Taking kids on holiday during term time (3 Viewers)

shmmeee · Jun 22, 2017

So next month I start a job as not a teacher for the first time since Ive been a parent.

My first thought is "at last I can afford to take the kids abroad because I can go outside the holidays"

Reading up it seems you can get fined a couple of hundred quid at worst. It says to ask the head for permission but I know a new head won't say yes as it impacts their attendance scores.

Other than the kid blabbing about where they've been, is there any risk to just blagging it and saying they're ill?

Anyone done this?

Also, can anyone recommend somewhere that is nice between Sept and Dec for a family holiday with a 7 and 2 yo?

Nick · Jun 22, 2017

Do they like swimming etc? I would recommend here - Hotel Los Patos Park (Benalmadena, Costa del Sol) - Reviews, Photos & Price Comparison - TripAdvisor

In terms of blagging it, could you trust your 7 year old not to let it slip? As well as the tan she will have when she goes back?

Think all of that is a load of bollocks to be fair the whole fining thing if it isn't going to impact too much (in the middle of exams etc).

We'll_live_and_die · Jun 22, 2017

ClubHotel Riu Oliva Beach Resort in Corralejo | Thomson

Been here twice, once in October and once the week before Christmas.

The bit where they put the English is noice, food is fine and the beach is huge.

Make sure the kids don't blab and you'll be ok. I suppose the teacher needs to prove you've been away too.

Terry Gibson's perm · Jun 22, 2017

Just ask where you send the bill for the teacher training days and polling days they miss

shmmeee · Jun 22, 2017

As an educationalist, it is bollocks. Problem is that schools are judged on raw attendance figures. I've seen heads lose their job because their attendance figure was a couple of percentage points too low and Ofsted failed the school because of it. So a twitchy head might throw the book at someone.

It's the blabbing and the tan I worry about. My daughter can not keep secrets. But if I ask and get turned down it'd look pretty dodgy if they then "fall ill" at that time.

Will look into both those places, cheers guys.

shmmeee · Jun 22, 2017

Terry Gibson's perm said:
Just ask where you send the bill for the teacher training days and polling days they miss

Polling days?

Nick · Jun 22, 2017

shmmeee said:
As an educationalist, it is bollocks. Problem is that schools are judged on raw attendance figures. I've seen heads lose their job because their attendance figure was a couple of percentage points too low and Ofsted failed the school because of it. So a twitchy head might throw the book at someone.

It's the blabbing and the tan I worry about. My daughter can not keep secrets. But if I ask and get turned down it'd look pretty dodgy if they then "fall ill" at that time.

Will look into both those places, cheers guys.

Guaranteed she will tell her mates about it! Can't expect her not to tell about her great time!

Always think it should be done on an attendance scoring basis, if your daughter rarely misses a day and is up to speed with her work then crack on with the holiday. If the kid is off every other week with a cold and is behind then pay a fine.

Headteachers can get to shit We had an issue with one who couldn't even tell us our daughters name after she had been there for 3 years.

Pay the fine in pennies, I'll send you some.

jimmyhillsfanclub · Jun 22, 2017

Lying about it & asking your kids to lie isn't a great solution is it? Not a great example to your 7 year old either.

Just explain your situation to the School Head, use your ex-teacher experience to enhance your case......if he/she still says no, then put it in writing that you're going anyway & pay the fine if you receive one.

Ian1779 · Jun 22, 2017

Wasn't there a case not too long ago where a parent challenged a council fine and the judge said it was unenforceable (or something to that effect)?

You can see why parents do it... even if you add in the cost of a fine it's still miles cheaper than going in the holidays.

Nick · Jun 22, 2017

Ian1779 said:
Wasn't there a case not too long ago where a parent challenged a council fine and the judge said it was unenforceable (or something to that effect)?

You can see why parents do it... even if you add in the cost of a fine it's still miles cheaper than going in the holidays.

Dont know how up to date this is:

Can you take kids on term-time holidays without being fined?

Can see why parents get pissed off though, especially with training days and when teachers are off.

Covstu · Jun 22, 2017

Yes there was a court case about this and the parent won. My wife is a secondary school teacher so we cannot even get away with taking the kid out which is a pain! For me there needs to be more regulation around pricing of holidays during these periods but I guess there are too many strands to address i.e. hotels, flights etc and most of them are not in our country and therefore difficult to enforce.
For me a sensible solution would be that every student (and teacher) has a one week period in which they can take off in the year (apart from certain core dates like exams etc), they then agree work content for catch up but parents do not get slaughtered in cost of holidays and eventually you will see prices even themselves out through the year based on less demand at key points of the year.

Nick · Jun 22, 2017

Covstu said:
Yes there was a court case about this and the parent won. My wife is a secondary school teacher so we cannot even get away with taking the kid out which is a pain! For me there needs to be more regulation around pricing of holidays during these periods but I guess there are too many strands to address i.e. hotels, flights etc and most of them are not in our country and therefore difficult to enforce.
For me a sensible solution would be that every student (and teacher) has a one week period in which they can take off in the year (apart from certain core dates like exams etc), they then agree work content for catch up but parents do not get slaughtered in cost of holidays and eventually you will see prices even themselves out through the year based on less demand at key points of the year.

Agree with that, the kids have to catch up with extra homework with what they have missed.

shmmeee · Jun 22, 2017

You'd never get it past most teachers bit I honestly think it'd be better to scrap school holidays and give both teachers and students a generous holiday entitlement. Maybe a couple of weeks at the end of each year where things can get sorted, but other than that leave it up to them.

Terry Gibson's perm · Jun 22, 2017

shmmeee said:
Polling days?

Voting days they use my lads school for a polling station when there are perfectly adequate places all around

Covstu · Jun 22, 2017

shmmeee said:
You'd never get it past most teachers bit I honestly think it'd be better to scrap school holidays and give both teachers and students a generous holiday entitlement. Maybe a couple of weeks at the end of each year where things can get sorted, but other than that leave it up to them.

I think the issue with that would be, the high cost would just move to those dates. A solution needs to be in place where it gives a week window across the year but an emphasis on catching up on lost work. To be fair I don't think there will ever be a solution!!

skyblueinBaku · Jun 22, 2017

/www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1229340-d6966139-Reviews-Finest_Playa_Mujeres-Playa_Mujeres_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

Try this place. It's a long flight (10.5 hrs) but the hotel is great and worth the long flight.

We'll_live_and_die · Jun 22, 2017

skyblueindorset said:
/www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1229340-d6966139-Reviews-Finest_Playa_Mujeres-Playa_Mujeres_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

Try this place. It's a long flight (10.5 hrs) but the hotel is great and worth the long flight.

I did Mexico with a 2 year old. Not much fun to be honest.

eastwoodsdustman · Jun 22, 2017

shmmeee said:
So next month I start a job as not a teacher for the first time since Ive been a parent.

My first thought is "at last I can afford to take the kids abroad because I can go outside the holidays"

Reading up it seems you can get fined a couple of hundred quid at worst. It says to ask the head for permission but I know a new head won't say yes as it impacts their attendance scores.

Other than the kid blabbing about where they've been, is there any risk to just blagging it and saying they're ill?

Anyone done this?

Also, can anyone recommend somewhere that is nice between Sept and Dec for a family holiday with a 7 and 2 yo?

My other half works at a school and if they think people are on the blag they call the parents mobile. Foreign ringtone and they're bang to rights.

skyblueinBaku · Jun 22, 2017

Rich said:
I did Mexico with a 2 year old. Not much fun to be honest.

We don't have children, so I can't say whether or not it's fun. All I can say is that The Finest is an excellent hotel.

Covstu · Jun 22, 2017

skyblueindorset said:
We don't have children, so I can't say whether or not it's fun. All I can say is that The Finest is an excellent hotel.

would be a bit worried if it wasn't with a name like that!!

We'll_live_and_die · Jun 22, 2017

skyblueindorset said:
We don't have children, so I can't say whether or not it's fun. All I can say is that The Finest is an excellent hotel.

Riu Palace Riviera Maya in Playacar | Thomson

We stayed here and I'd go back tomorrow.

If I didn't have a 6 year old and 2 year old, and it wasn't so expensive, and I wasn't going to Florida in 4 weeks.

shmmeee · Jun 22, 2017

Covstu said:
I think the issue with that would be, the high cost would just move to those dates. A solution needs to be in place where it gives a week window across the year but an emphasis on catching up on lost work. To be fair I don't think there will ever be a solution!!

Yeah the two weeks or whatever changeover time would be brutal, but if parents were allowed to take their kids out for say any other 6 weeks a year, they could just go when it's cheap and stay at home for those two weeks.

The whole system needs change. The victorian sausage factory idea of pushing kids through pre-defined "years" just doesn't work. Also stops proper Flexi-time and things which could allow better management of the timetable and more personalised learning.

The biggest thing that made me want to get rid of school holidays was seeing reading age stats tracked across the years for rich and poor kids. In school they track together roughly, in the holidays the rich kids keep improving and the poor kids drop back.

Nick · Jun 22, 2017

shmmeee said:
Yeah the two weeks or whatever changeover time would be brutal, but if parents were allowed to take their kids out for say any other 6 weeks a year, they could just go when it's cheap and stay at home for those two weeks.

The whole system needs change. The victorian sausage factory idea of pushing kids through pre-defined "years" just doesn't work. Also stops proper Flexi-time and things which could allow better management of the timetable and more personalised learning.

The biggest thing that made me want to get rid of school holidays was seeing reading age stats tracked across the years for rich and poor kids. In school they track together roughly, in the holidays the rich kids keep improving and the poor kids drop back.

Does it say why they don't keep improving? Also what is classed as "rich"?

eastwoodsdustman · Jun 22, 2017

shmmeee said:
Yeah the two weeks or whatever changeover time would be brutal, but if parents were allowed to take their kids out for say any other 6 weeks a year, they could just go when it's cheap and stay at home for those two weeks.

The whole system needs change. The victorian sausage factory idea of pushing kids through pre-defined "years" just doesn't work. Also stops proper Flexi-time and things which could allow better management of the timetable and more personalised learning.

The biggest thing that made me want to get rid of school holidays was seeing reading age stats tracked across the years for rich and poor kids. In school they track together roughly, in the holidays the rich kids keep improving and the poor kids drop back.

Doubt its to do with rich vs poor with regards to reading ability in holiday times. More to do with parents ensuring that their kids do some reading instead of sitting on games consoles all day when they're off school. Rich or poor doesn't come into it, parenting does.

Covstu · Jun 22, 2017

shmmeee said:
Yeah the two weeks or whatever changeover time would be brutal, but if parents were allowed to take their kids out for say any other 6 weeks a year, they could just go when it's cheap and stay at home for those two weeks.

The whole system needs change. The victorian sausage factory idea of pushing kids through pre-defined "years" just doesn't work. Also stops proper Flexi-time and things which could allow better management of the timetable and more personalised learning.

The biggest thing that made me want to get rid of school holidays was seeing reading age stats tracked across the years for rich and poor kids. In school they track together roughly, in the holidays the rich kids keep improving and the poor kids drop back.

Isn't this a parenting issue?? My two have a bedtime story every night and my eldest (6) reads her school book before we read her storybook every night. I know others that they simply don't bother, they get TV before bed and straight to bed!

The pressure on 'results' for schools is the main issue which doesn't allow that degree of flexibility otherwise the schools results fail

We'll_live_and_die · Jun 22, 2017

eastwoodsdustman said:
Doubt its to do with rich vs poor with regards to reading ability in holiday times. More to do with parents ensuring that their kids do some reading instead of sitting on games consoles all day when they're off school. Rich or poor doesn't come into it, parenting does.

Without trying to stereotype to much, it's likely more to do with class.

Middleclass and upperclass people generally have a work ethic, that sees them spend time with their kids and encourage them to do things.

Those whom are on benefits long term are usually on them because they can't be arsed to do anything about it, this also applies to parenting.

eastwoodsdustman · Jun 22, 2017

I've had stats come from my own kids schools showing a direct correlation of absenteeism and dropping results from kids. They all push for kids to be in school as that's where they're supposed to be when its open to maximise their chances of learning.
Saving a couple of hundred quid on a holiday isn't really a good enough reason to keep your kids off school in my eyes.

Nick · Jun 22, 2017

eastwoodsdustman said:
Doubt its to do with rich vs poor with regards to reading ability in holiday times. More to do with parents ensuring that their kids do some reading instead of sitting on games consoles all day when they're off school. Rich or poor doesn't come into it, parenting does.

Exactly, not sure where how much money they have comes into it. Would be interesting to see the official stats for it.

You dont need to be minted for your kids to read.

eastwoodsdustman · Jun 22, 2017

Nick said:
Exactly, not sure where how much money they have comes into it. Would be interesting to see the official stats for it.

Wait til she hits 13!

Nick · Jun 22, 2017

eastwoodsdustman said:
Wait til she hits 13!

Can see her always loving books

eastwoodsdustman · Jun 22, 2017

Nick said:
Can see her always loving boys, facetime, makeup, loud music, snapping at mum and dad

that's more realistic

My two do still read a bit now even though they're teenagers. They are probably the exception rather than the norm though.

Nick · Jun 22, 2017

eastwoodsdustman said:
that's more realistic

My two do still read a bit now even though they're teenagers. They are probably the exception rather than the norm though.

No boys mate, will be murders.

skyblueinBaku · Jun 22, 2017

shmmeee said:
Yeah the two weeks or whatever changeover time would be brutal, but if parents were allowed to take their kids out for say any other 6 weeks a year, they could just go when it's cheap and stay at home for those two weeks.

The whole system needs change. The victorian sausage factory idea of pushing kids through pre-defined "years" just doesn't work. Also stops proper Flexi-time and things which could allow better management of the timetable and more personalised learning.

The biggest thing that made me want to get rid of school holidays was seeing reading age stats tracked across the years for rich and poor kids. In school they track together roughly, in the holidays the rich kids keep improving and the poor kids drop back.

Shmmeee, surely that's a function of parental involvement and not holidays. If kids are encouraged to keep reading during holidays, they will continue to improve, I would have thought.

stupot07 · Jun 22, 2017

My kids are currently wagging it on holiday. Luckily we got permission from both schools SL no fine for me. Tbh, I don't think you'll get away with phoning in on a Sickie, the kids are bound yo tell their friends, teachers will overhear and you'll get found out.....that and their brand new tans they miraculously gained whilst off sick lying in bed with the flu!

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pastythegreat · Jun 22, 2017

eastwoodsdustman said:
My other half works at a school and if they think people are on the blag they call the parents mobile. Foreign ringtone and they're bang to rights.

My wife is off work with my sick Son/Daughter and I'm working away! I travel quite frequently with my job. Prove me otherwise!?

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Taking kids on holiday during term time (3 Viewers)

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