Missing school for a holiday

That was a few years ago and common sense seems to have disappeared and autocracy has taken its place.

Schools are told by the Local Authority that they have to refuse for holidays. I think a lot of staff would secretly agree but hands are tied.

Depending where he lives there maybe a fine for being absent and very difficult to avoid as school knows about request. At 13 I wouldn't keep him off school. You say just before school holidays, why can he not have gone then.

I would point out that the holiday has a great deal to do with his mental health, and family connections. Point out you don't want to break rules, but you feel the benefit he will gain is beyond 3 days classroom attendance. You could also point out the bits of curriculum that he will achieve while away.

My father had a job which meant that he had to work holiday times. Although the school protested we had holidays in term time. Our holidays were spent touring in England visiting historic venues and it did no harm. Education does not mean just learning about geometry etc.

When my grandchildren came over from NZ for an elongated holiday their respective teachers set them assignments and they emailed their work back. Didn't seem to be a problem and as they were teenagers they acted independently - in fact it must have been quite a learning curve for them.

schools have become so rigid these days, what with expensive uniforms and petty rules, and dire consequences.
there is more to life than this.
who cares about the fine.
fortunately you are able to pay it, financially.
you are putting his well-being first. well done. he will remember that, and bless you.
darn the school !

GagaJo

The thing is though, most parents are up in arms about the amount of education children have missed this year. Surely to miss even more is crazy?

Or, they’ve missed so much already; will another three days make any real difference?

Mallin

More is learnt on a 3 day holiday from normality than in 3 days of school lessons.

I think that very much depends on the holiday. I don’t think a child will learn much at an all including holiday in Spain with parents who just sit around the pool drinking!

Obviously that is not the case here and there are indeed extenuating circumstances and I agree that the school should have granted the absence but this statement t is very dismissive of the work teachers do.

I would normally disapprove strongly of taking a child out of school for a holiday but this is an exceptional situation and I believe it would be very beneficial for MissA’s grandson to have this holiday with his brother. He sounds like a clever chap so I doubt he would find it difficult to catch up on whatever he misses in those three days. I’m so sorry to hear of your situation MissA and wish you and your little family well.

I wouldn’t risk asking a second time. I would just write it all down and make sure the school receives it on the first day of your GS’s absence. Tell them, don’t ask them.
I am dismayed at the school’s decision maker’s lack of empathy. However I worked in school for the last 11 years before retirement and saw two head teachers in that time; the first, a lovely man, would have said of course the child should have this opportunity to relax with his brother and the other would have threatened fines.
Good luck Miss A. I hope the boys have a great time,

LauraNorder

Education doesn’t always take place in the classroom.
Travel is educational.

In general I'm with this, but I also know my SiL - who is a headteacher - would say that every absence like this adds one more burden on the teacher to help the child catch up, and that this in turn disadvantages the other children.

I would just go its 3 days not 3 weeks so can`t see the harm.

I, alone, took my boys to Australia for six months back in 1988. We backpacked all round and across the middle. Younger boy was 7 and his brother was just moving up to senior school. We had amazing adventures. Both School Heads fully supported me and said education was not just in school. Wonderful memories. Hardly the same as three days but reason behind it could be very important and not to be missed. Good luck!

Absolutely go! They will benefit SO much. Enjoy and be blessed ?

Mariew1 Mon 20-Sep-21 12:18:5

Persistent unauthorised absences may result in a fine. Persistent truancy results in meetings with the EWO.

The school knows this pupil's history and some leniency should be applied in this instance. It's three days, not three weeks.

IMO (and I know I'll be slated for it) kids are only in school for 39 weeks of the year and do approx 25hrs of lessons per week - IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
They do have homework which sometimes can take hours each evening as they get older and have to research projects etc.
Even when my DC were at primary school, I remember having to take them to various locations with a camera and their notebooks to research and take photographs for projects.
I've also done it with the DGC.

MissAdventure just go for it. Your DGS has had more to get to grips with in his young life than most other kids and, God knows, they've all had a rough 18 months lately. It's just 3 days out of a term; he's bright and will easily catch up anything he misses in lessons. The holiday with his brother is a one off event. Let him go and enjoy it with a clear conscience.

You don't say how old your grandson is or how up to date he is in his school work. The first week of term is fairly important to some age groups, and although three days doesn't seem much it can be. My brother and sis were both Heads before they retired, and my brother went on to be a school inspector, and the battle of the holidays versus the school term was ongoing with some parents.

It's too late now, but I wouldn't have asked the school, and simply phoned at the time to say he is sick. As you've asked, and it's been refused, you may end up with a fine. In England, I think it is £60 per child per parent, but the rules in Scotland are much stricter.

I AGREE I THINK YOUVE ANSWERED YOUR OWN QUESTION, THE TIME SPENT TEASING BONDING AND JUST BEING WITH HIS BROTHER FAR OUT WEIGHS THE SMALL AMOUNT THAT WILL BE MISSED IN THE CLASSROOM

Sorry to say it but it's illegal.for a child to have unauthorised absences. It's so serious that if you get interviewed by the Educational Welfare Officer, you will be cautioned. When i was working in a school, and I doubt it's changed, 5 days unauthorised meant ab automatic fine. If you don't pay it doubles. If you still don't pay you go to court. You thinking he needs a break for his.emotional health won't be an adequate reason. Sorry to be so blunt. Maybe his brother and him could holiday in the school hols. There are 13 weeks to choose from.

Go for it if you think it will do him good. Just don’t involve him in the conversation between you and school, as that might worry him and spoil his holiday
All the posts on here about rules and OFSTED and reflection on the school are true, but in the end, it’s your child’s well-being and your choice.

IMO (and I know I'll be slated for it) kids are only in school for 39 weeks of the year and do approx 25hrs of lessons per week - IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

Taking a child out of school, voluntarily, for even 1 day, shouldn't be allowed. I did it once (for my wedding day on the very last day of the summer term 26yrs ago) and felt awful for doing it.

I think the fines are far TOO LOW. They should be set at such a level that people are actively discouraged from taking kids out of school for trips and holidays, they don't just affect the child's education, they can disrupt the whole class and put extra burden on the teachers who have a difficult enough job trying to get all the information into kids in the very limited time they have as it is.

As for feigning illness to get around avoiding paying the fines, anything more than 1 day should be recorded with a doctor and school have authority to know that the child has been seen, thus verifying validity of the sickness.

As adults who work, you're only given so much holiday time each year and sickness has to be covered by doctor's notes, so why should kids (who already do far shorter days and get loads more time off than working adults) be able to get away with having even more time off?

I say let him go too. Its a shame you were honest in the first place. If you can afford the fine just let him go. I would. I cant make UP my mind whether you are US or UK. Either way, let him go.

I have never taken any of mine out of school for a holiday and generally don’t really agree with people that do but in these circumstances and with the last year half that everyone has had, I wouldn’t hesitate.