Term time school holidays

[Anna B]

8 hours ago, Prettytom said:

There are a few interlocking issues here.

 

First and foremost, we need to get all kids attending school regularly, from a child protection point of view. A proportion of those currently not attending will be being hidden at home by unscrupulous parents. We really must do more to find those kids and to ensure that they attend regularly. We also need to get the plain school refusers back, that will require a lot of mentors and counsellors.

 

There is a further point, which is that schools need to change. They need to adapt to modern technology and provide different opportunities for different kids Thee is a core of learning that everyone needs, but then there is the opportunity for a rich and diverse curriculum. A lot of schools seem more interested in forcing kids to wear blazers rather than providing an engaging curriculum. The quality of the curriculum on offer will ultimately dictate the level of pupil engagement.

 

 

I agree with most of this. 

 

Unfortunately schools are judged by league tables of exam results, Ofsted inspections etc, so aren't necessarily free to change unil the ethos changes. They are expected to follow the status quo. Fine teachers can lose their jobs on the strength of it which is totally wrong. 

 

On the other hand, there should be a partnership between parents and teachers which includes respect for family life. Fining parents for the crime of having an affordable family holiday is hardly conducive to this.  

[Chekhov]

13 hours ago, El Cid said:

In 2023, it was estimated that between 125,000 to 180,000 children were home-schooled in the UK

Children need to be educated, schools are dropping certain subjects and just educating children for the workplace, more children are being home schooled because schools are not meeting their needs.

Children learn in many settings, not just school.

Home schooling....

That subject is interesting in a thread about term time holidays isn't it ?

How much time do home schooled kids spend actually learning ?

And who fines them if they go on holiday in term time......

 

15 hours ago, Prettytom said:

There are a few interlocking issues here.

 

First and foremost, we need to get all kids attending school regularly, from a child protection point of view. A proportion of those currently not attending will be being hidden at home by unscrupulous parents. We really must do more to find those kids and to ensure that they attend regularly. We also need to get the plain school refusers back, that will require a lot of mentors and counsellors.

I agree there should be much effort spent in trying to reduce serious absenteeism from school, but there is all the difference in the world between kids having a week off (out of 39) to go on a family and a child who is absent for possibly months every year.

Edited January 12 by Chekhov

[Chekhov]

19 hours ago, RJRB said:

Irrespective of past history, the future depends on parents responsibility to make sure that their children attend school.

Its the only way to get back on track

No ifs or buts

But you cannot forget "past history" just because it's "inconvenient".

After closing the schools for 7 months I seriously do not see who they are ever going to be able to tell parents their kids cannot miss even one weeks school a year. It's not going to happen.

[Prettytom]

11 minutes ago, Chekhov said:

 

I agree there should be much effort spent in trying to reduce serious absenteeism from school, but there is all the difference in the world between kids having a week off (out of 39) to go on a family and a child who is absent for possibly months every year.

I’d rather that neither thing happened really, but reducing persistent absenteeism must be the priority. 
 

A great many persistent school refusers have mental health issues that need addressing, if we don’t do it now, we will have huge problems in the future. 
 

There are also parents who abuse kids and then keep them off school to avoid detection. It is imperative that those kids are found. 
 

If you want to pop off for a holiday, then I suppose that nobody can stop you. However, you need to own that decision. Make your own arrangements for your lad to catch up and pay any fine that is levied.

[RJRB]

6 minutes ago, Chekhov said:

But you cannot forget "past history" just because it's "inconvenient".

After closing the schools for 7 months I seriously do not see who they are ever going to be able to tell parents their kids cannot miss even one weeks school a year. It's not going to happen.

Past history happened and is absolutely no reason for kids not to attend school when it is open from hereon in.

Most parents want to know that their children are in school 5 days a week which then enables them to plan their own work or domestic time.

There were enough angry comments about school being closed and the inconveniences caused so that full advantage should be taken with the return to normality.

That would be better than continuing to use it as an excuse not to attend school.

 

[Chekhov]

42 minutes ago, RJRB said:

Past history happened and is absolutely no reason for kids not to attend school when it is open from hereon in.

Most parents want to know that their children are in school 5 days a week which then enables them to plan their own work or domestic time.

There were enough angry comments about school being closed and the inconveniences caused so that full advantage should be taken with the return to normality.

That would be better than continuing to use it as an excuse not to attend school.

Almost all parents think that the fact it is the same government that is telling them "every day in school is vital", is the same government that kept their kids off school for seven months is inconsistent. I would wager that most, as defined by well over 50%, think it is arrant hypocrisy. And people are not liable to take lectures from hypocrites.

Even those who have not consciously made the connection will have made it sub consciously.

Hence the huge rise in term time absenteeism.

Edited January 12 by Chekhov

[El Cid]

3 minutes ago, Chekhov said:

1 hour ago, Chekhov said:

Home schooling....

That subject is interesting in a thread about term time holidays isn't it ?

How much time do home schooled kids spend actually learning ?

And who fines them if they go on holiday in term time......

 

Almost all parents think that the fact it is the same government that is telling them "every day in school is vital", is the same government that kept their kids off school for seven months is inconsistent.

 

Private schools get more holidays and do not face term time fines, so its not about the length of time in school, but if the child is learning something.