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Original poster

To take my Dd out of school for a day at the zoo?

119 replies

Washingmachineneverstops · 24/05/2026 16:50

Dd is in Primary. We have a tradition that we go to a special and expensive zoo/amusement park each year. Weekends and holidays are far too busy and more expensive. Previously when she was younger and not at school, we’d go during the week and we have great memories.
She has been previously very unwell but has worked so hard this year and been in school every day. Her school reports are excellent, she completes all homework and is top in every subject.

Would it be wrong to have just one, quiet day of us together at our special place?

OP posts:
PerhapsaSillyQuestion · 24/05/2026 17:25

@Washingmachineneverstops it's awful you are feeling the pressure to go through these agonies
Take her our and enjoy the day .
We took ours out a few times . A few times .
We did a surprise trip to Disney once ( Paris )
Go and enjoy tell them she's ill. .we shouldn't be made to feel like this and we should be able to freely ask ! Both DC doing extremely well academically .

dizzydizzydizzy · 24/05/2026 17:24

We did this on inset days. We usually went to Chessington. It was brilliant because it was often so quiet that we could get straight back on a ride without queing.

Msgiggles30 · 24/05/2026 17:21

I'm a teacher and I really would not begrudge a parent for this at Primary level especially! I'd do it if I could be out with mine during term time! We have many families that have a weekend away this time of year so have a Monday or Friday off so I don't see how it's any different to that. I'd just tell them; it will be unauthorised on most occasions but that doesn't matter for 1 day.

redskyAtNigh · 24/05/2026 17:21

Imaginingdragonsagain · 24/05/2026 17:18

It’s not a Master’s in Astrophysics. I’m sure an an average 5/6/7 year old can cope with missing a day of school.

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Perhaps read the posts back and you'll see this was in reference to not making this a tradition as there will be a point when it's not appropriate i.e. later secondary school. I'm quite clearly not suggesting that a 5/6/7 year old is missing anything that can't easily be made up if they miss a day.

Imaginingdragonsagain · 24/05/2026 17:18

redskyAtNigh · 24/05/2026 17:15

So? That's still a day's worth of work that the child has to make up in their own time, pretty quickly, as the material will be built on in the next lessons, so they don't fall further behind.

My conscientious student child wouldn't want to do this for worry of what they were missing. My non-conscientious child wouldn't want to do it because it would mean extra work when he got back.

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It’s not a Master’s in Astrophysics. I’m sure an an average 5/6/7 year old can cope with missing a day of school.

Parcelpass · 24/05/2026 17:17

Do it! To make you ferl better Me and DC go away in 12 days!

redskyAtNigh · 24/05/2026 17:17

Washingmachineneverstops · 24/05/2026 17:12

We’re supposed to email in on the morning they won’t be in school, should I just say it then?

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Better to tell them in advance so no arrangements are made on the basis of your child being there. Your child will tell them anyway.

LlynTegid · 24/05/2026 17:16

I don't think you should. Save it for a Saturday in the autumn, something to look forward to after going back to school. Or perhaps in January which can be difficult for many.

redskyAtNigh · 24/05/2026 17:15

tiramisugelato · 24/05/2026 17:09

It's a day, not a week or a month 🙄

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So? That's still a day's worth of work that the child has to make up in their own time, pretty quickly, as the material will be built on in the next lessons, so they don't fall further behind.

My conscientious student child wouldn't want to do this for worry of what they were missing. My non-conscientious child wouldn't want to do it because it would mean extra work when he got back.

TrixieFatell · 24/05/2026 17:14

I just said we were going to London for the day, going to theme park etc.

Your child will probably tell them anyway

Imaginingdragonsagain · 24/05/2026 17:14

Yes, I’d email or phone in and say your dc won’t be in as you have a family day planned. It’s 2 unauthorised sessions and it won’t matter at all.

Original poster
Washingmachineneverstops · 24/05/2026 17:12

tiramisugelato · 24/05/2026 17:10

Just keep her home and say you have a family day planned. No need to go into detail over one day - they really won't care.

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We’re supposed to email in on the morning they won’t be in school, should I just say it then?

OP posts:
Original poster
Washingmachineneverstops · 24/05/2026 17:11

TheEasterBunny3 · 24/05/2026 17:06

Im taking mine out for a day at a theme park - no guilt at all. Enjoy your day out

What do you say to the teacher/school?

OP posts:
tiramisugelato · 24/05/2026 17:10

Washingmachineneverstops · 24/05/2026 17:07

It couldn’t be a Friday sadly as I work then, but a Thursday. I worry though as to what to say to the teacher. I’m not going to lie and say she’s ill, but do I just say we’re having a day out 😬

Just keep her home and say you have a family day planned. No need to go into detail over one day - they really won't care.

redskyAtNigh · 24/05/2026 17:10

Washingmachineneverstops · 24/05/2026 17:07

It couldn’t be a Friday sadly as I work then, but a Thursday. I worry though as to what to say to the teacher. I’m not going to lie and say she’s ill, but do I just say we’re having a day out 😬

Well if you're not going to lie, I'm not sure what else you would say?

Imlyingandthatsthetruth · 24/05/2026 17:09

No problem. Actually there's no teaching anyway that day because the teacher has fucked off to the zoo for the day.

tiramisugelato · 24/05/2026 17:09

redskyAtNigh · 24/05/2026 17:07

Because you actually miss quite a lot that you can't easily make up by the time you are in secondary school, and particularly when close to exam years?

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It's a day, not a week or a month 🙄

titchy · 24/05/2026 17:09

Where does it say she’s 5? I assumed much older given the reference to a special annual tradition - if she’s only 5 there won’t have been any sort of tradition that she’ll have remembered!

Go anyway though.

Original poster
Washingmachineneverstops · 24/05/2026 17:07

It couldn’t be a Friday sadly as I work then, but a Thursday. I worry though as to what to say to the teacher. I’m not going to lie and say she’s ill, but do I just say we’re having a day out 😬

OP posts:
redskyAtNigh · 24/05/2026 17:07

tiramisugelato · 24/05/2026 17:04

Why wouldn't it be appropriate to miss a single day of school each year?

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Because you actually miss quite a lot that you can't easily make up by the time you are in secondary school, and particularly when close to exam years?

Imaginingdragonsagain · 24/05/2026 17:07

ps I agree with above, I’d go on a tuesday not long after half term before all the school trips kick off!!

TheEasterBunny3 · 24/05/2026 17:06

Im taking mine out for a day at a theme park - no guilt at all. Enjoy your day out

lookinggforadvice · 24/05/2026 17:06

Take her out of school by all means but think carefully about where you go. Last time I went to a theme park in June the school trips made it horrendous. Much worse than in the actual school holidays.

tiramisugelato · 24/05/2026 17:06

redskyAtNigh · 24/05/2026 17:05

Where has OP said she has 5? The "completes all homework and is top in every subject" is an odd way to describe a 5 year old so I suspect she is older.

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Where it says she's previously not been in school until this year. Maybe I've mis-read it but either way she should go.

sprigatito · 24/05/2026 17:05

I’m an early years teacher and I think you should take her. Family life matters too, sometimes families need a day to recharge and do something together. Education for a 5yo can include real-world experiences with an engaged parent without the sky falling in.