Kids on Holidays in Term Time.

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

According to the BBC News a couple of days ago, fining parents for the above, is simply not working. In fact, there has been a rise in absenteeism since it was introduced!

 

I think it would be much more effective, if parents were given a good few hours Community Work to do instead. This is only a solution to the problem, and not my personal view by the way. I sit on the fence in actual fact, each case on it's own merit.

 

Thoughts anyone?

[Strokes]

2 minutes ago, DANGEROUS TIGER said:

According to the BBC News a couple of days ago, fining parents for the above, is simply not working. In fact, there has been a rise in absenteeism since it was introduced!

 

I think it would be much more effective, if parents were given a good few hours Community Work to do instead. This is only a solution to the problem, and not my personal view by the way. I sit on the fence in actual fact, each case on it's own merit.

 

Thoughts anyone?

Well I have to work in schools during the holidays to do the system testing and we are only allowed one team member to take holidays, per area at a time, during the our busiest work time. It can be difficult to get any holiday for us during holiday time, why should my kids miss out, how is it a criminal offence?

Its not 1930s Germany and some parents know what’s best for their kids, more so than the state. 

[Captain...]

Parents have a responsibility to raise their children in the best way possible. If they are taking them on holiday in term time to broaden their minds and educate them in a different way without breaking the bank then fair enough. I think schools/governing bodies should be flexible and help parents where possible by giving them work/assignments to do while they are away.

[Milo]

Got no problem with schools fining parents for taking kids out of school during term time, as long as parents can fine schools when they’re closed during term time - snow/inset days, etc. 

 

Fairs fair

[Rogstanley]

If they’d just stagger the holidays by about 4 weeks either way it would surely solve most of the problem.

 

Fining parents in an attempt to deny children the opportunity to go on holiday is a really dirty thing to do tbh.

[Dr The Singh]

As a parent I believe we need some level of common sense and flexibility.  Constant abusers need fines but kids who do well, and where there is value for there lives and education, I can't see why kids cannot miss school

[Parafox]

The Gov't should be fining the travel companies (and Center Parcs) for massively inflating the cost of holidays during school holidays. I don't understand how they can say it's based on demand and that they actually reduce the cost during off-peak periods to attract more customers. That, in my opinion, is utter bollocks.

 

On the other hand... back in the day, when industry had set holidays, everyone went to Skeggy  in the first 2 weeks of July. You would never think of having a holiday outside the 2 weeks when local industry would shut down for a fortnight because you wouldn't get paid for leave outside of your regulated hours. Things have moved on since the 70's and the Gov't needs to accept that there has to be some flexibility.

Edited 12 May 2018 by Parafox

[Focks]

Pi$$es me off when I see kids of school age on same plane as me going to Spain or wherever in term time.

 

Too right the parents should be fined - the same amount that they have saved by going in term time I say if not more for thinking they are above the law

[Parafox]

Just now, Focks said:

Pi$$es me off when I see kids of school age on same plane as me going to Spain or wherever in term time.

 

Too right the parents should be fined - the same amount that they have saved by going in term time I say if not more for thinking they are above the law

Maybe the law is wrong?? 

 

Do you have school-age kids? Costs a fortune to go on holiday during school holidays.

[Unabomber]

I think they should just go on holiday whenever who cares if you miss a bit of school?! It’s all irrelevant in the real world anyway. Also I bet airlines n hotels put their prices up when it’s half term etc 

[Buce]

1 minute ago, Unabomber said:

I think they should just go on holiday whenever who cares if you miss a bit of school?! It’s all irrelevant in the real world anyway. Also I bet airlines n hotels put their prices up when it’s half term etc 

1

 

That is precisely why parents have to take kids out of school or do without a family holiday altogether.

 

Prices treble during school holidays.

[Buce]

6 minutes ago, Focks said:

Pi$$es me off when I see kids of school age on same plane as me going to Spain or wherever in term time.

 

Too right the parents should be fined - the same amount that they have saved by going in term time I say if not more for thinking they are above the law

 

Jesus.

 

Does that rod up your arse have a rod up its arse?

[Parafox]

2 minutes ago, Unabomber said:

 I bet airlines n hotels put their prices up when it’s half term etc 

Absolutely they do, then they claim that what you pay is the "actual" price and that they reduce prices outside of school holiday times to attract more customers. Rubbish.

[leicsmac]

Agree with the general sentiment that it is the travel companies that need to get brought to heel here, not the parents or the schools or the local authority law.

[Izzy]

My wife is a teacher so we have no choice but to go on holiday during official school holidays (and pay a hefty premium for the privilege)

 

I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable taking the kids out during term time even if we could. The sad thing is I'm quite proud of both their attendance records but it means nothing in terms of whether they pass the 11+ around here or not.

 

I know loads of parents at our school who've taken their kids out and none of them to my knowledge have had any come back or fines.

 

I don't like the idea of kids missing any of the curriculum by taking holidays in term time. I get the idea of them having a 'life experience' or 'broadening their minds' etc. but the reality is they'll probably just be on a beach or in a swimming pool so that's a BS excuse really.

[Rogstanley]

There can surely be few things more valuable to a child growing up than the knowledge that they are not restricted to one place and that other places have a lot to offer. Even if it is just a week in Majorca I'd still say it has value.

[MrsJohnMurphy]

The last couple of weeks of the school year the kids are just watching DVDs or on trips to Alton Towers etc

[Jattdogg]

Wife is a teacher here in Canada so i get suckered with having the pay silly costs for vacations hence why it doesnt ever happen. Not paying $8000+for the 4 of us to go to cuba or dominican for 1 week when i could go 2 weeks later for $4000. Absolute wank.

 

Having said that the wife cant take time off during term so even then we cant go. 

 

Not sure why anyone gets bent out of shape if a kid is taken out of school for 1 week. Do you moan when the kids are off school for 1 week because they have lice? 

 

I missed 1 whole month of school due to vacation when i was 8 and i ended up with a degree, a good job and no herpes. Think i turned out just fine.

 

I do understand  you shouldnt miss school every year for a cheaper vacation but once  every 3 to 4  years or so is not a big deal.

 

[FoxesDeb]

We're lucky in Leicestershire that the first week of the school summer holidays and October half term are different from the rest of the country, so we usually go then. If you book at the right time cheap holidays abroad can be found in the school holidays too. I took my two youngest, although one counts as another adult, to Majorca for 10 days in the Easter holidays this year for around £500. We went to Kefalonia for Spring half term week last year for the same price. 

[cambridgefox]

I used to take mine out for the last week before summer holidays.Not done it for a few years.

my youngest who is still at school has had 1 day off in 2 years due to my nans funeral the other week.

so I never felt guilty about taking them out.

learnt more in the countries we visited regarding History and culture that’s for sure.

[Bellend Sebastian]

4 hours ago, Captain... said:

Parents have a responsibility to raise their children in the best way possible. If they are taking them on holiday in term time to broaden their minds and educate them in a different way without breaking the bank then fair enough. I think schools/governing bodies should be flexible and help parents where possible by giving them work/assignments to do while they are away.

That's the main reason most people take their kids on holiday

[LCFC FOX]

If you want to take YOUR kids on holiday you take them when YOU want. 

 

Cheaper to pay the fines and take them in term time than it is booking a holiday in the school holidays anyway

[Jattdogg]

I just think its a joke they fine people to begin with. Little snowflakes will be just fine unless you are taking them out all the time then its understandable.

[Raj]

For the first time we've taken our kids out a week early due to people at my work taking the first few weeks of summer and the price increase. Write an honest letter to the headteacher who accepted it without fuss. My Mrs is a teacher so it's against what she believes anyway,but like she said at age 9 and 5 all the kids do is play games/mess around. If they were taking SATS/GCSEs we'd never do it.

[Phube]

Again we’re lucky to be in Leicestershire with October half term. We’re going Center Parcs (booo!) for £459... the week later it’s..... £1156!!!!  

 

Although I’d never take my child out of school this News-thump article is quite pertinent:

 

 

 

Edited 13 May 2018 by Phube