We're taking our kids out of school for two days before Easter half term, have sent a letter to school with evidence that everything was booked etc before the new fines were introduced. It's a big family get together and the place we are staying only had availability for these dates. I am not that hopeful that school will give us the ok but if that's the case then so be it (kids both have 100% attendance up to now, 8 and 5 so this is not a normal thing).
I do find the 'per child per parent' thing massively annoying though, why should we pay twice for managing to have a stable home life? If they can't come up with a fair way to 'fine' the parents then they shouldn't attempt it in my opinion. This does appear to be a feature of the UK government though who haven't exactly had a great track record with being fair when it comes to taxes etc.
I wanted to just lie and say they both had the runs, but the wife was having none of it as our goody two shoes 8 year old would've probably dobbed us in (the price to pay for bringing him up right I suppose)
Out of interest, has anyone come up with evidence that the price-hiking has got worse, or do parents just want more now?
My parents may have felt guilty for not spending enough time with us in the holidays, but I don't think it occurred to them that they were depriving us of essential life experiences by not taking us abroad at an early age...
If they didn't put the prices up all that would happen is that the holidays, in school holiday times, would sell out instantly with only the same percentage of people going. Then you'd have everyone complaining that there aren't enough holidays available in school holidays.
There simply isn't a business case for running a fleet of aeroplanes and hotels that are only occupied for 6 weeks during the summer!
that's not the case though footflaps, as who in the right mind wants to go on holiday during a school holiday (unless you have kids). All the normal people will go as usual throughout the year, and while it might mean that the same percentage of people went on hols it would give those that found it a struggle to pay for hols abroad would a chance to go on them.
It would also mean that people would have less of an excuse to moan about being fined as if the hols aren't loads more expensive during holidays there's less reason to take them out of school. (obviously it would then be because they were booked and they left it until the last minute etc)
to be honest it's not an issue for me at the moment, as we've had nice fancy hols (by some peoples standards for the last few years) and I'm training to become a teacher and take a massive pay cut and be forced into taking hols when the school allows - but that's my choice so I wont be moaning about it (much)
If they didn't put the prices up all that would happen is that the holidays, in school holiday times, would sell out instantly with only the same percentage of people going. Then you'd have everyone complaining that there aren't enough holidays available in school holidays.
Or more likely if they didn't discount in times of lower demand.... having gone to the Costa Blanca on a climbing holiday outside of school hols (it's far too hot to climb then) we could book accommodation the day before we flew from a choice of 100 places and haggle on the price.
There will be the same number of cheap seats on the planes & trains in school holidays just 100x as many people going for them.
Surely it's not price hikes as such, it's supply and demand based discounting in term time aimed at the elderly etc.
What about people who work in schools that have kids, how can they take hols during term time?
Or more likely if they didn't discount in times of lower demand.
They don't have a choice, if they didn't have lower prices they wouldn't sell enough seats and go out of business.
As with any business they price their product at he maximum the market will stand. Running a holiday company is not a very profitable business, the good ones get by on a few % profit margin. You only have to google "Thomas Cook losses" to see they have been subsidising all their customer's holidays for a good few years.
What about people who work in schools that have kids, how can they take hols during term time?
Honestly, along with teachers they should just do it. Sorry no school dinners today, sorry bogs not cleaned, sorry no heating as we had to take little Johnny to Mjorcaaa* and if we hadn't gone this week we'd av ad to go to benidorm*
*insert destination applicable
Tbf people who work in schools know the obvious restrictions before they accepted the job. I'm sure the 6 weeks over summer softens the blow somewhat...
Interesting to see people taking their children out of school for holidays and get-togethers and weddings. Just not that sure I'd rank that over education - I know damn well my parents wouldn't have done. Loddrick saying his kids deserve a holiday - seriously?
Another thing as well is people thinking that taking their kids out of school just means the kids have got work to catch up on. What about the work the teachers have to do to get them up to speed? Not bothered about increasing their workload to the detriment of the rest of their pupils?
loddrik - Member
Tbf people who work in schools know the obvious restrictions before they accepted the job.
And those with kids just woke up one morning and went **** me never thought thats why we only ever went on holiday in the school holidays when I was younger!
Of course, an 8 year old will suffer a lifelong academic handicap by missing those 10 days.
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Tbf people who work in schools [b]and people who have kids[/b] know the obvious restrictions before they accepted the job. I'm sure the 6 weeks over summer softens the blow somewhat...
FTFY. Or were you not told?
Another thing as well is people thinking that taking their kids out of school just means the kids have got work to catch up on. What about the work the teachers have to do to get them up to speed? Not bothered about increasing their workload to the detriment of the rest of their pupils?
😆
My 8yr old is indeed preparing for her gcse's....
Tbf people who work in schools and people who have kids know the obvious restrictions before they accepted the job. I'm sure the 6 weeks over summer softens the blow somewhat...
Erm, that's not quite true is it...? The rules changed in September... 🙄
One wonders whether some posters really give a shit or are just using the thread to repeat their hackneyed prejudices towards parents.
loddrik - Member
Of course, an 8 year old will suffer a lifelong academic handicap by missing those 10 days.POSTED 11 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
Judging by your ill thought out response in most threads the academic handicap your child suffers is hereditary!
Oooh, it's all kicking off now. How to insult the dad and the child in one sentence. Awesome!
Dd+1
Fortunately darcey I've been both, so can see both sides. As a young couple we never ever went in school hols. **** that, waaawing babbys on the plane etc.
Along came the kids and in the last 12 years we've had some of the best holidays ever. In that time we've been abroad maybe 5/6 times.
Howevew the uk has undoubtedly provided us with the best holidays in that last 12 years, but we are a big outdoor loving family.
Judging by your ill thought out response in most threads the academic handicap your child suffers is hereditary!
🙄
Nice to know I've made an impression on you. I haven't got a ****ing clue who you are or what you post... 😕
That's they way I look at it too wrightyson. We never went on holidays during school holidays. However, there have been times we've ended up in places with families, no doubt thick parents with uneducated children of course. I've never seen it as a problem - adults, kids, everyone on holidays, everyone enjoying themselves. You'd have to be a bit of a misery to let that get you down. Though, judging from the posts here, there are some right misery-guts with whom I'm glad I'll never have to share space when it comes to holidays during school holidays. They can sit staring at one another with contempt across the restaurant with all the other grown-ups. 🙂
I know my choices will be limited by cost a bit more in a few years, though you'd swear I'd have had to have that concept beaten in to me with a wet fish according to the prejudiced.
In traditional Singletrack manner I will weigh in with my 2p worth without reading ANYTHING apart 1st post...
there are 2 issues here really isn't there.
1) Taking kids away during school time and the POSSIBLE impact on their education.
2) The perceived price gouging by holiday companies etc during the school holidays.
[u]With regard to point 1.[/u]
I was taken out of school for [b]FOUR MONTHS[/b] whilst in Primary School. My father managed to swing a sabbatical from his University lecturer job to do Biological Field Work in New Zealand. The Headteacher allowed us to go providing we kept diaries and took work along with us. We had a couple of weeks of School in ChCh and Auk but that was it. "It didn't do me any harm" ...in fact quite the opposite I would argue.
Being taken out of school for a couple of weeks so Mum and Dad can get a cheap trip to Turkey so they booze by the pool of a All Inclusive Hotel isn't the same really is it.
The education system has changed (for better and worse probably) since I was kid so I have no doubt I would be told in no uncertain terms that I wouldn't be able to take my kids for 4 months to NZ. Times change. You can't take your kids out of school during term time. Deal with it. Adjust.
Those same parents trying to pull little Toby out of School for 2 weeks in the sun will likely be the ones bitching and moaning about their kids poor grades and saying the teachers are doing bad job.
[u]With regard to point 2.[/u]
People now expect cheap EVERYTHING, bikes, books, CDs, EVERYTHING.
When they are confronted with stuff that's priced at RRP or where the market dictates it can be priced (and it's higher than they are willing to pay) they get shirty.
If Holidays were massively overpriced (for the market) during the School Holidays then Centreparcs will be empty in School Hoilidays and I'll be able to get four seats to myself on a flight to Magaluf. Oh hang on, No. THEY ARE FULL. Which means they are priced correctly.
It's simple economics.
People are confusing cheap off peak holiday with being price gouged in peak times. It's not rocket science.
My 8yr old is indeed preparing for her gcse's....
Hope she has better comprehension than you.
One wonders whether some posters really give a shit or are just using the thread to repeat their hackneyed prejudices towards parents.
You really think so?
I just didn't get the memo explaining that having an overseas package holiday had become a basic human right. My parents never went abroad when we were children, couldn't afford it. Can't say it did us any harm.
Erm, that's not quite true is it...? The rules changed in September...Tbf people who work in schools and people who have kids know the obvious restrictions before they accepted the job. I'm sure the 6 weeks over summer softens the blow somewhat...
No, the only difference is that now schools can fine you for your apathy towards the education they're required to provide.
loddrik - Member
Judging by your ill thought out response in most threads the academic handicap your child suffers is hereditary!Nice to know I've made an impression on you. I haven't got a **** clue who you are or what you post...
is that due to your lack of academic ability? 😉
You really think so?
I do yes. I wouldn't have said it otherwise footflaps.
I just didn't get the memo explaining that having an overseas package holiday had become a basic human right.
Can't say it did us any harm.
Are you sure you weren't on a long weekend the day they did "hyperbole" at school?
No, the only difference is that now schools can fine you for your apathy towards the education they're required to provide.
That's another basic freedom lost. If you can't be apathetic I don't know what you can be....
I'd have thought a kid missing a 2 week block could be quite a PITA for the teachers - depending on what's being taught anyway. Say the kids are introduced to a concept then they move into learning more about it - if a kid misses the early lessons the later ones won't make much sense.
Oh well, the underclass aren't so bothered about education anyway right?
Nope, we aren't.
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Mr and Mrs loddrick taking baby wayne on holiday last year 😉
Nope, our area isn't that salubrious.
Since when does not going to school help your education?
Since always, when you can be doing something more educational instead. Not hard. You talk as if school is the only place you can gain knowledge and experience. It's not.
Yes you were
Lol... so everyone who isn't the poorest person in the country is automatically rich? We weren't rich, but we weren't poor either.
I take that not everyone's lives are the same wasn't covered in those amazingly educational holidays you had?
Honestly - **** off. That's just a stupid comment even for STW.
as who in the right mind wants to go on holiday during a school holiday (unless you have kids)
Well the summer holiday coincides with the warmest weather, the christmas one coincides with christmas, and the easter one coincides with a double bank holiday where you make your leave from work go further.
My parents never went abroad when we were children, couldn't afford it.
Would they have gone if they could have afforded it? What if they had had just enough money to go during term time?
Being taken out of school for a couple of weeks so Mum and Dad can get a cheap trip to Turkey so they booze by the pool of a All Inclusive Hotel isn't the same really is it.
Well your spin and straw man building managed to save us from having to interpret all that. Phew... dodged a bullet there! Good job your upper class "jolly" was purely educational 🙄
It's not rocket science.
Your right but its clearly flummoxed you 😀
Good job your upper class "jolly" was purely educational
Errr didn't say it was but 4 months living in a different country with (especially in Auckland) different Cultures probably didn't do me any harm.
But I did do school work and wrote a massive diary that I had to present on return to school.
So you are saying that the people taking their kids out of school for a couple of weeks will be taking school books with them etc? If you think that's the case, you're deluded.
Since always, when you can be doing something more educational instead. Not hard. You talk as if school is the only place you can gain knowledge and experience. It's not.
No, fair enough. But two weeks in a Eurocamp tent ain't gonna teach em much.
**** this. I'm out of here!
Roll on Tenerife, 8 weeks yesterday 😉
Lol... so everyone who isn't the poorest person in the country is automatically rich? We weren't rich, but we weren't poor either.
You were richer than us, if you had a caravan.
Never went abroad with my mum and dad as a kid, I never went abroad myself until I was 24.
Your right but its clearly flummoxed you
Not feeling overly flummoxed, would you care to enlighten me on what might have missed?
So you are saying that the people taking their kids out of school for a couple of weeks will be taking school books with them etc? If you think that's the case, you're deluded.
Not saying anything of the sort. Is that the type of analysis you picked up in NZ?
Not feeling overly flummoxed, would you care to enlighten me on what might have missed?
The letter "I" for a start 😀
You were richer than us, if you had a caravan.
Is a caravan automatically an indication of wealth? What if it was a very old caravan? 😀
You were richer than us, if you had a caravan.
Ok, fine. You don't have to be the poorest person in the country to be considered 'not rich' do you?
No, fair enough. But two weeks in a Eurocamp tent ain't gonna teach em much.
In France? How about French? I can speak a useful amount of French, and could in school far better than any of my classmates. Guess why.
Not saying anything of the sort. Is that the type of analysis you picked up in NZ?
Probably not, I was 8.
Sorry, what is your point?
