Liesa trip report part 4 and the rest.....

[LiesaAnna]

we go back around the 7th ish of sept.... there is never a good time to go where schools concerned so we go for the beginning before all the real work starts!!

[ellie]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by LiesaAnna
we go back around the 7th ish of sept.... there is never a good time to go where schools concerned so we go for the beginning before all the real work starts!!
[/quote]

Wow you are lucky where you live, then, Liesa, as many schools seem to be going back on the 3rd September, which is a Thursday.

As a teacher myself, I have to say that work begins on Day 1 in my school (and staff spend many days of their 'holiday' in school preparing their classrooms to ensure that this happens), so it is horrifying to think that some schools take 2 weeks or more to get going! Wonder what OFSTED would have to say about that. [msnoo]

[LiesaAnna]

Ellie..... i could be wrong..... just going on things that happened at primary school.... also this happened last year but couldve been just settling the newbies in.... will talk to the school about when the best time if we have to take Lauren out is going to be....
hopefully things will be fine..... dont know about next year tho as i think they do sats then? loads to talk about with the school...

[steph_goodrum]

Sats are usually at the end of the year Lieasa. One thing that has thrown a spanner in the works for many parents in Kent is that they traditionally have taken the 11+ exam in January, but this year depending on which area you are in , if your child sits the Kent test they took that on 18th Sept this year and the Medway test will be on 18th Oct. The thinking behind it being that parents wiil know which schools their child is eligible to attend prior to having to send in their selection form. If the system stays the same then it will mean some having to rethink.

[ellie]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by LiesaAnna
Ellie..... i could be wrong..... just going on things that happened at primary school.... also this happened last year but couldve been just settling the newbies in.... will talk to the school about when the best time if we have to take Lauren out is going to be....
hopefully things will be fine..... dont know about next year tho as i think they do sats then? loads to talk about with the school...
[/quote]

Liesa, you can look on the local education authority's website - not sure where you are located, but if you put in 'school holiday dates for XXXX' it should come up with a list. They are normally agreed some time in advance.

We have had our 'newbies' in (ranging from 4 - 5 years old) and we find it is a really important time of year for them and us, as there is a lot of settling in to do. We also do a huge amount of assessment so that we know exactly what each child is capable of, so we get straight on with that as soon as they arrive. Its been really hectic, with a few tears from some of the very young ones, but they have settled in well - they are so tiny! You forget just how quickly they grow up in a year, so its a bit of a shock when you go back to square one.[msnwink]

SATS will not be taking place in September, so you do not need to worry about that. They are likely to be in the early summer term, but again, you can get all this information from your local Education Authority, so that you can avoid these critical times.

I think the only problem with this time of year is that it is when new friendships are made, when children get to know their new teacher, and it is very much a settling in time for them. It always seems to take longer for children to settle in to a new class if they are not there at the start of the term.

Of course you are very sensible to be talking all this over with the school, as they can tell you what is right for them and the child.

[LiesaAnna]

Lauren will be year 9 next september.... so friendships already made, shes still very friendly with the girl we took with us to florida Jade, been friends since very small....
have tried looking up our dates and have none for september 09.....

[ellie]

Which Education Authority are you looking at, Liesa, as maybe I can help find the dates for you? It can sometimes be a bit of a minefield to get the right info.[msnwink]

[LiesaAnna]

Brighton and Hove, East Sussex county council
thanks Ellie xx

[dbrook]

Liesa, if you are in the Brighton/Hove school district then the children return to school on Thursday 3rd September.

Here is the link:-

http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/inde...quest=c1000572

[LiesaAnna]

Thanks Diane, thats this years, dates to be arranged are for next years september
only goes up to july 09

Academic Year 2008/2009
The first day of the Autumn term 2008 will be Thursday 4 September 2008.
Holiday Dates
Autumn half term 27/10/08 to 31/10/08
Christmas 22/12/08 to 02/01/09
Spring half term 16/02/09 to 20/02/09
Easter 06/04/09 to 17/04/09
May Day (Bank holiday) 04/05/09
Summer half term 25/05/09 to 29/05/09
Summer 23/07/09 to date not yet agreed