pretty snidey way of carrying on if you ask me.

I think if the schools / government are going to forbid holidays during term time they must also leislate that the holiday companies & airlines are not allowed to hike the prices up like they do when we are allowed to go away.

We have access to a free villa abroad whenever we want, so its just the air fare to pay. During term time it would be less than £300 for our family. This increases to about £1200+ in school holiday time. Consequently we haven't had a holiday this year as my childrens schools just won't allow even a week off in term time and we can't afford it.

No very fair at all.

There can be no excuse for disrupting a child's education just because selfish parents do not want to pay higher prices for holidays during term time.

Social services should investigate such cases and decide whether it might be best to put the children in foster homes run by responsible adults who value education over a week in Disney World.

Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott

Maybe if the tour companys were not allowed to charge such ridiculous prices during July and August this would not be a problem.

We have 3 children and have never took them out of school - When you are a family of 5 it is hard to get booked up - so have to do it a year in advance

Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott wrote:
There can be no excuse for disrupting a child's education just because selfish parents do not want to pay higher prices for holidays during term time. Social services should investigate such cases and decide whether it might be best to put the children in foster homes run by responsible adults who value education over a week in Disney World. Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott

Well said!

I agree with Erastus, to a point. I don't agree with taking children out of school to go to places like Disney. But at the same time I don't think it should be up to anyone but the parents.

This year, however, I will be taking my child out of school for just over a week so we can fly to the US and spend some time with her grandparents.

We've planned it so that for most of the time we're gone the school will be closed anyway (over Christmas/New Year), but she will miss a few days either side of the break.

I figure, and I'm sure it's stupid, but the week leading up to Christmas and the week following break, the kids aren't going to learn anything, they'll be too excited. I also feel that she'll atleast be learning something while we're there. She'll be learning about the American side of her history.

I will have to write a letter to the school begging to be allowed to take her out of school for a few days. It's been decided that if they say no, then too bad, we're going anyway. It's important that my child be able to see her grandparents and get a taste of another culture.

Rather than get fined cant you just say the kid is sick...? If they ask for a doctors certificate or something like that just keep fobbing them off until they forget...

****

I don't beleive in the comment 'there is no excuse for disrupting a childs education' - the comments should be aimed at greedy tour operators.They don't just put the price up by a small amount, sometimes it more than doubles.A lot of people save all year for a family holiday so that they can spend some quality time with their children.I have taken my children out in the past and would not hesitate to do it again if the price difference was double.If they were they taking GCSE's or starting senior school and wouldn't take them on holiday but otherwise it wouldn't bother me if it was in term time.And as for a £50.00 fine - its far cheaper to pay that than the tour operators price's.I agree with harry Brown my children gain far more out of a foreign holiday than they do sitting in the classroom,its good for them to interact with other cultures and learn about different countries.I for one do not feel one a bit of guilt bout taking my kids on holiday in term time and i will continue to do so for as long as it suits us - fine ot no fine

Schools are allowed to authorise you up to 10 days leave for your child per school year. I have never had any problems getting leave authorised. We normally book our holidays a few days before the end of term.

Children should attend school during term time. It's as simple as that.

What about parents who are also teachers? They can not take their children on holiday during term term even if they are willing to pay a fine. It must also be difficult for teachers who are nt parents to afford the increased prices during holiday time and then they can only go away when the holiday resorts are full of children, the one thing you would imagine they would want to avoid when they are nt at work!

When I was in the first year of my a levels my mum and dad organised me a trip to Cyprus. One as a well done for passing my exams but more so to cheer me up somewhat as just before my first exam I lost my nan. My school only agreed because I was suffering bereavement but I think my mum would have let me go anyway. Didn't do me any harm, I passed my A levels, didn't go to uni, didn't want to and now work in the city!

Meant to put this in my other post but I disagree with the price hikes too. My partner and I don't have children but if we wanted to go away any time between june and august we would have been paying three times as much so we have had to settle with going away at the end of september. It doesn't just affect families, although they obviously feel it the most.

Why do people feel the need to have holidays every year that require fancy places and expensive tour operators? hat is wrong with holidays in this country -lots to see and do and bet no one has been to all the historical sites in UK.
JayK you need to check your facts -schools are not "allowed" to authorise anything! This edict has come from DCFS and schools will get their knuckles rapped over what will be down as pupil absences.
Harry Brown if thats your attitude to the school your children are in I hope you have spoken to the relevant people (HT, Governors) re your concerns about the teachers? If not then you have no excuse!
Of course education is affected by days off for whatever reason

I work in a office where only 2 people can have time off together. As there are 14 of us with children the simple maths mean that someone will have to take their 2 week break during school time. My daughter is 5 and I am more than sure that 2 weeks during september will not damage her education for a sustained period. We are pulling her from school as a last resort and would like to think the schools are intelligent enough to understand our position, its not always down to cost, but simple pratical reasons.

What about key workers who are issued holiday, what would happen if all the nurses & doctors & police & firemen all wanted the same two weeks in the summer? Perhaps we should abandon the set holidays & enter the real working world of four to six weeks annual leave to be taken when you want -oh no wait that would mean that teachers would have to work in the summer, run up to Christmas, Easter - now that would be a shame if teachers & school staff had to have the same holidays as the rest of us!

Ok so this is going to be a 50-50 argument. I must add that I see both sides. My daughter was diagnosed with LCH earlier last year. She went through one op and lots of check ups. As she had been through so much we wanted to take her away and let her enjoy herself. I understand that education is very important but after nearly losing her to the big C both her dad and I decided that she should enjoy what she has as we never know what's round the corner. I went through all the correct channels and like the other lady, still got no reply from her school. I ended up booking it for next week which falls into the summer holidays. The flights alone have just cost me £3,000 without any transfers etc. When I thanked the school for being so rude and ignoring my request and showed them that had they of agreed her holiday back in February then I could have paid just £1,200 they sweetly said 'Sorry about that but we lost the form and presumed that you would have taken her anyway'!!!! Had I of just 'taken her' then I would now be facing a fine. I guess that no matter how you stick by or bend the rules you will never win. I wish I had just of said she was sick now and saved a whole lot of money and also a whole lot of wasted time.

Lynne Said "Why do people feel the need to have holidays every year that require fancy places and expensive tour operators? hat is wrong with holidays in this country -lots to see and do and bet no one has been to all the historical sites in UK"

Lynne - whos talking about "fancy" holidays? (apart from you). Holidays anywhere, even in this country cost 2, 3, or 4 times more in school holiday time than they do in term time.

A caravan in Bognor is a couple of hundred quid in June, rising to £600 or £700 in July/August.

I don't know where you get the idea about people wanting what you refer to as "fancy" holidays - and quite frankly I don't see that its any of your business where other people go.

Lynne on -you asked what is wrong with holidays in this country - the simple answer is the price.Holidaying in this country is a rip off ,have you seen the prices they are asking to rent a caravan,a cottage or a barn ?? and yes the prices of those double in the school holidays.I rented a converted barn in Norfolk for a week last August - it cost £500 for 1 week and only slept 4 people,then there was the petrol to get there and the food and entertainment.Then there is the weather - it can't be guaranteed to be warm and dry and rarely is.Therefore you have the additional cost's of finding things to do because the beach is usually a no no .Holidays in the country are as much a rip off in the school holidays as going abroad but at least you can guarantee the weather if you fly away.

I have never taken my kids out of school for a holiday,education is more important than a holiday. Some people actually take their kids out before the six weeks hols or after them. So that can be anything up to 8-10 weeks off school. My sister takes her kids out of school for their hols and I dont agree with it. But the school lets them.

I can't see the harm in taking the kids out of school for a week or 2 in the year.I don't agree with some comments like 'you shouldn't take them out school is more important'.Of course school is more important but 2 weeks won't harm a child and they will be getting quality family time which in this day and age is not always possible.Many people have to work overtime and weekends to make ends meet & don't have the time that they want with the children.1 or 2 weeks holiday is when they can forget about the stress of working so hard to pay mortgages & bills and just relax & enjoy themselves with the children.If the kids miss out on something that is important they can always bring the work home to do in the evenings and weekends it should not be too difficult.I would not have any doubts about taking my kids out of school for a week or 2 if that option suited us as a family.

I have to agree with the other comments in that it should be up to the parents to decide when to take their children out of school as long as they don't abuse. I do believe that ten days a year are given to a child to be out of school but I don't know if this is across all schools.

The cost of taking a family on holiday during the summer is very expensive and a rip off for all families and until this rip off is dealt with (which will never be done) why can't the schools be a bit more co-operative with parents on this issue.

It is vital for all children to learn about other cultures etc and if they have an opportunity to go abroad why should schools stop them.

Jon wrote:
I work in a office where only 2 people can have time off together. As there are 14 of us with children the simple maths mean that someone will have to take their 2 week break during school time. My daughter is 5 and I am more than sure that 2 weeks during september will not damage her education for a sustained period. We are pulling her from school as a last resort and would like to think the schools are intelligent enough to understand our position, its not always down to cost, but simple pratical reasons.

You may not think it does your daughter's education any harm, but what about her interaction with her peers? The rest of her class would have settled down into routines and friendship groups during those 2 weeks. And as to holidays in this country, I have many a happy memory sitting in a tent playing board games with my family whilst it was raining outside. Quality family time doesn't have to mean going out.

Gemma wrote:

Jon wrote: I work in a office where only 2 people can have time off together. As there are 14 of us with children the simple maths mean that someone will have to take their 2 week break during school time. My daughter is 5 and I am more than sure that 2 weeks during september will not damage her education for a sustained period. We are pulling her from school as a last resort and would like to think the schools are intelligent enough to understand our position, its not always down to cost, but simple pratical reasons.

You may not think it does your daughter's education any harm, but what about her interaction with her peers? The rest of her class would have settled down into routines and friendship groups during those 2 weeks. And as to holidays in this country, I have many a happy memory sitting in a tent playing board games with my family whilst it was raining outside. Quality family time doesn't have to mean going out.

Well said!!!

Mother wrote:
Lynne Said \\\"Why do people feel the need to have holidays every year that require fancy places and expensive tour operators? hat is wrong with holidays in this country -lots to see and do and bet no one has been to all the historical sites in UK\\\" Lynne - whos talking about \\\"fancy\\\" holidays? (apart from you). Holidays anywhere, even in this country cost 2, 3, or 4 times more in school holiday time than they do in term time. A caravan in Bognor is a couple of hundred quid in June, rising to £600 or £700 in July/August. I don\\\'t know where you get the idea about people wanting what you refer to as \\\"fancy\\\" holidays - and quite frankly I don\\\'t see that its any of your business where other people go.

Actually as a school Governor who, along with my HT has to answer to DCFS regarding this issue I certainly think it is my business.
I have just rented a cottage for 6 in Dorset for £500 a week IN the school holidays. Long time since I went there and my daughter never has been, my sister and baby can join us and we can go to all sorts of places.
My eldest is nearly 20 and my youngest 14 and the only school they have missed is for sickness (and in my son's case through secondary school that was about 3 days total) and one day for a grandparent's funeral. I have to plan my holidays well in advance, I work in a hospital where a lot of my team have young families and want the school holidays off.
Plenty of time for holidays outside of school time once they have left school. What they miss at school cannot just be repeated by bringing some work home to do, they miss all the interaction with peers and teachers which they really need.

Well said, Lynne.

Please feel free to visit my blog in the Your Shopper section anytime.

The latest is entitled:

I CAN’T SEE FOR MILES AND MILES

Posted by Lord Erastus Theobald Piggott at 9:37am on Sun 13 July.

Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott

You "certainly think" it is your business where other people go on holiday Lynne just because you're a school governor?

I don't think so.

Mother wrote:
You "certainly think" it is your business where other people go on holiday Lynne just because you're a school governor? I don't think so.

Maybe if you take my comment in context - if people are going to take their children out of school in term time something which is against school rules and contrary to gudance from the Government dept then it becomes my business, though actually I don't really care where people go just when!
I have no doubt that soon it will become law and then the consequences will be much more severe.

I have just being fined £100 pound for daring to take my 6 year old daughter on holiday. We went at whitsun and then had an additional six days. My daughter is a model pupil, very bright and had a 100% attendance record. I feel the school were very spiteful not to give us permission to go. we saved over £700 so the fine was a small price to pay.

donna wrote:
I have just being fined £100 pound for daring to take my 6 year old daughter on holiday. We went at whitsun and then had an additional six days. My daughter is a model pupil, very bright and had a 100% attendance record. I feel the school were very spiteful not to give us permission to go. we saved over £700 so the fine was a small price to pay.

Obviously they were thinking of your daugter and her education.....

Lynn On - They can interact with peers and teachers for the other 50 weeks of the year (minus the school holidays ).Two weeks - 10 days in a year would not make any difference to any child & i speak from experience.I have 4 children 3 have left school and are working or at college and the other is still in school.I have taken them out during term time and it has done no harm to any of them.This is the only way we could afford to take them abroad on holiday - did you also know that when you take 4 children on a hotel package holiday abroad you have to pay the adult price for 2 of them you only ever get 2 child places.If we took them during school holidays it would be the rip off charges for 4 adults and 2 children.My kids did not loose out at all from missing 2 weeks off of school they have passed their GCSE's and are all happy ,polite young adults.When we look at the holiday photo's and cam-corder films it brings back great memories of the holidays we shared as a family while they were young.They are grateful that we worked hard to afford to take them to many places which some of their friends have never been to.So to all you parents that feel guilty about taking your kids away for 2 weeks - DON'T BE BECAUSE YOUR KIDS WILL THANK YOU WHEN THEY ARE OLDER FOR THE GREAT TIMES YOU HAD TOGETHER AND THIS PRECIOUS TIME THAT YOUR KIDS ARE GROWING UP GOES SO QUICKLY AND ONCE ITS GONE YOU CAN NEVER HAVE IT BACK - WE HAVE CHILDREN TO ENJOY THEM SO IF YOU CAN ONLY AFFORD TO GO ON HOLIDAY DURING TERM TIMES GO & ENJOY YOURSELVES

Michelle wrote:
Lynn On - They can interact with peers and teachers for the other 50 weeks of the year (minus the school holidays ).Two weeks - 10 days in a year would not make any difference to any child & i speak from experience.I have 4 children 3 have left school and are working or at college and the other is still in school.I have taken them out during term time and it has done no harm to any of them.This is the only way we could afford to take them abroad on holiday - did you also know that when you take 4 children on a hotel package holiday abroad you have to pay the adult price for 2 of them you only ever get 2 child places.If we took them during school holidays it would be the rip off charges for 4 adults and 2 children.My kids did not loose out at all from missing 2 weeks off of school they have passed their GCSE's and are all happy ,polite young adults.When we look at the holiday photo's and cam-corder films it brings back great memories of the holidays we shared as a family while they were young.They are grateful that we worked hard to afford to take them to many places which some of their friends have never been to.So to all you parents that feel guilty about taking your kids away for 2 weeks - DON'T BE BECAUSE YOUR KIDS WILL THANK YOU WHEN THEY ARE OLDER FOR THE GREAT TIMES YOU HAD TOGETHER AND THIS PRECIOUS TIME THAT YOUR KIDS ARE GROWING UP GOES SO QUICKLY AND ONCE ITS GONE YOU CAN NEVER HAVE IT BACK - WE HAVE CHILDREN TO ENJOY THEM SO IF YOU CAN ONLY AFFORD TO GO ON HOLIDAY DURING TERM TIMES GO & ENJOY YOURSELVES

We don't have children just to enjoy them,we are also given a responsibility to give them the best possible start in life. You are fortunate you say your children are OK but had they not missed all that school who knows....
Also why do you need to go to places which are so expensive? Holidays in this country are just as good and the children can learn about their own heritage and history. Package holidays abroad are a rip off and that is why they put the prices up in the summer holidays. If people stop going on them then the travel companies will have to consider their position and the prices they charge.
We also have lots of happy memories and photos but not from holidays taken in the school term.
As you say childhood is over quickly enough so lets give our children every opportunity to have the best education.
If you feel that the "education" your child receives on a holiday is better / equal to school then maybe you need to consider whether the school is right for your child!
I cannot understand this obsession with having to have a holiday abroad

Never took my kids out of school and always had an holiday in this country. Have stayed at some lovely places and also used to take them camping in the Lake District. There are some lovely places to take kids on holiday here - when they got older they went abroad for their holidays.

Lynne wrote:

Mother wrote: You "certainly think" it is your business where other people go on holiday Lynne just because you're a school governor? I don't think so.

Maybe if you take my comment in context - if people are going to take their children out of school in term time something which is against school rules and contrary to gudance from the Government dept then it becomes my business, though actually I don't really care where people go just when! I have no doubt that soon it will become law and then the consequences will be much more severe.

Just because the nanny state govt tell me that I must do this and that doesnt automatically mean I will follow. I will not be held to ransom by travel comapnies who think they can up their prices every school holiday. And becasue the law is useless, any fine I pay for taking my kids away in term time still doenst cost as much as the school holiday surcharge. You work it out!!!!!!!!

GOD wrote:

Lynne wrote:

Mother wrote: You "certainly think" it is your business where other people go on holiday Lynne just because you're a school governor? I don't think so.

Maybe if you take my comment in context - if people are going to take their children out of school in term time something which is against school rules and contrary to gudance from the Government dept then it becomes my business, though actually I don't really care where people go just when! I have no doubt that soon it will become law and then the consequences will be much more severe.

Just because the nanny state govt tell me that I must do this and that doesnt automatically mean I will follow. I will not be held to ransom by travel comapnies who think they can up their prices every school holiday. And becasue the law is useless, any fine I pay for taking my kids away in term time still doenst cost as much as the school holiday surcharge. You work it out!!!!!!!!

A holiday is a luxury not a necessity, the holiday companies have the right to charge what they like for a holiday. Can you imagine the uproar if a teacher decided that s/he wanted to take a holiday in term time because they didn't want to pay more for a holiday. Taking a child out of school doesn't just disrupt their education it has a knock on effect on the whole class. Teachers then have to recap on things that the rest of the class have covered.

My child will be going into year 8 in September and he will miss 8 days from out of school so we can go on holiday. This is the first time ever I have taken him out normally I can find a good deal during the summer holidays but this year I just couldn't afford the prices.

The first time in seven years of his education I am taking him out and I don't give a hoot what the school thinks and whether they fine me or not.

I am a working Mother who needs quality time with my child and if you think the idea of walking around the english countryside with an umbrella is my idea of fun you can think agagin. Been there before got the T shirt it was the worst holiday ever!

GOD wrote:

Lynne wrote:

Mother wrote: You "certainly think" it is your business where other people go on holiday Lynne just because you're a school governor? I don't think so.

Maybe if you take my comment in context - if people are going to take their children out of school in term time something which is against school rules and contrary to gudance from the Government dept then it becomes my business, though actually I don't really care where people go just when! I have no doubt that soon it will become law and then the consequences will be much more severe.

Just because the nanny state govt tell me that I must do this and that doesnt automatically mean I will follow. I will not be held to ransom by travel comapnies who think they can up their prices every school holiday. And becasue the law is useless, any fine I pay for taking my kids away in term time still doenst cost as much as the school holiday surcharge. You work it out!!!!!!!!

Well with an attitude like that the holiday companies have won haven't they? That means children lose.

Gemma wrote:

GOD wrote:

Lynne wrote:

Mother wrote: You "certainly think" it is your business where other people go on holiday Lynne just because you're a school governor? I don't think so.

Maybe if you take my comment in context - if people are going to take their children out of school in term time something which is against school rules and contrary to gudance from the Government dept then it becomes my business, though actually I don't really care where people go just when! I have no doubt that soon it will become law and then the consequences will be much more severe.

Just because the nanny state govt tell me that I must do this and that doesnt automatically mean I will follow. I will not be held to ransom by travel comapnies who think they can up their prices every school holiday. And becasue the law is useless, any fine I pay for taking my kids away in term time still doenst cost as much as the school holiday surcharge. You work it out!!!!!!!!

A holiday is a luxury not a necessity, the holiday companies have the right to charge what they like for a holiday. Can you imagine the uproar if a teacher decided that s/he wanted to take a holiday in term time because they didn't want to pay more for a holiday. Taking a child out of school doesn't just disrupt their education it has a knock on effect on the whole class. Teachers then have to recap on things that the rest of the class have covered.

Hear Hear!!

Lynne wrote:

Gemma wrote:

GOD wrote:

Lynne wrote:

Mother wrote: You "certainly think" it is your business where other people go on holiday Lynne just because you're a school governor? I don't think so.

Maybe if you take my comment in context - if people are going to take their children out of school in term time something which is against school rules and contrary to gudance from the Government dept then it becomes my business, though actually I don't really care where people go just when! I have no doubt that soon it will become law and then the consequences will be much more severe.

Just because the nanny state govt tell me that I must do this and that doesnt automatically mean I will follow. I will not be held to ransom by travel comapnies who think they can up their prices every school holiday. And becasue the law is useless, any fine I pay for taking my kids away in term time still doenst cost as much as the school holiday surcharge. You work it out!!!!!!!!

A holiday is a luxury not a necessity, the holiday companies have the right to charge what they like for a holiday. Can you imagine the uproar if a teacher decided that s/he wanted to take a holiday in term time because they didn't want to pay more for a holiday. Taking a child out of school doesn't just disrupt their education it has a knock on effect on the whole class. Teachers then have to recap on things that the rest of the class have covered.

Hear Hear!!

I refer you to the comment I made earlier. I will not bough to Govt pressure or commercial robbery.

Anon Mother wrote:
My child will be going into year 8 in September and he will miss 8 days from out of school so we can go on holiday. This is the first time ever I have taken him out normally I can find a good deal during the summer holidays but this year I just couldn\'t afford the prices. The first time in seven years of his education I am taking him out and I don\'t give a hoot what the school thinks and whether they fine me or not. I am a working Mother who needs quality time with my child and if you think the idea of walking around the english countryside with an umbrella is my idea of fun you can think agagin. Been there before got the T shirt it was the worst holiday ever!

Why can you not have quality time with your child at home? Why do you think you need a foreign holiday to do that? I am afraid that I would much rather walk around the English countryside than end up looking like a lobster in a foreign resort.
If you have had a holiday every year for the last 7 then why are you whinging so much? I have not had a holiday away for at least that and have not missed out.

Lynne - you seem to have a real problem with people who want a holiday abroad.

Anon Mother wrote:
My child will be going into year 8 in September and he will miss 8 days from out of school so we can go on holiday. This is the first time ever I have taken him out normally I can find a good deal during the summer holidays but this year I just couldn\'t afford the prices. The first time in seven years of his education I am taking him out and I don\'t give a hoot what the school thinks and whether they fine me or not. I am a working Mother who needs quality time with my child and if you think the idea of walking around the english countryside with an umbrella is my idea of fun you can think agagin. Been there before got the T shirt it was the worst holiday ever!

There are other things you can do with your child. I am doing a cheap surfing holiday this year. Staying on a caravan park and hiring the gear for a week. Food and drink costs will be roughly the same as if I was at home.

GOD wrote:

Lynne wrote:

Gemma wrote:

GOD wrote:

Lynne wrote:

Mother wrote: You \"certainly think\" it is your business where other people go on holiday Lynne just because you\'re a school governor? I don\'t think so.

Maybe if you take my comment in context - if people are going to take their children out of school in term time something which is against school rules and contrary to gudance from the Government dept then it becomes my business, though actually I don\'t really care where people go just when! I have no doubt that soon it will become law and then the consequences will be much more severe.

Just because the nanny state govt tell me that I must do this and that doesnt automatically mean I will follow. I will not be held to ransom by travel comapnies who think they can up their prices every school holiday. And becasue the law is useless, any fine I pay for taking my kids away in term time still doenst cost as much as the school holiday surcharge. You work it out!!!!!!!!

A holiday is a luxury not a necessity, the holiday companies have the right to charge what they like for a holiday. Can you imagine the uproar if a teacher decided that s/he wanted to take a holiday in term time because they didn\'t want to pay more for a holiday. Taking a child out of school doesn\'t just disrupt their education it has a knock on effect on the whole class. Teachers then have to recap on things that the rest of the class have covered.

Hear Hear!!

I refer you to the comment I made earlier. I will not bough to Govt pressure or commercial robbery.

If you continue to pay obscene prices the companies will continue to charge them. if no one pays them

Mother wrote:
Lynne - you seem to have a real problem with people who want a holiday abroad.

Only when their children should be in school!

By all means, take the kids out of school time.BUT keep them quiet and not behaving like 'brats' abroad.I have had the misfortune of just this.There were other Children, form other countries there, good as gold. But the English kids were rowdy, misbehaved. In other words spoilt.
I do not want this when I go to relax.

Mark wrote:
By all means, take the kids out of school time.BUT keep them quiet and not behaving like 'brats' abroad.I have had the misfortune of just this.There were other Children, form other countries there, good as gold. But the English kids were rowdy, misbehaved. In other words spoilt. I do not want this when I go to relax.

Mark, I dont think that noisy kids are a major problem abroad. Try to aim your comments at the football wearing imbeciles who know Tenerife like the back of their hands

lynne wrote:

Anon Mother wrote: My child will be going into year 8 in September and he will miss 8 days from out of school so we can go on holiday. This is the first time ever I have taken him out normally I can find a good deal during the summer holidays but this year I just couldn\'t afford the prices. The first time in seven years of his education I am taking him out and I don\'t give a hoot what the school thinks and whether they fine me or not. I am a working Mother who needs quality time with my child and if you think the idea of walking around the english countryside with an umbrella is my idea of fun you can think agagin. Been there before got the T shirt it was the worst holiday ever!

Why can you not have quality time with your child at home? Why do you think you need a foreign holiday to do that? I am afraid that I would much rather walk around the English countryside than end up looking like a lobster in a foreign resort. If you have had a holiday every year for the last 7 then why are you whinging so much? I have not had a holiday away for at least that and have not missed out.

Where do you get off telling people what they should or shouldn't do? I tell you what you should do take a running jump off of a cliff!

We like to go abroad it is a real treat for our family to discover different cultures and show my child how people from other parts of the world live, is that not educational then? I think it is so shut up. If I want to take my child on a holiday abroad I will I do not give two hoots about your opinion, the schools or Gordon Brown's. I hate this country and if you think I want to holiday here you are wrong I love getting away from this ****hole for two weeks every year. Anywhere is better than this ****

Gemma wrote:

Anon Mother wrote: My child will be going into year 8 in September and he will miss 8 days from out of school so we can go on holiday. This is the first time ever I have taken him out normally I can find a good deal during the summer holidays but this year I just couldn\'t afford the prices. The first time in seven years of his education I am taking him out and I don\'t give a hoot what the school thinks and whether they fine me or not. I am a working Mother who needs quality time with my child and if you think the idea of walking around the english countryside with an umbrella is my idea of fun you can think agagin. Been there before got the T shirt it was the worst holiday ever!

There are other things you can do with your child. I am doing a cheap surfing holiday this year. Staying on a caravan park and hiring the gear for a week. Food and drink costs will be roughly the same as if I was at home.

Gemma I understand what you are saying but I hate this country with a passion so I look forward to getting out of it for two weeks of the year. If I could afford to get out permanently I would go tomorrow. So no I would definately not consider holidaying in this country.

Anon Mother wrote:

lynne wrote:

Anon Mother wrote: My child will be going into year 8 in September and he will miss 8 days from out of school so we can go on holiday. This is the first time ever I have taken him out normally I can find a good deal during the summer holidays but this year I just couldn\'t afford the prices. The first time in seven years of his education I am taking him out and I don\'t give a hoot what the school thinks and whether they fine me or not. I am a working Mother who needs quality time with my child and if you think the idea of walking around the english countryside with an umbrella is my idea of fun you can think agagin. Been there before got the T shirt it was the worst holiday ever!

Why can you not have quality time with your child at home? Why do you think you need a foreign holiday to do that? I am afraid that I would much rather walk around the English countryside than end up looking like a lobster in a foreign resort. If you have had a holiday every year for the last 7 then why are you whinging so much? I have not had a holiday away for at least that and have not missed out.

Where do you get off telling people what they should or shouldn't do? I tell you what you should do take a running jump off of a cliff! We like to go abroad it is a real treat for our family to discover different cultures and show my child how people from other parts of the world live, is that not educational then? I think it is so shut up. If I want to take my child on a holiday abroad I will I do not give two hoots about your opinion, the schools or Gordon Brown's. I hate this country and if you think I want to holiday here you are wrong I love getting away from this ****hole for two weeks every year. Anywhere is better than this ****

You are very sad then. If you hate this country so much why don't you go and live somewhere else? I think you might actually find that once you were there all the time you'd start to hate that too.
You seem to have a problem with the fact that I voiced my own valid opinion on what is after all a discussion site -that smacks to me of either someone who does not know the meaning of discussion or someone who feels guilty!!(whatever they say)

Lynne tell me straight what is there to like about this country?

I like to get away for two weeks and spend time in a nice country if I could afford to move away permanently then I would but at this moment in time I can't. That is what I am working towards getting out of here. So let's hear your positive views on this country then?

Anon Mother wrote:
Lynne tell me straight what is there to like about this country? I like to get away for two weeks and spend time in a nice country if I could afford to move away permanently then I would but at this moment in time I can't. That is what I am working towards getting out of here. So let's hear your positive views on this country then?

The English country side takes a lot of beating. When was the last time you went to Somerset, Devon, Cornwall or up to the Lake District and just looked at the fantastic views and the amount of different trees, flowers, animals etc or to the cliffs and looked out over the coastline? Thats just part of what there is to like about this country. The scenary etc is so diverse from the shoreline to the countryside and
What about the many historical sites, even locally never mind in areas other than SE London.
Yes there are bad areas but instead of assuming that all of England is the same as the bit you hate so much look at other areas before saying you hate it all so much.
ALL countries have their bad areas and their good. NO one country is 100% good just as England is not all bad.
Maybe if people had a bit more pride in their country and its heritage there would be less bad areas.
Maybe however if you hate it that much then you are best off getting out and the rest of us can get on with enjoying our beautiful country. You will never persuade me to leave other than for a short holiday, can't stand the heat for one thing!
I hope that whichever country you go to live in that you will fully learn their language and accept their culture etc?

Saying 'imagine the uproar if the teachers went off in the school term on holiday,' is a pretty nonsensical thing to say; parents with regular non-teaching jobs, don't have THIRTEEN WEEKS a year off like teachers do! We only have four weeks, and we have to have them when we can. So that comment is ludicrous...

I work in an office where there are 21 of us and only 3 are allowed off at once, so obviously some of us are gonna HAVE to go away in school term time.

I fully intend to take my daughter away in December for a week to Austria... The school have not authorised it, but I couldn't care less; she is my daughter and I shall take her away when I want.

As many have said, the £50 fine - which we may get - is no problem to me and my husband, as we save £400 on the holiday by going in winter.

Also, I find it funny that just coz someone is a school governer, they think it's their business that people take their children on hols in term time. What a nosey busybody! LOL. It's no-one's business; not even the school's... even if mrs 'governer' thinks it is!

We had no problems getting authorisation til she got to year 9, but they are getting huffy about the GCSEs' now. Is one week off school in December gonna affect her GCSE's? Only an idiot would think it would.

Poppy wrote:
Saying 'imagine the uproar if the teachers went off in the school term on holiday,' is a pretty nonsensical thing to say; parents with regular non-teaching jobs, don't have THIRTEEN WEEKS a year off like teachers do! We only have four weeks, and we have to have them when we can. So that comment is ludicrous... I work in an office where there are 21 of us and only 3 are allowed off at once, so obviously some of us are gonna HAVE to go away in school term time. I fully intend to take my daughter away in December for a week to Austria... The school have not authorised it, but I couldn't care less; she is my daughter and I shall take her away when I want. As many have said, the £50 fine - which we may get - is no problem to me and my husband, as we save £400 on the holiday by going in winter. Also, I find it funny that just coz someone is a school governer, they think it's their business that people take their children on hols in term time. What a nosey busybody! LOL. It's no-one's business; not even the school's... even if mrs 'governer' thinks it is! We had no problems getting authorisation til she got to year 9, but they are getting huffy about the GCSEs' now. Is one week off school in December gonna affect her GCSE's? Only an idiot would think it would.

So why do you think schools have governors then? maybe if you stop to think what you are saying you would see that actually it makes no sense! Of course time off affects a pupil's performance - look at the research facts.
Lets just hope that your daughter is one of the lucky ones and manages to do OK despite having to miss school at such a crucial point.
As for having to be off during the school holidays I know about that too as there are 50 of us on my unit and we have to stagger our holidays too.

My husband and I, have ALWAYS taken our daughter out of school for our holidays - for the last NINE YEARS; and she is in the top class, and always has been. She is a very intelligent and articulate girl and she constantly scores top grades and has received medals and certificates and awards for her excellent work.

I know that this is not what you want to hear, as it proves your theory wrong; that children taken out of school for one or two weeks a year will fail dismally in life. (A theory which; in my opinion; is a load of rubbish... as my daughter's excellent progress PROVES!)

In contrast; I know many children, whose parents have NEVER taken their children out of school for holidays, and they are as dim as a blown out light bulb, and in one of the bottom classes at school.

There is no WAY that taking your child out of school for ONE WEEK a year - or even TWO weeks, is going to affect their education. People who say this, are just speculating, and using just several hundred children - out of MILLIONS, to get their 'facts and figures...'

As I - and many others - have said; it's OK for the teachers and so on; to say that we cannot take our children out of school; we don't have the luxury of getting THREE MONTHS holiday a year like they do.

And I KNOW what a school governor is thank you very much; I just think that some nosey busybody who is a school governor, in another school and another town, trying to say that it's HER business if MY child has a week off in December is laughable to the extreme. I don't think so! Who does she think she is? LOL!

And is it absolutely necessary to quote the WHOLE of my rather lengthy post, when replying to it? People have already read it, and don't need to read it again.

I don't know what to do I have booked a holiday for August in this country for me my partner and 3 children (all under 6). I am hoping the weather will be nice as we are going to be very limited what we are going to do if it pours down all week. I haven't been abroad for 2 years as I was pregnant last summer and didn't want to take my baby abroad this year. I am now thinking about next years holiday as I am hoping to get a discount by booking early. I have spent all evening looking at different holidays (all during the school holidays) and have not found 1 that I can remotely afford. Having 3 children puts the price of a holiday over 2000 during the school holidays. I have found the same holiday during term time for just over 1000 pounds. I never wanted to contemplate taking my children on holiday during term time but unfortunately it looks as though that will be the only option as there is no way we can afford the school holiday prices. It is not fair the tour operators only have free child places during term time maybe they should be the ones that get fined.

Hi Mum from Bromley

Go for it; just book your hols for next year in school time. Try and avoid MAY though as they have their SATS then, although if push comes to shove they can do them AFTER the child comes back; best to go away in Jan, Feb, March or April or late June though, to avoid any tests or exams.

ALTHOUGH, with them being all 6 and under; the effect on their education will be minimal. It's OK for teachers and suchlike who have 14 weeks holiday a year or whatever and who are on $40K plus a year, to say we can't take the kids out of school in school time, but as many have already highlighted; it is much more convenient and less busy and usually HALF the price of school holiday times; sometimes even less.

And like I said before; very few people have the luxury of having approx 14 weeks holiday a year (approx 7 weeks off in the summer hols.) If EVERYone got that excessive amount of holidays; then I bet people taking their kids on holiday in school time, would reduce quite a lot...

So if you wanna take your kids away in school time next year, then go for it. At the end of the day, as long as you don't take the mickey (like take them out 5 or 6 weeks a year in school time;) I don't see any problem. IMO, People who think everyone should take their kids away IN SCHHOL HOLIDAYS, are obviously very well off, and can afford to waste £2,000 to £2,500 for a holiday in August, when it would only cost £1,000 if they went in April or something!

And re; the end of your post; it IS a disgrace that the holiday people/tour operators charge extortionate prices in school holidays; their prices should be capped.

Also, what about teachers STRIKING when it suits, because the greedy devils can't survive on their £500 a week! It's OK for children to 'miss school' when it suits *THEM* isn't it?? So stuff 'em! That's what I say!!!

Sorry this bit:

"It's OK for teachers and suchlike who have 14 weeks holiday a year or whatever and who are on $40K plus a year, to say we can't take the kids out of school time..."

SHOULD be £40K plus (£40,000, NOT $40,000)

poppy wrote:
Sorry this bit: "It's OK for teachers and suchlike who have 14 weeks holiday a year or whatever and who are on $40K plus a year, to say we can't take the kids out of school time..." SHOULD be £40K plus (£40,000, NOT $40,000)

I know only one teacher who earns £40,000 plus and that is because they are a Head Teacher. I think you will find that a Teacher in London is more around the 22-25K range.

You are wrong Gemma. The salary in London is MUCH higher than £22,000- £25,000 a year for a 'regular' teacher. I know that for a fact, because my cousin works at a primary school in Ealing, and she is on £35,000 a year, so goodness knows what the head teacher is on! Probably about £60,000 a year.

So I don't know where you got your figures from, but they are wrong IMO. I am assuming that you are just 'guessing..' (You must be; because if you had researched it, you would see that this figure (£22,000 to £25,000 for a teaching job in London,) is way off... Either that, or the job is for only part time - like half a week or something.)

But no way would a full time teaching job in London be £22,000 to £25,000...

The wage you mention *may* be apparent in the North or the Midlands, but in London? No way. (Actually, I would think that even in the North and the Midlands, that some full-time teaching jobs would pay more than that...)

Many teachers are on twice the salary that most people are on (ie; factory workers, checkout assistants, office workers, waitresses and so on;) and they have the luxury of having over 3 months holiday a year. Like I said, us mere mortals don't get that luxury; hence, we HAVE to take our kids on holiday in school time.

That said, even if both me AND my husband *could* get time off in the school holidays, we would not go then. The holidays are usually TRIPLE the price. So why on EARTH should we pay £2,000 for a holiday in August, that would cost us £800 in June?! We'd have to have more money than sense to do that!

Just as an aside - tho schools are closed for hols for the children the teachers are not doing nothing all that time! When do you think all the lesson planning etc gets done? Evenings, weekends and holidays thats when. OFSTED look at teachers' plaaning and rate it when they assess schools and the HTs also review it so it must be done properly and actually no self respecting teacher would do otherwise (and no I am not a teacher)
As for the salary, the ones quoted are more for primary NQTs, secondary HTs can earn a lot more but would YOU want to run a school for 1-2000 pupils, manage all the teachers and ancillary staff and the buldings etc plus the budget?
Teachers are qualified profesisonals and deserve to get a decent salary otherwise we would not have many doing the job!!
As someone has already said the question is WHY do people feel the need for a foreign holiday annually? My holiday this year was in July (after the school broke up) and was £500 for the week. We had a fantastic cottage with huge amount of land and lots to see and do nearby. Thats the first real holiday we have had in several years but I really do not see why that is such an issue!

Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott wrote:
There can be no excuse for disrupting a child\\\\\\\'s education just because selfish parents do not want to pay higher prices for holidays during term time. Social services should investigate such cases and decide whether it might be best to put the children in foster homes run by responsible adults who value education over a week in Disney World. Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott

quote

I can't believe what I have just read,get a grip on reality,people like you are blinded.I just feel sorry for your family having to live with a control freak like yourself. I find your post quite disturbing and wonder if you need reporting to social services.