Term Time Holidays – The Arguments Can Continue.

the other was on child protection and how to spot and deal with signs of child abuse. So both totally useless!

Good to know you put this in high regard.

I don’t know you, but have met plenty of entitled a’holes with the same attitude.

So have I , most of them teachers

Newrobdob is clearly smoking something odd if he thinks a cottage in the UK during term time isn’t massively hit by an uplift in seasonal pricing. Typically 3x more expensive in my considerable experience.

The need to some time together as falmily? Yeah it’s a pretty big need.

Sorry, maybe I didn’t make myself clear. Not a need for family time, a need for this policy of ‘no holidays in term time’.

If there is no need for such a policy (as your research suggests) what is the driver? Have any of the teachers you’ve spoken to explained at all? Curious to find out more as it isn’t something I have much knowledge of.

If there is no need for such a policy (as your research suggests) what is the driver? Have any of the teachers you’ve spoken to explained at all? Curious to find out more as it isn’t something I have much knowledge of.

They think it isn’t necessary if a child has good attendance and are on target. The drive will be crap government targets at a guess.

I’m happy for parents to arrange term-time holidays, as long as:

a)they (at their expense) employ a tutor to cover what the child has missed, and-

b)there’s no ‘drag’ on my child caused by the teacher having to ‘special’ the missing kids when they return

Seems the school behind me has sent out letters today informing parents their kids will break up a week earlier this year than planned giving them an extra week off. I wonder hwo they fine for that?

There was a school local to me that organised all the inset days to be in a week before holidays, to allow for early holidays for children and parents. The ones who could afford it anyway!

I have no sympathy for people who take out their kids to save money on a holiday. If you can’t afford something, you can’t afford it and breaching the rules to satisfy your wants is an appalling example. Parents who could not otherwise have a family holiday because of the nature of their work, I have some sympathy for.

I have no sympathy for people who take out their kids to save money on a holiday. If you can’t afford something, you can’t afford it and breaching the rules to satisfy your wants is an appalling example.

In essence I agree.

But, those very rules make it favorable, and therefore the jusdement for doing so remains a moral one. If the fine was £1000 they wouldn’t be so inclined, I bet.

I have no sympathy for people who take out their kids to save money on a holiday.

Jolly good.

I do have sympathy for people who would like to take a holiday, but can’t stomach paying 300% more for it just because they are unwilling to “breach the rules”.

Maybe if secondary education wasn’t a rote learned test of memory providing mass produced molded sausages for the machine, id actually give a plop.

I do have sympathy for people who would like to take a holiday, but can’t stomach paying 300% more for it just because they are unwilling to “breach the rules”.

Where does it stop? What rules shouldn’t be breached to get what you want? It is just selfishness, if you want to go on a more expensive holiday, do some overtime.

I do have sympathy for people who would like to take a holiday, but can’t stomach paying 300% more for it just because they are unwilling to “breach the rules”.

Then don’t look at the prices at the times you can’t go. What you don’t know and all that.
It costs that amount to go on holiday in the time allowed. Go or not based on that.

I wouldn’t go off sick for a week to save money on a holiday at a time when I couldn’t get the time off…

Fines should be higher and go into a pot to share out to those families who take their holidays when they’re meant to. Like me….

Then don’t look at the prices at the times you can’t go.

**** sake. 😆 😆

I wouldn’t go off sick for a week to save money on a holiday at a time when I couldn’t get the time off…

Not even if you were going to the Isle of Man.

All this “Suck it up” and “don’t go if you can’t afford it” smacks of people trying to reassure themselves.

It’s like you are saying to yourself “Oh, he went on a nice holiday when we didn’t. But he’s cheating! He can’t really afford that. Not properly. He should stop cheating and be miserable like us”

No ta!

Where does it stop? What rules shouldn’t be breached to get what you want?

Yep. It’s the fall of civilised society as we know it. Taking the kids out of school for a few days is very much the same as an armed robbery 🙄

So it’s envy you accusing us of Graham?

Interesting.

No you went on an aspirational holiday you couldn’t afford in the prescribed time, it is perfectly possible to go skiing for far less, you just choose not to.

I suppose the point is that education is worth more to some than to others. How many years do those parents who do this intend to do it for? Just infant school? If you just pay the fines is it OK to carry on doing it?

So it’s envy you accusing us of Graham?

No, more self-justification I think.

You made your moral choice and it upsets you that someone making a different choice is quite happy about it. He should be ashamed and suck it up like you did.

No you went on an aspirational holiday you couldn’t afford in the prescribed time

It’s like those bastards that “cheat” by buying aspirational luxury cars second hand instead of paying full price for a new one at the dealership like they are meant to.

FWIW I think that anyone paying over nine grand for a one-week package hotel ski holiday in France (aspirational? really?) has far more money than sense. But if they want to pay that, knowing people the previous week paid a third of that for exactly the same holiday, then fair play to them.

it is perfectly possible to go skiing for far less, you just choose not to.

Quite the opposite: I chose to do exactly that, by shifting my dates.

No, more self-justification I think.

You made your moral choice and it upsets you that someone making a different choice is quite happy about it. He should be ashamed and suck it up like you did.

The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks!

It’s like those bastards that “cheat” by buying aspirational luxury cars second hand instead of paying full price for a new one at the dealership like they are meant to.

Not sure what rules they are breaking – could you enlighten me?

Quite the opposite: I chose to do exactly that, by shifting my dates.

Yes it is, you can look at far cheaper resorts and you can go self catering. You choose not too, you choose to disrupt your kid’s education and their school just so you could do something you wanted – me me me and then accuse people of jealousy. You get free education but that requires you to take responsibility just like we require those parents who children play truant.

I think there is alot of justification for this law

You only need to look at how the kids from earlier generations panned out before this law was introduced to understand how important it is.

My class mates and I were all allowed to be taken out of school in the 80s and 90s and the consequences have been dire, none of us managed to gain a good education, go to university, or find well paid jobs that contribute to society…

oh wait….

Maybe Peyote 🙂

But then I don’t condem others who made the opposite choice or accuse them of being bad parents, irresponsible, selfish, etc.

But then I don’t condem others who made the opposite choice or accuse them of being bad parents, irresponsible, selfish, etc.

You are hardly shy of voicing your opinion on other threads, which is why I am enjoying your hypocrisy so much.

Not sure what rules they are breaking – could you enlighten me?

What rules did I break?

I informed the school (in writing to the head and informally to the teachers) and I received their consent back.

What is it that upsets you all so much about that? The feeling that I “cheated”?

you choose to disrupt your kid’s education and their school just so you could do something you wanted – me me me

Correct I did. (Well it was “us us us” rather than “me me me”).
It was a considered decision that we made as a family and wasn’t made lightly.

You get free education but that requires you to take responsibility..

And I do take full responsibility for making that decision.

My class mates and I were all allowed to be taken out of school in the 80s and 90s and the consequences have been dire, none of us managed to gain a good education, go to university, or find well paid jobs that contribute to society…

oh wait….

You did however grow up completely unable to make a reasoned sensible argument out of logical points, by the look of it 🙂

To help you out a bit – anecdotes aren’t data.

The basis is that “not having children” was used as excuse to continue a vastly more materialistic life.

Who said anything about materialism?

I’ve given up plenty of experiences I could have had for the sake of my family – including my wife. I’m not complaining, just pointing out that it isn’t always about material possessions.

You make a choice to have a child (or marry a teacher in my case) then you know that you’re stuck on more expensive holidays, that’s just how it works. If you want cheaper holidays, don’t have kids or don’t marry a teacher. Simple.

And as ever, the rules have to work for the lowest common denominator, I’m sure the people of STW would never hurt their child’s education for a cheaper holiday, but others may do and you can’t have rules that only apply to one type of person I’m afraid.

you can’t have rules that only apply to one type of person I’m afraid.

You can if we allow teachers to continue to use their judgement and discretion instead of making blanket rules.

you choose to disrupt your kid’s education and their school just so you could do something you wanted – me me me

Correct I did. (Well it was “us us us” rather than “me me me”).
It was a considered decision that we made as a family and wasn’t made lightly.

If Grahem popped up here and said “hey, but taking my kid out of school I said some money to buy a new bike” I’d understand this attitude. But likely he did it at least to be able to take the kids and his wife someone nice, and perhaps used the saved money for thier clothes, electricity, food etc outside the holiday aka thier benefit.

I don’t for one minute believe Graham saved to cash to piss it up the wall at his kids expense.

you can’t have rules that only apply to one type of person I’m afraid.

If the rule is ‘at head teacher’s discretion’ then it can easily apply to everyone.

It’s not a secret that some kids catch on much faster than others. So some kids could handle the absence, some woudn’t. Also, some parents are conscientious enough to make their kids do school work on holiday, some aren’t – also not a secret.

You make a choice to have a child (or marry a teacher in my case) then you know that you’re stuck on more expensive holidays, that’s just how it works. If you want cheaper holidays, don’t have kids or don’t marry a teacher. Simple.

28 years ago those rules didn’t exist or 15 years ago.

but others may do and you can’t have rules that only apply to one type of person I’m afraid.

Probably very few so a majority now get punished for a minority.

The school breaks up for summer holidays on a Monday this year. A bloody Monday. What pratt made that decision ?’
They’ll be making a few quid in fines this year

If the rule is ‘at head teacher’s discretion’ then it can easily apply to everyone.

It’s not a secret that some kids catch on much faster than others. So some kids could handle the absence, some wouldn’t. Also, some parents are conscientious enough to make their kids do school work on holiday, some aren’t – also not a secret.
All correct but you have to be seen as fairer than fair and “discretion” could by some be interpreted as “inconsistent”. Most people would help their kids catch up, but some, no matter what they say, won’t. It is much, much easier, and some would say fairer, to do as is being done and put a blanket ban on it,

It is much, much easier, and some would say fairer, to do as is being done and put a blanket ban on it,

You should have stopped at easier.

You could just as easily rent a lovely cottage in the U.K. for the cost of one of your family to go on the skiing trip. And then you could have precious family time together AND save even more money AND your kids will have 100% of their very precious education.

yeah, i bet most kids would love that. ‘sorry kids, no snow time for you, we’re going to a cottage with granddad, maybe fit in some hill walking’ 😉

You did however grow up completely unable to make a reasoned sensible argument out of logical points, by the look of it

To help you out a bit – anecdotes aren’t data.

Nope just didn’t read the rest of the thread and stated my opinion. Did you take it from my not so serious post that I was trying to make a serious arguement out of logical points..?

No need to help me out though. First class honours degree from St Andrews and all that, probably indicates I can do that by myself. And definitely no need for help from intranet know it alls who couldn’t take a few weeks off in primary school as they weren’t bright enough to catch up afterwards

thanks for the offer though

…

😉

It’s like you are saying to yourself “Oh, he went on a nice holiday when we didn’t. But he’s cheating! He can’t really afford that. Not properly. He should stop cheating and be miserable like us”

I’m going to USA for 3 weeks this summer so am not at all jealous of your ski trip…lack the knees and hips for it these days anyway but taking kids out of school to spend a week skiing would be beyond what I would consider acceptable with junior. I have zero sympathy for your position.
Drac on the other hand if he really cant get any time off as a family can have the pleasure of my sympathy…I’m sure he will be thrilled!!
I cant help but think we are coming at this from the wrong angle if employers cannot help out a little here..maybe not every year but at least every other or something what have we created? An unequal, zero hours, overworked labour force that must go on till it drops…sad indictment of our country.

taking kids out of school to spend a week skiing would be beyond what I would consider acceptable with junior.

Out of interest how old is your junior? My eldest daughter is only 6, which obviously influenced my decision. If she was in the middle of studying for exams it’d be a different story.

Mine is six too, although I am a teacher so I expect my views are coloured by experience and I cant take holidays outside term time anyway!!
But hey its only my opinion!!
I had a kid taken on holiday for 2 weeks 3 weeks before his gcse’s…the parent was mighty pissed off with the school as he didnt do well enough to do the a levels he wanted…that sort of shit is child abuse imo.
I guess I wouldnt take junior out, if I could as I want to demonstrate to him how important education is.