Missing school for a holiday

I'm not the type to bleat, luckily.

If you want to take the child out of school and he misses lessons then you must not expect teachers to help him catch up. Get him a private tutor. If you can’t get him a tutor then should he be left to struggle in classes. You need to think through the consequences of your action. Parents must not bleet having taken their children out of school and then demand teachers pick up the slack they created.

I can only try to do what I think is best.
Hopefully I'll get it mostly right.
I do appreciate all of your opinions though.

I think you know what is best for your gs MissA. Most who are aware of the special circumstances support you. Those who aren’t would be more understanding if they knew the back story.

You will have carefully weighed issues and three days is going to make little difference to a bright and able boy who really does need to spend time with his older brother. X

After the way schools have treated kids and families I would have said "I'm informing you we will be taking three days out of school. I'm not asking!"

It’s three days the GC is going to be spending with his big brother. I hope they have a fabulous time.

If only the teachers were so concerned about missed lesson time during the pandemic, some were but equally some were not.

I hope it isnt on the other sites, but if it is? My own fault.
It has happened before (and they refused to take it down!)

My blooming fingers have minds of their own today.
Putting in random letters, and changing words.

Oh it isn't? I hope you are okay x

JaneJudge

It on the gransnet daily email MissA, so you are going to get people just commenting on the original post. I hope you are okay. Can't you say he needs to get away because of your bloody neighbour?

I quite expected that it would be.
My fault for putting it out on a public site, but the interest in our grieving process does seem extend to it being put onto twitter, Facebook and elsewhere.
A cautionary note for others, I suppose.

Milliedog

People are correct when they say that education isn't confined to the classroom. However, the child will miss the lessons his classmates will do in the classroom. Will you expect his teacher to help him catch up what he's missed on the 3 days in her lunch time or breaks? Or will you be paying for extra out of school tuition for him? Or will you be happy that he may miss out on some 'bedrock' work which will mean he will find future work more difficult? This sounds harsh but I'm an ex teacher.... I would have loved to have had cheap holidays or gone on holiday with older family members in term time.

I think that is my business really, don't you?

It on the gransnet daily email MissA, so you are going to get people just commenting on the original post. I hope you are okay. Can't you say he needs to get away because of your bloody neighbour?

It's fine.
I don't expect w everyone to think it's a wonderful idea.
I just asked for opinions, and I thank you for yours.

Sorry, totally against it. The school has virtually no discretion over granting such leave( or the governors). The suggestion that you should say that the child was ‘ pinged’ is a dreadful idea….what an example to set to a child. Whoever brought up training days is totally off the mark, they are clearly mandated on the school’s yearly timetable and should not come as any surprise. I am absolutely fed up with parents not backing schools, whether it be over uniform, hairstyles or holidays. You are aware that those days have to be recorded as truancies in the school’s published records because they will be unauthorised?

People are correct when they say that education isn't confined to the classroom. However, the child will miss the lessons his classmates will do in the classroom. Will you expect his teacher to help him catch up what he's missed on the 3 days in her lunch time or breaks? Or will you be paying for extra out of school tuition for him? Or will you be happy that he may miss out on some 'bedrock' work which will mean he will find future work more difficult? This sounds harsh but I'm an ex teacher.... I would have loved to have had cheap holidays or gone on holiday with older family members in term time.

MissAdventure

I could say a whole lot about goes unconcerned the teachers were when we really needed support, but I won't.

That’s dreadful. Actually I think you should point this out to the headteacher.

Oofy“ I am sure we all have memories of sports days, nature walks and “silent reading” while Miss caught up with her reports in the wind-down to holidays.”.
A thing of the past I can assure you !!

Cycorax

Well, so long as you and your family can make up the lessons that your grandson has missed then he won't hold back the rest of his class when he gets back from holiday.
Teacher friends of mine found it very disruptive when children were taken out of school for holidays. I'm sure the same applies now.

Its good to see the Milk of Human Kindness still flows. But obviously not in your veins, Cycorax

123kitty

Have you considered how disruptive this could be for the rest of his class? On his return his teachers will be expected to spend time explaining what he's missed, to enable him to catch up with his lessons. You've asked the school for a holiday pass, explaining the circumstances which has been considered, but refused. If they agree to your request how could they turn down any other pupil?

Have you read what OP has said about this boy ? Apart from his emotional history he is exceptionally bright. In no way will his teachers have to “disrupt” their teaching to help him catch up three days work. (And yes I do know what I’m talking about !)

Absolutely go for it and feel happy in your heart. Three days is nothing, many children are off ill for much longer. Any new vital bit of learning will be covered again after half term and your grandson's mental and emotional health is paramount to his achieving success for longer in life than just one term. Blimey some folk do love their rules and soap boxes ?

I sympathise with you, MissAdventure, for having had to agonise over this issue. It must be very worrying for somebody conscientious.
I gather from oblique references earlier in the exchange that you have experienced family tragedy, with which I also sympathise, of which some Gransnetters seem to be aware. However, some of us who have recently joined will not be aware of your personal circumstances, and it is not helpful for commenters who are aware to beat others over the head for their lack of this knowledge.
For what it’s worth, I agree that missing 3 days before half-term is unlikely to cause serious damage to the boy’s education. I am sure we all have memories of sports days, nature walks and “silent reading” while Miss caught up with her reports in the wind-down to holidays.
The ban on holidays in term time was a huge problem for those of us in the NHS when I was working. Rosters meant only a limited number of people could have time off in school hols, which meant some with children (let alone grandchildren) couldn’t have holiday time with them at all for some of the holidays. And those without school age children (like me for the last 15 years) just never got away in the school holidays. And the contrast between the cost of holidays during the school holidays, and the weeks before and after, meant that lower paid parents could afford to go away in term time, but not outside. One nurse manager thought she would “solve” it by saying that nobody was allowed to book more than 1 week’s holiday at a time!

As a retired teacher I think he will gain far more by going on holiday with his brother than being in school the 3 days before the half term holiday.

I could say a whole lot about goes unconcerned the teachers were when we really needed support, but I won't.

I work in a school and under these circumstances the Head would grant the leave. Have you tried contacting the Head and explaining the whole situation. There is a lot of emphasis in schools on mental well being at the present, so I'd make sure I brought this to the fore. At the end of the day if it was me I'd be talking him out of school, even if it meant paying a fine. What's £60 compared to the child's welfare.

Well, so long as you and your family can make up the lessons that your grandson has missed then he won't hold back the rest of his class when he gets back from holiday.
Teacher friends of mine found it very disruptive when children were taken out of school for holidays. I'm sure the same applies now.