Children holidaying during term time.

GSM Apart from Christmas being a time when most people are with the wider family and is overlain by the celebrations. A week together with no external pressures to just enjoy each other's company and do something else, is not something you can do at Christmas.

And while some families may have had a whole week off at Christmas, all I can say is we didn't. DH was always home on Christmas Day but on several occasions he returned to work on Boxing day or a day or two afterwards.

Later when circumstances had changed, and we were able to have all our holidays during the school holiday, I usually needed to work between Christmas and the New Year

nanna8

Another thing to note is that different countries have different school holidays so seeing children around when you are away might not mean they have been taken out of school. Our main holidays are December to February, July and September plus Easter. The UK ones are completely different. Probably other countries in general have different ones. Our school year starts in February.

Yes, Italian schools break up on June 8th, and I think they have 3 months' summer holiday. I think Germany staggers the holidays within the country? (France used to have zones, but I believe the summer is the same for everyone now, 8 weeks). The UK is miserly in comparison!

Even in the same country, different areas have holidays that may start or end at different times. This year Easter was at the beginning of the 2week break for us, whilst for my DD’s school, Easter weekend was the middle weekend.
I like GG13’s post above, mentioning Google Classrooms. Would telling parents who ask for set work, that the work is available online and will not be supplied as catch-up on their child’s return be acceptable?

There are enough metaphorical sticks to beat parents with (particularly mothers) not sure that they need the added pressure of being made to feel guilty because they can not get time off of work during the school holidays.
There are enough metaphorical sticks to beat parents with (particularly mothers) not sure that they need the added pressure of being made to feel guilty because they can not get time off of work during the school holidays.
This is true too, and could equally apply to teachers
There are enough metaphorical sticks to beat teachers with, not sure that they need the added pressure of being made to feel guilty because they can not fit time in for individual catch up sessions for children who have missed school for holidays during the school term time.
Our school has a fixed statement-no holiday requests will be authorised during the first two weeks of autumn term or in the two weeks before, and during annual tests -whether SAT or not.
Maybe if the fine money was paid directly to the school, it could be used to pay teachers to do catch up classes before or after school.

My DD is taking 2 of my DGS away after the May half term break She's taking them abroad to visit her father, my ex, as he's in failing health & it may be their last opportunity to visit him. She's doing this in term time because: she's recovering from major surgery following a long fight against cancer, and they didn't think they'd see each other again, but mainly because my other DGS is special needs & it's the only time she can get respite care for him. I do help with him, but can't do it all. The eldest DGS is 9, he has missed some school this year already, he's had a lot of anxiety regarding my DD's health & when DD has repeatedly
contacted the school to explain & ask to speak to his teacher, she has had little to no response. In her mind now, as they have shown so little concern for his welfare & ability to concentrate at school, they won't worry about him missing a few days visiting family either! It's not her fault that her father lives abroad & this will be the first & last time this happens.

Yes, the school didn't care at all when my little grandson missed school because his mum had cancer.

MissAdventure

Yes, the school didn't care at all when my little grandson missed school because his mum had cancer.

That is heartbreaking to hear MissA 💐

The majority of teachers/Head teachers I like to think are compassionate, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that there are bad apples in the teaching profession just like many others.

It broke my heart, grannygravy.
It meant his days were spent at home, fending for himself, whilst my daughter slept more and more.

One time her electric ran out, and he had hidden himself inside a cardboard box, with a blanket, because he didnt know what else to do.
I feel so very angry about it, still.

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