Photo credit: Bohbeh , Shutterstock
This month I want to talk about term-time holidays ? it?s one that does or will affect every one of us, after all. On April 6th the Supreme Court ruled against Jon Platt ? and there was a lot of strong feeling about the result.
I?ll be frank, when I initially read about it, I was pretty annoyed ? despite not even having a school-age child yet ? and I wasn?t the only one. Many of you were also unimpressed with the ruling and a lot of good points were raised in several posts I read.
Lucy at Real Mum Reviews wrote about what the ruling effectively means for those of wanting to remove our children from education during term-time, in order to go on a jolly. (I?m being facetious, I don?t actually believe that?s what a family holiday really is ? in snatches perhaps, but it?s certainly not that simplistic.)
Birds and Lilies? Lou pointed out that though many have suggested a holiday is a luxury and not a necessity ? so what?! My family was not well-off when I was a child and I can count on one hand the number of holidays I had; I didn?t go go outside of the UK until I was 14 and that was for a school trip. Of course it?s a first world problem to suggest kids who miss out on going to abroad are deprived; but all the same, I want to give my children the best childhood possible, and will do whatever I can to make it magical for them.
I was fascinated to read Cherry from The Newby Tribe?s view, since she?s a headteacher as well as a mum. Ultimately, her stance is one borne very much of common sense, and I hope other headteachers ? who, incidentally have been actively encouraged by The Supreme Court to continue using their discretion ? will follow suit.
Kiri from Kizzy, Izzy and Baby made one point in particular which raised my hackles! Head over for a read and see what you think of number five ? I?d not considered this but it?s so true! And it makes all other logic fall down as far as I?m concerned.
I feel strongly that there absolutely are scenarios where taking your child out of school for a day, or even a week, will be more beneficial to them than sitting in a classroom. Case in point ? Natalie at Plutonium Sox, who in her own words did so because, ?quite frankly, she had a better offer?. Hear hear!
However? If you are one of those who doesn?t like to break the rules, then Happy Mummy?s Maria has some great tips for enjoying a Staycation instead.
Finally, if you?d like to read a whole host of different thoughts on the matter, check out my crowdsourcing post about it.
About Kate Tunstall
Cynic; Jedi Master; connoisseur of cake: Kate Tunstall blogs at The Less-Refined Mind and Huffington Post. From petty peeves to politics, Kate doesn?t shy away from telling it like it is. As an inevitable role-model to her daughter, she even throws in the odd ?inspirational? post in an effort to quell her cynicism and promote positivity. Kate resides in rural Essex with her champion husband and their young daughter, who?s affectionately known as the ?Devil Pixie?. You can say hi to Kate on Twitter: @LessRefinedMind and Instagram: @lessrefinedmind.