Parents not allowed to parent any more

You might argue that it was irresponsible parenting to take the children out for the crucial first week of term when all the new classes are being introduced to new practices and routines which will set the pattern for the entire year. A considerate parent just wouldn't do that. I would extend that to any time in September.

There are other key times which might matter a lot - eg. just before Christmas when children might be prevented from taking part in a shared performance if they were on holiday. The message you would be giving your child is that these things are not important, but they are. I vividly remember the nativities I took part in even 50 years later.

It is also a great discourtesy to the school to take children out when SATs are scheduled, usually late April/ May/June. It causes the school staff a lot of inconvenience and reorganisation to have to arrange for a single child to resit tests which are complex and labour-intensive to administer and mark and often the child does less well than they are capable of as a result. This may have a trickle-down effect on crucial overall school results.

Other than that, I would agree that holidays generally are beneficial, wise parents can make sure that the children get plenty of new and stimulating experiences and it is a good time for family bonding. The last few weeks of the school year are generally a time for slowing down in terms of the academic curriculum but for speeding up other areas such as outdoor sports, fun trips and special school occasions. If you are happy for your children to miss out on all that it's a good time to take them on holiday.

 

We had the same argument when I took my little one out of school in mid November.
The head of the school was understanding though, my fiancée and I are unable to have school holidays together because of our jobs so when do we go on holiday??
He didn't authorise the holiday but told us that nobody before had been fined.
To be fair it's cheaper to pay the fine than travel in the school holidays anyway,
I wouldn't dream of taking him out as you say @Madahhlia at key times i.e. Exams or new class.
At the end of the day I'm not being dictated by the government when I can take a holiday.

 

Whilst Madahhlia is right I find that some reasons for an excused child are necessary

Strictly NO for financial reasons as in cheaper holidays outwith the school holiday period

YES for Staff that have no option of taking a certain date, Firemen, Nurses, Service people and some office set ups
They are told what date they can have for the whole year by Jan 14th no if's or but's, it is then up to them to wheel and deal swops, for those with no children who are willing to swap etc

You should not pull a child out of the school year just because it is £300 cheaper to go to Malta during school time

IMHO

Jack McHammocklashing

 

While taking on board Maddahlia's points I think it's all very one way. There is no recourse for a parent if a school cannot provide a teacher for any reason (my son had a whole term without a dedicated maths teacher one year, for some lessons there was minimal supervision but no formal teaching, for others a series of different supply teachers), if it closes for a few days because of inclement weather, or any other reason for that matter - if you're working you either have to take time off or find a childminder at short notice. Add to that the various Inset days they tack on to each side of the holiday blocks and the fact that you can have two or more kids at separate schools which have different holidays and parents, especially if both work, are on a hiding to nothing.

 

I think we give these people far too much power, it just goes to their head, squeezing out any common sense they had to start with.

 

In my opinion, it is as a result of a complete imbalance between *why* term times were set (certainly the summer holidays were set for a time when whole families were required to bring in the harvest!) and our modern culture where both parents are expected/required/have no choice but to both be out at work.

Instead of dealing with *that* issue via legislation (e.g. reconfigure school terms times/daily duration), seems legislation only wants to deal with the affects and not the cause.

 

I agree that those issues are very problematic. I see what you mean about not having redress or choices without big battles or upheaval or expense.

It leaves me wondering whether it's the duty of schools to be providing a service catering for the needs of parents or the duty of parents to be supporting the work of the school. There's been a subtle shift from the latter to the former over the past 30 years or so, IMO, and given modern family life, is set to continue.

Personally, I think there's a middle way here. I don't think it generally damages a child's education much to have the occasional week off here and there, with the exceptions I mentioned above. It might even be more educational to be running around in the fresh air in a new and exciting location than to be stuck in a stuffy classroom listening to the teacher droning on. But don't tell Michael Gove I said that.

I wonder what the agenda of the government is in pushing through stricter regulations? It might be a response to overall poor attendance figures. It might be a response to the UK's apparently woeful place in international educational league tables. I would like to know why the government seems to think it's worth criminalising parents over this issue. Because I don't.

I can understand anger with the travel industry who milk the situation but then, that's the law of supply and demand, apparently. Later on, when the children are off your hands, you will appreciate being able to book dirt cheap flights at unpopular times of year. Perhaps we can sweet talk the government into subsidising money-off vouchers for each child that the family can use to make holidays outside of term-time more affordable. Perhaps.

 

An 8.30 to 5 school day would certainly help working parents though children would find it very long, possibly.
I think there have been trials with a 4-semester year in the UK, where October half term, Christmas and Easter are fixed at 2 weeks, possibly Whitsun too, with the Summer break being reduced to 4 weeks. Easter is fixed to the first 2 weeks of April, if the religious/bank holiday falls outside of that then a couple of extra days off would be given to cover it. There would be a lot of advantages from a school's point of view to equalising the terms and giving children shorter breaks away from lessons.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ctober-half-term-visit-Pakistan-families.html

I couldn't find any allusion on the internet to a 4-term year in the UK but did come up with this article about a school tailoring holidays to suit its parents. It just goes to show that any changes are going to cause knock-on problems for somebody else. But if holidays were standardised throughout the UK the problem of holiday prices soaring during school holiday periods would be even worse than it is now.

 

I don't have children so only have minimal interest in this story but I will add that I have learnt far more since I left school, both in a professional capacity and through travel to 3rd world countries as well as closer to home. I think if a child has the opportunity to learn about another culture*, that should never be discouraged for the sake of an Ofsted rating.

*this does not include Disneyland!