Taking my son on holiday in the middle of September

[Meme1980]

I have booked to take my son on holiday beginning of September as I can't afford to do it in the summer holidays. I have never taken him out school before, my ex sister-in-law has informed me that they start doing they assessments 2wards there GCSEs. O u think he will miss much in those 2 weeks. I'm worried I may be easing up his education :/

[gness]

Oh yes the trips! Never had our local museum,parish church and library been so busy.

[factor-fiction]

It's not as easy now of course, Gness, with very short notice of inspections- plus Ofsted would probably want to see my personalised learning plan covering all the maths learning these students will do whilst at the parish church and how I'll be assessing their learning (plus a copy of the risk assessment)

[Brimoan]

One of my relatives had a problem with the school as she had to take her daughter to about 6 appointments at the dental hospital.
The daughter somehow developed an abscess above one of her teeth and the dentist wanted to save the tooth as it was perfect.
The school wanted her to be taken out of school hours but the hospital only did this type of work between 10am and 4pm.

[gness]

Oh I know Factor. I`m so glad I`m out.

I wish I loved the inspecting race;
I wish I loved its silly face;
I wish I loved the way it walks;
I wish I loved the way it talks;
And when I`m introduced to one
I wish I thought....WHAT JOLLY FUN.

Thanks to Sir W.R.

[ganesh]

Interesting how the two teachers on this thread have said it won't make any difference! If our education system was good then it certainly should and I'm surprised at their opinions.It maybe the same as time taken off through illness but logically the kids may have that time off sick on top of their holidays.
Prudie,I have heard your comments on teaching before and I hope all teachers aren't like you! You certainly aren't valuing your time.
I took my kids out for one day after the official holidays due to flights and I got quite a grilling.If everyone did what you are doing there would be so many problems with loads of kids catching up on missed lessons.It is really selfish especially if it is an important year,but if you have already booked it why are you asking now?

[factor-fiction]

Ganesh- I'm a teacher and I was not in favour of taking time off in term; but at the end of the day it's the parent's call as long as he/she know the implications (fines, effect on progress) and don't expect the teacher to bend over backwards to set extra work or give catch-up sessions.

[factor-fiction]

^for "don't" read "doesn't" (I was typing while watching Corrie on ITV+1)

[sherrardk]

Ganesh, you'd be amazed at how little is achieved in most lessons, even at GCSE level. Typical hour lesson - five minutes faffing whilst everyone arrives, gets settled and the register is taken. Five minute re-cap of previous lesson. Ten (fifteen) minutes tracing the new stuff. Thirty minutes doing the 'work', five minute re-cap with questions, five minutes to set homework, five minutes to answer any questions, pack up, etc. Out of five lesson a fortnight, one will be in a computer room doing coursework. Not much gets covered in a fortnight.

[sherrardk]

^ teaching!

[ganesh]

True-sorry didn't mean you,just noticed 2 other teachers on the thread.Yes it is their responsibility and maybe infants could get away with it but not secondary years.It's bad enough having to catch up when you've been off ill,but adding time off for holidays must be a nightmare for you.

[sherrardk]

My son is in secondary school and he is not being pushed at all but the results of the school are excellent - not saying its right, just saying that's how it is.

[ganesh]

I'd have thought even 30 mins learning in each hour would be quite a lot missed over a fortnight!

[Arti]

I don't think kids should miss any schooling. You say that you can't afford to take your son on holiday during the summer break. So, choose a cheaper holiday. He's got his whole life to have expensive holidays.

[ummmm]

My son had 100% attendance before I requested 3 days off. They didn't hesitate in saying yes. He's also never been late, never had a detention...

[JonnyBoy12]

I would strongly recommend your son becomes "ill" for this period. As the others say you can not do this without the school's permission and you may be fined. If you can not afford a 'normal' holiday then you will not want to be fined by the school.

[sherrardk]

Fines are rising to £60 (per child) next academic year and I would gladly pay them if we choose to take our children on a term-time holiday. We wouldn't take them in term time during SATs or during year 10/11 but otherwise it is up to us to decide when we holiday.

[factor-fiction]

To put the other side, though, ganesh, although teachers spend ages preparing lessons, too many students do less than 10 minutes work in a one hour lesson.Some refuse even to write the date. Much stuff is repeated every year from year 6 to year 11 and every time many students look at you blankly as if they've never heard of the topic before. It's not until the exams approach that many realise they need to start working. A conscienctious student probably can afford to take time off, although I would advise against it in GCSE years

[factor-fiction]

^Typo- should say "Conscientious" (like wot I am)

[Arti]

It amuses me that some people will spout about society's downfall being mainly due to a lack of discipline and then, in the next breath, advocate a child being absent from school for a holiday.

[ganesh]

It shouldn't be a legal issue,you are right they are your kids and you should be able to do what you want to do with them.I just think they should be in school when everyone else is for their own good really and for the smooth running of the school lessons and their own education.Unlike some of the teachers here,I believe in successfully educating the children in our country.Surely it is disruptive when you haven't got the full class learning the same things?