Query: Year 1 - taking a week out in term time

[standswithfist]

Has anyone had experience of dealing with taking a child in Year 1 out of school for a whole week?

[Curmudgeon]

It will probably go down as unauthorised...affects the school not the child, unless the child's absence drops to below 85%

Write to the headteacher to request, expect to be refused. Do it anyway

[Pickle]

Yes, we've done it for trips to see family in NZ. Unless you have a very understanding head and/or a very very good reason it will be unauthorised (we had 2 days absence for my brother's ashes burial and headstone unveiling disallowed! Not "extraordinary circumstances", apparently).

However, chances are nothing will happen, and at worst I think it's ?60 per child fine from the council.

Many people do it, not many admit to it and ring their kids in sick instead - it's those of us honest enough to apply for the leave that get punished.

[Curmudgeon]

The fine is per residential parent per child ..but it won't happen unless a persistent absentee and they are making a stand

[Pickle]

I seem to remember reading that the whole fining system was going to be reviewed/scrapped in the near future?

[curlykaren]

Our school has a policy, arranged in conjunction with board of governors, that more than 4 days unauthorized leave results in child being deregistered so check your schools policy on this.

[etta166]

Hasn't thins already changed. One of my sons's class missed a week over Christmas to see family and it wasn't much of an event in terms of the school absence. I got the impression it is easier to do now than I few months ago.

[minder]

Curmudgeon Wrote:

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> It will probably go down as unauthorised...affects

> the school not the child, unless the child's

> absence drops to below 85%

>

> Write to the headteacher to request, expect to be

> refused. Do it anyway

I'm sure it will affect the child too but each to their own reason for taking the child out. As long as it doesn't continue through to Year 2, 3, 4, 5, 6!

Schools are accountable for all absences as curlykaren has pointed out.

[Curmudgeon]

minder Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Curmudgeon Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > It will probably go down as

> unauthorised...affects

> > the school not the child, unless the child's

> > absence drops to below 85%

> >

> > Write to the headteacher to request, expect to

> be

> > refused. Do it anyway

>

> I'm sure it will affect the child too but each to

> their own reason for taking the child out. As

> long as it doesn't continue through to Year 2, 3,

> 4, 5, 6!

>

> Schools are accountable for all absences as

> curlykaren has pointed out.

You think a week off school in year 1 is going to affect the child long term?

...ok then

[minder]

Well yes. Especially as lots of other parents might have been very lucky to get their child into a school of their choice. If they choose to then take their child out during a week of learning then the school should be made aware of this for future reference.

Secondary schools do take account of attendance levels too.

[vicki08]

But you would of asked permission first I don't see how taking a year 1 child out of school for one week would effect them what about if they were ill for a week

[Curmudgeon]

minder Wrote:

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> Well yes. Especially as lots of other parents

> might have been very lucky to get their child into

> a school of their choice. If they choose to then

> take their child out during a week of learning

> then the school should be made aware of this for

> future reference.

>

> Secondary schools do take account of attendance

> levels too.

Yes we do..but I can assure you a week off in year 1 will not raise any kind of blip if their general attendance falls regularly under 95% through to year 7 then there may be some discussions held with parents

[minder]

What I meant with the secondary schools taking account of attendance levels was that if a parent applies for a place at a chosen secondary school for Year 7, then the secondary school will obviously see attendance records at primary school?

As I said in my post of the 29th each to their own reasons for taking their child out of school for a week and it's up to them.

Wonder if the OP had any pms?

[sillywoman]

I don't recall 'primary school attendance record' being any of the selection criteria for the secondary schools I applied for!!! :D

[minder]

Yes, I know it's not a criteria for secondary schools but maybe it should be.

For instance, if you have two next door neighbours and they want to go to a secondary school and both fulfil all the other criteria? How does a school choose? Just a thought.

I'm so glad I don't have to go through the selection process again for primary and secondary schools but that's maybe another thread.

[Curmudgeon]

Nope ...we don't get attendance records until student is on roll

And a child's attendance is a horrific concept as criteria for acceptance to any school. It is either not their fault through sickness or not their fault through parental decisions

[etta166]

Most parents who choose to take a child out of school for a week are doing it for a good reason. Maybe to visit family whol live a long way away, maybe for an emergency, maybe for a holiday they otherwise could not afford. Each of these would give a child an experience and opportunity to learn things that a school can't teach. I think most teachers realise this and are supportive of the decision to enrich your child's life even if it means missing a short amount of school.

You can always find out what work got missed and catch it up later... As others have said, you could easily miss a week through illness and not expect your child's education to suffer.

[minder]

Thanks for enlightening me on this Curmudgeon 'Nope, we don't get attendance records until student is on roll' So you are obviously somebody who knows about secondary school criteria but I just thought your remark 'do it anyway' to the OP was quite flippant.

[sillywoman]

Hmm, sometimes wry humour can come across as flippant within the 1 dimensional constraints of e-communication. I read Curmudgeons comments as the former rather than the latter, but there, I am inclined to Curmudgeons viewpoint. Childhood education encompasses so much more than continuous school attendance. I'm of the 'jump through whatever hoops you want/need, but do it anyway' school of thought. A carefully considered week with loved ones in a new and exciting place can be so much more valuable than a week in the sausage factory that is our education system. Think of all the opportunities for learning - wonderful!

Sorry neighbours ;D

[standswithfist]

Thanks everyone. Its an unavoidable mistake but will need to take her out. I'm not too fussed as it is Year 1 and so far she is doing really well. Plus what she will benefit from that week is a lot greater (IMO) than a week in school.

So have contacted school got the form just need to fill it out and write a letter.

Fingers crossed it will be ok but I am more than happy to pay the fine on this occasion.

[Curmudgeon]

minder Wrote:

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> Thanks for enlightening me on this Curmudgeon

> 'Nope, we don't get attendance records until

> student is on roll' So you are obviously somebody

> who knows about secondary school criteria but I

> just thought your remark 'do it anyway' to the OP

> was quite flippant.

Yes I work in secondary education, have been a primary school Governor and have a KS2 and a KS3 aged child.

My remark was flippant because my experience has lead me to believe / come to the conclusion that sometimes, in the face of bureaucracy and misguided educational policy, flippancy is warranted.

When my eldest was in KS1 I think I felt that it was wrong to take a child out for a week, even though my children both have virtually impeccable attendance records. I have mellowed with age and direct experience. A child with good attendance and concerned and supportive parents can easily be kept up to speed / catch up with the curriculum

It is my opinion, perhaps somewhat wryly expressed

Others may well think otherwise.

[Pickle]

Curmudgeon, this is an excellent post and sums up my thinking better than I could ever have expressed it.

[minder]

Good for you Pickle, as it seems the fining system is still in place.

[Pickle]

The fine, if applied, is ?60 per child, per parent. I'm happy to pay that if it means my children get to say a goodbye to their uncle, or spend time with their grandparents at an important family time.

Having accused others of being flippant, I feel your post is pretty rude.

The times we have taken our children out of school, I liase with their teachers, take homework, insist that they keep a travel diary to share with their class, and make sure they catch up with missed work.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

In the grand scheme of things a week or two in a year/lifetime is nothing .

Eduction goes beyond sitting in a classroom and if people seriously think that the whole education system will crumble or the kids will trail behind simply by taking a week or two off in a year , well, I'm speechless .