Unauthorised absence from school

Reason 4569 to home educate.

True though.

One of the things that's really annoying is that Connor isn't five til end of April, so doesn't even need to be in formal education til next September and yet I'm still getting my wrists slapped

Reason 4569 to home educate.

True though.

One of the things that's really annoying is that Connor isn't five til end of April, so doesn't even need to be in formal education til next September and yet I'm still getting my wrists slapped

That's exactly what I was about to say!!!!

If it were me, I'd check how many days he can have before you get a penatly and make sure I took that many days each term. Cheeky blighters. I don't know how they think they can teach him more in two days at school, particularly a bright lad like Connor, when he could be off experiencing foreign culture and spending quality time with his parents. And if they have an issue with not wanting to increase the proportion of unauthorised absence, well they can just authorise it!!!!!

My Mum was a primary school teacher so this didn't come up with us very often but I distinctly remembe her keeping us home from school once when the holidays didn't coincide just because she thought we deserved a treat and taking us shopping to town . I know some people will get all pompous about it, but I can't see exactly how much we were missing

And as for those bus adverts suggesting you won't know who the Romans were because you weren't in school that day, well my experience of school is that you do a topic AD NAUSEAM (see, I was in for Latin ) for like a whole term so it's unlikely they'll ever miss anything earth shattering.

PMSL just had to edit for poor spelling

i plan on taking Ds1 out of school this year but i think i will need to find out about getting permission etc. My dp can only take certain weeks in the summer hols and none of them we could afford (we're campingto save money)

I know some people will get all pompous about it

I get all pompous about it and don't think anyone should be allowed to take their children out of school........but that is just because I am jealous and frustrated by the amount of money I have just forked out for 2 weeks holiday in August because I cannot ask DH's head teacher if I can take him out of school for a holiday

I'm really surprised they have an issue with it. We took DD1 out of school last summer (her reception year) for a week to attend a wedding in Italy that we combined into a family holiday (it was too expensive not to!!). We just filled in the form and handed it in to the office and that was it. No fuss, no comments. Her teacher actually said "have a lovely holiday" to us on the Friday before we went .

The amount of work they cover in reception in a week is pretty minimal compared to what they would learn on an what is inevitably an 'educational' trip if you're going somewhere interesting (like Oz ). Honestly, don't sweat it - I was a bit worried about doing it, but have heard of loads of kids having time off since we did it. DD1's school is also 'Outstanding' - when we got DD1's report card at the end of the year, her attendance was 100% so it blatantly didn't matter a jot.

First of all I am really anti taking kids out of school for days off (K broke his 100% record since the summer today) as they get weeks of holiday but 2 days for the trip of a life time like this I would do, contradicting myself I know but it isn't like it is a trip down the road, they aren't going to miss a lot of school in 2 days but will be gaining knowledge from your trip.

Some times I think eff it and just do it but i can't, I was gobsmached that DH's cousin in Notts are allowed 10 days out with school hols and still get 100% attendance His sister takes their kids out regular, I think at least 3 extra weeks a year and then there is all the days of sick they have, now that annoys me.

We always take out holiday during the school breaks and yes we do annoyingly have to pay a premium for it, travel companies should be ashamed of themselves x

We always take out holiday during the school breaks and yes we do annoyingly have to pay a premium for it, travel companies should be ashamed of themselves x

It's just supply and demand, the nature of things is that they are cheaper when less people want them! Anything that is in short supply finds its own price......

I don't normally take the kids out of school for days off but I don't stress it. We had a wedding up in Aberdeen in October and boys needed a kilt fitting the day before so we took them up Friday, missing a day, and because it's a long way for us just to come back the day after the wedding we missed Monday school too. The school were fine about it as they know we don't do it all the time. Why should children miss out on the good things eh, there is plenty of time for that

This thread has really got me thinking..... At some point in the near future we will want to take the boys to the Philippines (DPs home country). I would not take the boys out of school for a short holiday, but this would be a fairly long trip. The summer holidays here mean the peak rainy season there, so not really a great option. We would love to go at christmas time, but our jobs mean that we can't take holidays over both xmas and new year, so would have to go early december. Not sure how strict the school is yet, will have to ask around.

I think two days isn't really a big deal especially as it is going to be such a huge experience for you all. I think its more of a problem if its a regular occurance.