PISTE OFF

Now I've just blogged here about our first ever skiing jaunt.  But I had no idea that by taking my children out of school for three extra days after the Christmas holidays, I would soon want to reverse the two words of the title of that post. 

I want my children to be well educated and they love their village primary.  Of course the school has to tow the party line and stick to Government strategy to drive down truancy.  And it can't have one rule for one person and another for others, so it has procedures in place whereby you apply for permission for absence from the head teacher.  Of course there have to be rules and repurcussions for persistent abusers who take their children out of school for weeks on end.  

To start fining or prosecuting well-meaning parents who want to do the best by their families while their children still have fewer constraints at primary age seems a little harsh. But that's how I ended up on the Naughty Step.

I'm all for educational holidays like these and admire people like this and this so surely we can ask for a little leeway. And where does the money go if someone is fined? Back to the school itself? No, into some council coffer never to be seen again.