> there are other things that add to a childs education and development rather than just sitting in a class room...
There are and, as NJ pointed out, each year you have half a year in which to add those other things. You say you believe in compulsory education, but then you don't back it up.
> i would rather a child had great family holidays rather than none at all if the parents cant afford it...
... and so it comes down to money.
I said earlier that my wife's a teacher. I also have two children of school age. So, does my family deserve great family holidays at low prices like your family? Are my kids to be denied the opportunity of those great family holidays because their mother happens to be a teacher? Or can my wife take time off outside of school holidays to save money on family holidays?
My wife made a commitment when becoming a teacher to fixed holidays and turning up during school hours to teach other people's children. And, when we became parents and put our children into the state system, we made a commitment to make sure that our kids were there to receive the education offered by other teachers. That's compulsory education, from both sides.
Does that mean we miss out on great family holidays? No. Does it mean we can't go on the kinds of holidays we could go on were we to go off-peak? Yes, of course. We, like most other people, have to cut our cloth to fit when it comes to holidays. Just as we have to with our choice of house, car and everything else money can buy.
But that's life. Life's about choices, and one of the choices you make is whether you honour your commitments. Compromising your honour to save money is not a great lesson for your kids - particularly when it damages their education and that of their friends.