I can go ahead with booking my trip

@maximax8 (31055)
United Kingdom
February 8, 2013 10:58am CST
I am delighted to say that today I got an approval from the head teacher of my son's school to say that I am allowed to take him on a holiday in term time. We are able to get 10 school days and weekends plus a half term. That gives us around 3 weeks of time to travel by train from England to Ukraine. I am planning stopovers on the way there and back. We will be leaving on 22 May and coming home on 12 June. I was so worried that the head teacher would say no. She began being a head teacher at the school in January. Amazingly she said yes and it is wonderful she accepted my reasons for us needing a holiday in term time. Are you allowed vacation time from work? Did you ever have a holiday time approved?
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4 responses
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Feb 13
It makes a nice change head teachers seeing sense for once. You're lucky in that she's actually listened to you. They're a bit like doctors in that respect! Hope you and your kids have a lovely time.
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@maximax8 (31055)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 13
Thanks Janey. I went to see her last month about a letter she sent about my son's attendance. Just before the end of the meeting I asked about her ideas about allowing a holiday during term time. I am amazed she listened to what I had to say about why I need a holiday in term time. Honesty and listing as many reasons you can think of can work sometimes. Yes, I am sure we will have a wonderful time at that lovely time of the year.
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@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Feb 13
It helps tremendously when someone listens like that. It also takes the pressure off you and you won't feel guilty about enjoying yourselves now.
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@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
9 Feb 13
I had about 5 weeks vacation time at my last job. At this one, I'm a contractor, so I only get paid for the days I work. I've never taken my kids out of school for a vacation. I did enjoy when they were on year round schedule, because they were out when the rest of the country wasn't, and we could go places when it wasn't crowded, and prices weren't inflated.
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@maximax8 (31055)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 13
Hello Dawn. I notice that as you are a contractor you only get paid on your working days. At your last job 5 weeks vacation time was fairly generous. I like it when places are not crowded and the prices are not high.
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@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
26 Feb 13
hi maximax that is great tat the head teacher of your son's school approved your request.sounds like a nice holiday time for you and your son. I have never been to the Ukraine well nor to England either for that matter so mylot lets me be an armchair traveler. lol No I worked nurse's aide and we got no paid vacations then the last 23 years I worked part time in the library as extra help so again no paid holidays. Any time taken was not paid for but I loved the job so I did stay on.
@GreenMoo (11834)
8 Feb 13
I don't work for an employer so it's not an issue for me. We don't have a formal procedure for the school, but in the past the most school the kids have missed has been a couple of days at the beginning of term and that's really hard to avoid as here they never tell you what date school will start until the last moment anyway.
@maximax8 (31055)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 13
It is a shame they don't tell you the date the term will begin where you live until very close to that date. That must make it guess work and you have to make sure all the stuff is ready in time. I check term dates on the school website for this year. For next year I check the website of the local education authority.
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