Taking children out of school

I think you are probably right Summerlove such a shame. I love to hear children having fun . If you want an adults only holiday I believe there are plenty hotels available .

It is a very British thing, too. Parents in France, Switzerland and Germany (the systems I know best) would never ever even consider taking kids out of school time- unless for one day for a funeral or real emergency. Total NO NO.

I really can’t understand why anyone would want to begrudge a hard working family a much needed/longed for holiday, no matter when it was .
Because it inconveniences them

Apparently, like children, young families are to be seen and not heard. And apparently they aren’t supposed to be seen either

Adult only resorts are not quiet FWIW. I love a Warner break but people talk to you more there than at a "normal" hotel so if it's isolation and quiet you crave, dont go there either!

Makes you feel ill ????? Bit OTT

Those of us who are older, as well as those without children also need and deserve a break, but away from others' little darlings!!

When I want a break from people, I take myself away from people! And hire a cottage somewhere remote and beautiful.
I do not expect others to vacate built up areas for me just because Im a bit weary of society and need a break from it!

Just imagine if parents weren't prevented from taking their children away in term time? We honestly wouldn't know when would be a quiet time.

Whethet it is quiet or not depends on the type of holiday you book not the time!

Beach resort/city break: never "quiet" (unless it's totally out of season and everything is shut!

Rural retreat: always quiet.

Hth

I thought everyone of my generation felt the same about holidays and other people’s children?

Only if Im going somewhere "adult" like a wine tasting trip. Otherwise its nice to see all kinds of people enjoying themselves!

I really can’t understand why anyone would want to begrudge a hard working family a much needed/longed for holiday, no matter when it was .

Plus most parents only have 4 weeks per year dictated by their employers, the lengthy school holidays are only lengthy if you happen to work in a school .

I would just like a holiday.....with or without children would be equally as as good for me. We were all children once you know .

I think you missed my point JenniferE assuming they could ban all U.K. children from holidaying in term time how would that change anything ? The French, German children etc would still be there wouldn’t they ? Why not just go to adult only hotels ? I really don’t understand

I'm with you Jennifer!

I’m not saying I want children banned from anywhere just that I wish families would stick to taking their children away in during the very lengthy school holidays so the rest of us can plan our getaways accordingly.

Why has this turned out to be a contentious view with a few on here?

I thought everyone of my generation felt the same about holidays and other people’s children?

NfkDumpling I'm shocked at that school; the last week of term being mostly classroom tidying, films, and games. I do hope the teachers can inject education into those activities!

There are always adult only hotels for those wishing to avoid children , or is it the entire resort you want the children banned from ? Best inform the French, Germans, Spanish and every other potential holiday maker in the world when and where you are thinking of going then JenniferEccles .

Adult only resorts or hotels sound like your refuge then JenniferEccles.

But even then you’ll get young adults.

Parents with young children should be allowed to go on holiday if they can afford it. No matter when that is.

I also agree JenniferEccles and I love going to adult only hotels.

I would like to look at this issue from a different angle.

Like most people of our age, we never go away in the school holidays, preferring to avoid other people's children now that ours have grown up ! We therefore go away, in this country and abroad, in May (avoiding half term week!), June, September or October.

Just imagine if parents weren't prevented from taking their children away in term time? We honestly wouldn't know when would be a quiet time.

After all schools are closed for 13 weeks a year which is ample time for holidays and breaks, as we did when ours were young.

Yes I know it is cheaper in term time, but having children is all about having to make decisions according to finances isn't it, and holidays are one of those decisions.

There have always been cheap holidays like caravanning and camping, so there really is no excuse.

Those of us who are older, as well as those without children also need and deserve a break, but away from others' little darlings!!

As a teacher I would say If you are going to take your child out of school do it at the end of the school year not while they are getting used to a new teacher and year group.

In my experience parents who keep their children off on a regular basis for an odd day or 2 and have poor attendance over the whole year loose out more.

I lost a whole year of my education one way and another, through ill health and constant school changes. My education was continuous from 13 so it did not affect my exam years and those are really the only ones that are critical.

If it does make life very difficult for the teaching staff to deal with many children missing a lot of school then I supposed it must be frowned on.
At this point I must say that my family and all my friends missed a lot of school when we came to the U.K. on leave every 2/3 years. I mean a lot. Our teachers didn’t bother to help us catch up. We all seem to have been reasonably successful in life.
As far as the children are concerned I think it’s lovely if they can have a family holiday and experience new places. If mum or dad can’t take their holiday during holiday times then they have no choice.

My parents didn't like crowds so always took their holiday in May or June. Obviously meant I had to miss school but I just used my friends work to help me catch up. The only thing that really affected my schooling was when I caught measles when I was 13 and was off for four weeks. I had to give up Latin because I never did manage to catch up with all the tenses and declensions.

I took my youngest out of her Primary School for 3 days. She was so appalled at my behaviour I thought she was going to pass out. The embarrassment of having such a shocker for a Mum.

My girls went to an all girls senior school. Every 7 years or so it closes down for a golf tournament. They get over a week off.

They were always very good with any parent wanting to take their children out in term time. I suppose they couldn't really complain.

For a number of years in the 1970s, my DH was unable to take leave during the summer holidays. If we did not take the children out of school there would be no family holiday. As his work took him away from home a lot, we felt this one week of family holiday each year was essential

We discussed it with the school first, explained the problem and the school accepted it. Their only concern was that more parents would follow suite.

The Headmistress told us that our 2 children were able enough to quickly make up lost school, but other children might not be. So we just said nothing about it to anyone, had our week away and sent the children back to school. Most parents didn't notice and if anyone did say anything I made it clear that the decision was forced upon us by DH's work.

We used to take ours out of school a week early at the end of the summer term when we Eurocamped in France. It got us on the ferry with considerably less hassle and at cheaper rates. They didn’t miss any schooling as it was mostly class room tidying, films and games.

Things haven’t changed in this respect so our DD2 took DGD out a week early too this year for a weeks touring in Iceland. She had 100% attendance the rest of the year so there was no fine or complaint from the school. She learned a lot more than she would have in school.