Taking children out of school for travel (or holidays if you prefer) is quite the debate right now.
As the government seem to ‘crack down’ on parental rights and attendance figures (which is a whole other topic I could get way into how damaging that is to mental wellbeing; but will not), I have ALOT of thoughts on the matter. There have been many a conversation had both in real life and online about our take on the topic and genuinely interesting debate. SO I thought I would share (some of) mine.
Firstly, and importantly, the situation and decision is very nuanced. Which isn’t something I think a simple blanket ban and parental fine takes into account at any stage. The old system I grew up in where it was a headteachers decision to authorise up to a certain amount of days (10 if I remember rightly) based on information they have about the child and their family and education was in my opinion such valuable insight.
Because you see everyone’s situation IS different.
Why Travel In Term Time?
On to the possible why’s? Of which there are many.
Money
We all talk about the price and the media love to report that it is the EVERYTHING of term time holiday decisions. So I will briefly say. Money is of course a big factor of which travel companies, blaming the supply and demand structure for, are in total control of and seem to have little incentive to stop. A standard resort holiday can differ by double, costing thousands of pounds each time.
You only have to look at any flights/accommodation/trains/woodland parks (CP I see you) in the uk and you can guess the weeks school holidays are by the price hikes alone. Thus punishing parents, children and school staff alike who seemingly are given no choice but to travel on given dates vs those that don’t have to and therefore reap the huge financial rewards. Yes I am aware that once the children fly the proverbial nest we all may well be one of them! But then it won’t be family travel at all.
Some families simply cannot afford (even with the added school fines) to travel in school holidays and have to make a choice between not travelling at all or taking those term time holidays.
But are holidays a given right? Should we feel aggrieved not to be able to have them?
Well that depends on your opinion; but me? I think taking the choice away from anyone doesn’t sit well. We’re all adults after all and had we not had children, we can do what we please. How does having children remove that? The world is alot smaller these days and times have changed, I don’t think travelling, or any break should be thought any less of for wanting it.
For us, we are travel enthusiasts and it is a big part of our family life, indeed this blog, my social media, and it is simply how we connect as a family. We have always liked to travel as much as we can in the year (ie more than once) to give our children (and us) travel and cultural experiences as they grow up and discover what they, and the world, is all about. It is what we work and save for. Not always abroad may I add.
If we always travelled in the school holidays that simply wouldn’t be feasible. One way of stretching our money to more trips is of course to mix it up and occasionally travel at less peak times, as is the same for everyone else, or indeed just to travel literal days either side.
Personal Circumstances/Medical Needs
BUT money isn’t the only factor. Some children (and adults because let’s not forget just because we became parents it did not stop us from being humans), cannot cope well with a lot of people. Some children and parents have medical conditions which affect their ability to travel at certain times. Some have neurodivergence to consider. Some parents simply cannot get the time off work in those small windows of time with every other parent out there.
I mean imagine running a company and then allowing all the parents to take the same week off every year? Have the government thought about that? There are SO many reasons why some might choose to travel outside of the school holidays with their children. And there is the word.
To choose.
To have the parental choice taken away because you choose to send them to school (another whole other topic I could talk about for days) is a really hard pill to swallow because we know what is right in our family for our children and in our life.
Timings
There are also other trips that just have different timings. Lapland for instance can be unaffordable or not doable in the Christmas holidays but with having small children the December Father Christmas window is crucial. Experiences with different seasons, floral displays, events, celebrations, the list is almost endless.
Or indeed taking advantage of opportunities for parents working abroad for a short period of time (my husband has worked in France and Japan over the years) keeping families together and having experiences is very beneficial.
Possibly niche but we have a sun allergy to deal with also so being able to travel in shoulder season is necessary for the physical health of our child. More evidence that each situation and family require a different approach.
Is Travel Educational?
Whilst no two families are the same, no two holidays or travels are the same, there is value in every break.
In my opinion travel IS education. And it isn’t just my opinion. Why do we think there are school trips?
Why are we often charged an inordinate amount to send them to Paris, or skiing, or Spain, or to a local activities centre? Because there are more ways to educate than sat in a classroom and if they are going to give that the credit it deserves in the school curriculum and take them on trips. Then is it not hypocritical to say that having those same experiences with family are any less so?
Because some things simply cannot be learnt in a classroom and whilst we have the privilege of being able to travel, whatever that privilege may be, our health, access to the world, financially, time, whatever that looks like why should we not take it and help enrich their lives with all the experiences we can.
The Value In Education
Now I know from a teachers perspective not having students there and feeling the need, or being told you have to somehow catch these students up must be tough. I get it that’s got to be a pressure with a possible 30 students to factor in at any given time. But is it an impossible task? Is it something that can be passed on to parents?
According to the government taking holidays in term time ‘damages your Childs education’ which I would like to see the evidence for. In my experience as a parent of a year 5 and year 9 child both of which have had significant loss of school time whether that through illness and medical conditions or indeed through travel (not in the same year I feel I should add) and are both in the top academically of their year.
I value education, I do. I value it so much that we top up their learning at home together. That we are responsible when they take time off (for whatever reason) that they find out what they may miss and see if it’s something we can practice or add into our days.
I just don’t believe there is only one way to educate or that there is any hierarchy of value in what they learn inside of school vs outside of school (for us). Having seen the amount of the day that is taken up with procedures in school (dinner lines, getting books, assemblies, registers, breaks etc etc) the amount of true education lost I don’t believe makes such an impact that they should have to be in school at all times no matter what.
But maybe instead of working against parents all over the country and feeling like there is a definite shift on them vs us mentality we could work together and make the school system in general a more welcoming place for all without blame and punishment front and centre.
Truth or Lie?
The one aspect which I feel really uncomfortable with in this whole debate is the shame it evokes. There is real focus on punishment and stigma to taking your child out for a holiday (maybe slightly less post pandemic) which leads parents to lie.
Consequently leading children to have to lie, either fully or by omission and not delight and share experiences with their peers. I am not sure what that is really teaching them about work or authority at all. In our instance I NEVER ask them to cover up our trips and we are always transparent because it is my decision and situation to deal with not theirs so they can talk to their friends and teacher all they want. There is no judgement here on people who feel they have no choice but to lie, I am saying this is part of the problem.
I stand by my decision and we have a lot of conversations with the children about why that is and why we are fined etc but even then I don’t necessarily want them to grow up hating the school system/workplace/rules/government/authority either. I just don’t think either way breeds the respect and trust that you would hope comes with humanity and all its nuanced ways.
Do WE Take Them Out Of School To Travel?
It is with all these reasons, and I am sure it will not shock you what camp we are in, that yes we do take our children out of school to travel for term time holidays on occasion. Not every time. We will always try to make it work in the holidays but often it does not, for a variety of reason and decisions. This could be for financial, medical, work commitments or mental wellbeing.
We have a child with physical medical needs, we have sensory needs, we have a sun allergy, we have a corporate calendar, we have so many different factors going on. If you have ever taken a sensory sensitive child through a busy full capacity airport you will know that if you have the choice to make it easier on everyone by flying a day or two outside of those times you would take it in heartbeat.
Now, we are very responsible, sensible adults and parents. We don’t take them out when they have exams, important dates and take each circumstance as it comes and I believe it would be ok to ask that of any parent choosing to take children out. To ensure they are responsible for the education especially taking into account their academic abilities.
Having said that when they return from school on days that they have watched tv (not something we choose to do a lot at home) the decisions really do seem to be justified, especially as they wrap up for the end of term and every day is a game day! No shade to educators here but let’s call it what it is.
On top of the fact that I truly believe the travels that we do and the family time it allows enriches my children in ways they cannot replicate in school. And no I don’t think a trip to the cinema or local theme park (neither of which my children want or are able to do) is going to give them the same experience. As good as they are for some.
I am by no means saying that our travels are better than anyone else’s. Family time and connection no matter what it looks like I think is always worth it for children of any age. Being able to choose adventure and rest and to truly learn to value that is one of lifes big lessons that will hopefully reduce this big burnout epidemic we are seeing these days.
What About The Fines?
Currently local councils issue a fine of £80 per parent per child for the first occasion of unauthorised absence, £160 per parent per child for the second and if more in a three year period there are no fines so you may be taken to court.
I’ve heard stories of ‘our school doesn’t bother if it’s less than 5 days’ or ‘the wording means it is only 10 sessions’ and whilst I do not dispute that I do think it’s unhelpful to the many. I am here to tell you we got a fine for 4 days (because we chose to go over bank holiday as we thought it was the more responsible thing to do) for our Norwegian Fjord Cruise and even a 1 day unauthorised when we returned from our summer trip on the second day of September start. It is happening.
Honestly the government putting the price of the fine up is annoying and feels exploitative of the situation because they know it won’t deter most parents if money is their incentive as it is still a lot less than they will save. It feels like it is just another way to bring in more money. For??
The money isn’t used by the school but from what I can see is used by the local council for administration of the system (mind blown) and to support attendance programmes. The rest is returned to the government.
What irks me more than that is the wording and act that if you receive more than two fines in a three year period (ie you have one days holiday a year in term time) then you cannot receive another fine and will (the wording is actually may) be taken to court. This would take place in a magistrates’ court under section 444 of the Education Act 1996. You could get a fine of up to £2,500, a community order or a jail sentence up to 3 months. The court could also give you a Parenting Order. Essentially parenting classes!
I mean surely we have enough in the news about the overcrowding of prisons and the squeezing of the justice system that we do not need the government adding to the pile with ‘criminal’ parents who would like to take their children on holiday? Do they? Is this the battle they want to have? Does our society need that? I feel like somehow the wrong issues are being addressed here.
But hey, I’m no politician or judge.
I, am just a Mum, wanting experiences with and for her children whilst knowing what is best and will work with all the information for her family.
So. What Is The Answer?
Hmm, I don’t have one! Yet, I also have many! Hear me out.
If I was to choose, and there are many options that may be vetoed or seem unworkable or unthinkable like a flexible year as you do in later working life. Or revamping the school system and scrapping terms altogether which I think would help children, teachers and adults alike. I would say with the current system that the headteachers discretion would seem to be the most logical step.
But that doesn’t bring in any money does it? Or show a progression if we look to be taking a step back?
Maybe I don’t know the full answer for change, and I am sure lots of people have lots of opinions and I am not for once saying I am correct or that the argument the other side isn’t just as nuanced and there are a lot of situations that differ to ours. There is no one size fits all in this scenario. I know. And maybe that’s the whole problem.
I am also always happy for respectful conversations either way. But for us, for now, for our situation I guess the real answer is that I will not stop taking into consideration with our travels that some of the days may be in the school terms for a whole variety of reasons.
So yes, we are taking our children out of school this year for an holiday to Japan, it will be quite the adventure and we all cannot wait.
