To think we can’t take the children out of school just to spend Christmas with DHs family

Thankfully the Head at my children’s school is fully supportive of family time and observing cultural and religious celebrations. Every year I put our absence request in for our trip to Spain to spend Reyes with family, and every year she replies with ‘have a wonderful time, family time is very important’.

I’m not sure that private schools will be back by the 7th. Or if they are, I think they’d authorise a day or two on the end of the hols for religious observance.

So perhaps you’ll need to fly earlier and get back just after the 7th but it might well be possible.

I don’t like my children to miss school either but this sounds like it’s very important to your DH.

Of course she can. Taking children to see family for a religious holiday is important. Ignoring this is sending the wrong message to the children. HTH.

I think the important word there is 'used' to be a teacher.
Thankfully.
Could never stick those ones who thought they ruled the roost.

Of course you can't. School is important, and you send the wrong message to the children by letting them think they can bunk off whenever you/they like.
Lots of people spend Christmas away from their extended family - it's completely normal. Your husband can still celebrate Orthodox Christmas at home on the day itself. Or he can go away, and you and the children stay at home.

Yes YABU. This is why most people go for private schools and I wouldn’t think you’ll get fined. TBH even if you were in a state school you wouldn’t get fined for a couple of days. Plus most years schools don’t go back until at least the 4th- this year my kids aren’t back until the 7th- so they will miss very little learning. I would try to get them back into school asap after the 7th though and minimise absence for the rest of the year (and you might have to rethink in exam years but that’s a way off).

TB entirely honest, for many of us giving our children the opportunity to spend time with their families is more important to us, in the grand scheme of things, than whether we mildly piss off a teacher or not.

I used to be a teacher. It's annoying when this happens. I know all the arguments, but it's still symptomatic of the individualised, self above all else society we are becoming. No. Stay in the bloody school with your classmates, show some self discipline and learn whatever is going on in real time alongside everybody else.

Op what would be your view if it were the other way round? It may be the case that youd be able to host one every so often?

Some private schools are stricter than state schools regarding absenteeism.

Of course you can and should.
Why would you deprive them of celebrating with their family?
And how will missing a week of school affect them?

In this situation, I wouldn't hesitate to take the children out of school. It is important for them to experience both cultures and learn about their heritage.

I am very anti taking kids out of school but even I would be ok with this especially when they're little. Not in GCSE year etc. they will benefit from a family xmas, rich culture etc.

Also some private schools go back much later. Mine aren't back until the 7th and there are a couple of schools around here that don't start until the 12th! So if you're going private you could suss out which are historically likely to go back later in January (although there's no guarantee of rid of course).

I think you're a little ahead of yourself with this worry around missing school. Once they get to year 9 (13/14yo) missing a week can be a game changer in terms of catching up, but I personally think 1 week straight after Christmas for religious reasons wont be a long term issue while your children are still so young.

It would only be a few days if you came back straight after? I seriously wouldn’t worry about it. It’s not like you’re taking a couple of weeks off every year.

While they're in infant school, I would take them out - especially as many years it will only be a day or 2 of missing school depending on when the weekend falls.
By the time it gets to secondary, it would depend what impact it has on them, are the big family Christmases still happening and obviously if there was a year when it clashes with external exams would have to miss that year.

I'm not one to take my kids out of school but under your circumstances I would.

In case no one has mentioned already, I think you probably have one more year without the risk of a fine. No fines until children become of legally required school age, which is the beginning of term after their 5th birthday. So if your child's birthday is (for example) 1 November, you can't be fined for absence until the following January onwards.

Ahhh, I just know the Ukrainian children we have in school are always off on the 7th ☺️

Agree.

I probably wouldn’t do it in years 9-13 but up until then I wouldn’t worry too much. Kids of average ability with interested and involved families can cope with a few days absence.

I would definitely take them out of school for that. Their family ties and religious and cultural heritage are more important than a few days of education.

State schools won't fine because they will give 2 days authorised for religious holidays. They can't fine you for the other 3 days. It has to be 5 days unauthorised for a fine.

You will get 1-2 days off authorised. You should go. It's weird you married him knowing he was orthodox and thought that Christmas wouldn't be very important for him. I work in primary school missing 5 days won't make a difference to their education assuming they have decent attendance apart form that. Just go and enjoy it. Out of interest have you not considered sending them to catholic school rather than private. You'd save a hell of a lot of money and they are almost as good as private and align with your child's beliefs.

Since your eldest is 4 you have several years before missing a bit of school becomes an issue