Taking kids out of school for Holidays

Salu · 27-04-2006, 11:49

What do people feel about this? Is it fair that travel companies charge extra for the weeks during the school holidays or is it that they discount the weeks they are in school??
Does it harm the child's education? It didn't harm myne. I can spel grate.

If you do take them out of school then you may need to take more time off work to look after them during their official holidays...

What do you think and what do you do?

Aragorn · 27-04-2006, 11:53

We did before Easter, because the BA flights to Florida almost doubled in price during the school hols! Got permission from the schools in advance and as it was the last (short) week of term in a non-exam year, I'm sure they will survive.

Should prices go up? Basic supply and demand issue there - maybe prices should go up a bit the rest of the time (and down a bit in the hols) so there isn't difference. Will it happen - no!

Ramrod · 27-04-2006, 11:57

I wouldn't hesitate to take mine out a week extra.
If enough people did it then the travel companies would have probably to reconsider their unfair money-grabbing ways.....

orangebird · 27-04-2006, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

I wouldn't hesitate to take mine out a week extra.
If enough people did it then the travel companies would have probably to reconsider their unfair money-grabbing ways.....

Agree with you wholeheartedly. I'm lucky enough to own a holiday home abroad, but just looking at flight prices for a family of 5, I'm going to need at least ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£900 to get us all there this summer. Why is it that I can fly for ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£30 on a half empty plane in term time, but can't get anything under ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£150 when the plane could be full? Money grabbing sods.

altis · 27-04-2006, 12:37

And what would you think if your kid's teacher took two weeks off during term time?

27-04-2006, 12:44

One of the 'problems' with this, is that it is classed as 'unauthorised' absence, which is one of the parameters used to measure a schools performance, by Ofsted. Hence the reluctance of schools to 'allow' it.

Mrs Gaz is a teacher, so we have never had any choice but to take our holidays during the 'official' breaks, so I do agree about the unfairness of the price hikes.

LSainsbury · 27-04-2006, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by altis

And what would you think if your kid's teacher took two weeks off during term time?

It's their job...nobody forces them to work as teachers....if they don't like it, they know where the door is.

For the students, they are forced to attend by Tony et all...

basa · 27-04-2006, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by altis

And what would you think if your kid's teacher took two weeks off during term time?

I'd think the school would employ a 'bank' teacher or get another to fill in.

---------- Post added at 12:55 ---------- Previous post was at 12:53 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

One of the 'problems' with this, is that it is classed as 'unauthorised' absence, which is one of the parameters used to measure a schools performance, by Ofsted. Hence the reluctance of schools to 'allow' it.

Wouldn't absence approved by the school be 'authorised' ? Ours is !

---------- Post added at 12:57 ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangebird

Agree with you wholeheartedly. I'm lucky enough to own a holiday home abroad, but just looking at flight prices for a family of 5, I'm going to need at least ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£900 to get us all there this summer. Why is it that I can fly for ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£30 on a half empty plane in term time, but can't get anything under ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£150 when the plane could be full? Money grabbing sods.

Unfortunately OB, that is 'the law of supply and demand'. When people are at school there is less 'demand' prices lower to attract buyers. When everyone is off school there is more demand, prices go up to dissuade buyers.

orangebird · 27-04-2006, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by basa

I'd think the school would employ a 'bank' teacher or get another to fill in.

---------- Post added at 12:55 ---------- Previous post was at 12:53 ----------

Wouldn't absence approved by the school be 'authorised' ? Ours is !

---------- Post added at 12:57 ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 ----------

Unfortunately OB, that is 'the law of supply and demand'. When people are at school there is less 'demand' prices lower to attract buyers. When everyone is off school there is more demand, prices go up to dissuade buyers.

I don't think it's to dissuade anyone, I think it's because they know people will pay the price. Surely if the know the plane/hotel etc will be full, they can drop the price a little. As i said, money grabbing sods.

27-04-2006, 13:21

Taking one of my kids out of school caused so much trouble! mind you, we didnt realise it, but our first holiday abroad clashed with my daughters SATs, the teacher said we would have to cancel the holiday! Yeah right!

27-04-2006, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by basa

Wouldn't absence approved by the school be 'authorised' ? Ours is !

as far as I know they arent allowed to formally authorise absence for holidays in term time - I'll check it out

Shaun · 27-04-2006, 13:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsainsbury

It's their job...nobody forces them to work as teachers....if they don't like it, they know where the door is.

For the students, they are forced to attend by Tony et all...

My view is the other way around, teachers get a crap time holiday wise (well regarding price anyway) bust they so go into the profession knowing this.

Parents on the other hand also know what it's like during school holidays and did have the option not to have kids.

All self inflicted as far as I'm concerned - saying that I do have sympathy with the teachers as someone need to do it - no one needs to be popping sprogs out if they can't afford it.

*Puts on tin hat

Pia · 27-04-2006, 13:41

I hardly think the prices of holidays are a factor when deciding whether to have kids or not...

Jules · 27-04-2006, 13:49

I am happy to take my son on holiday during term time.

1) It is cheaper (a lot cheaper)

2) Every were is not over run by families

and

3) Kids learn out of school as well as in it.

Shaun · 27-04-2006, 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pia

I hardly think the prices of holidays are a factor when deciding whether to have kids or not...

But surely they should be, unless you're careless and end up pregnant without planning it.

Everyone that plans to have Kids needs to consider if they can afford to have them. If they decide to go ahead then they accept that they're gonig to have to pay throguh the nose for their holidays (and pretty much everything else).