Taking kids out of school for a holiday in the last two weeks of Summer Term?

Question

I'm taking my child on holiday before the end of the school year (two weeks!) I have checked with many of her teachers who all say it's a good idea. They agree that so near the end of term, she will not miss anything and will gain from the new experiences. She's had a hard year but worked well, had very little time off and is well above her age educationally.

When I take her, she will miss an activity day - running around, trying different sports - all of which she has done, a Dr. Who day and an outing to a local stately home - again, which she has done about 3 times before. The school is organising a holiday for some of the kids around this time as well - doing very similar things to what I have planned. if I wasn't taking her away, she might have gone on this holiday but I couldn't afford both and she decided she would rather come with me.

In these circumstances is it really so wrong to give a kid a well needed holiday at a time I can afford it?

Answer 1

not atall!! she has earned a little holiday and i know  that kids so sh*t all in the last two weeks!! just take her the only ones you should be worried about is the teaches and if they are fine with it take her and have a great time i say!!!!!

Answer 2

No what you are doing is fine. I used to be a teacher and totally understand that some parents can not get the time off in the school holidays or can not afford because lets face it the price of holidays when children are off school are scandalous.

Have a nice holiday.

Answer 3

no it isnt wrong to do this, if she deserved it then go for it also  at least she wants to go with you and not with school, if you think about it when she gets older she will want to be going away with mates not parents so i say take her while you can..

have great fun...

Answer 4

This is a tough one, isn't it?  If everyone did it the school would be in chaos.  I am sure she will benefit from the experience though.  There is no point in feeling guilty.  If you are going to go, just enjoy it.

Answer 5

I am torn in two minds with this one:  

First from a parents point of view, if the child has worked hard and isn't missing school work, assessments has had hardly any time off throughout the year and is going to benefit with the time spent on new experiences and bonding with parents then why not, especially since holidays are financially cheaper pre-holidays .... even though I think 2 weeks off is a bit much, maybe the last week though.

However, from a teachers point of view:  Although some teachers aren't planning a lot of work the last couple of weeks, some teachers will have, so should this teacher spend extra time catching all her pupils up at different rates teaching the same thing about 5 times to pupils who have gone on holiday?  A teacher is paid to teach the class a course once not loads of times.   If everyone decided to take their kids on holiday before the end of term it would be chaos and there would be no such thing as cheaper weeks.  As a teacher, I personally find it frustrating how I have to continually catch pupils up in my free time whilst they have been on holiday!  I also have to continually revise my teaching plans and assessments which disrupts the remainder of the class (to which I find extrememly unfair), I do teach in the second last week and tie up loose ends the last week with final assessments.  I wish I could go on cheaper holidays before the end of term, but I have to continually pay the more expensive holiday rates - I am not even allowed to take the last day off to catch a flight a day early.

However, on a positive note - I think you have acted extremely responsibly,  its not like you do it continuously and you have seeked the schools approval/permission and discussed the issue with your daughter.  A one of isn't going to harm her, probably help aid her development - My opinion from a teachers point of view is the frustrations we deal with on a termly basis from the same parents/pupils everytime who doesn't have the consideration like yourself to approach the school in the first instance.  I am sure all your daughters teachers really appreciate your thoughtfullness and prewarning.  

Enjoy your holiday.

Answer 6

Take her out i do with mine as the way i look at things is  when the school shuts for teacher training days that is fine so many days children have off for this and it doesnt bother the education department about missing out on important learning because it isnt that the teachers have so much time off with holidays that they could do a training day then .