AIBU to take my Year 3 child out for a day?

It really, really doesn’t matter and I say that as school staff.

Persistent lateness/absence is a different kettle of fish and nothing to do with a random day off a year. Or even a week’s holiday.

Like PPs have said, there'll be bigger queues anyway right now. Oddly enough, theme parks can sometimes be emptier during summer holidays. It might be useful to keep an eye on the socials of enthusiasts to see when is best.

(Parents are also tax payers and pay towards the school system, that comment was more than a bit weird)

Children are only in school 190 days per year, which is 52% of the year. Most children will be unwell at some point in the year too which will tip this below 50% of a year.

I think in extreme circumstances eg a funeral then fine, but simply to 'beat the queues' really irks me.

Is it any wonder that children in this country do not see the value of education when parents don't?

Edited to add that school refusal is at an all time high, and I wonder how many people with children that refuse school are also the people who took their children out of school here and there throughout their school life? As a child, I wouldn't have dreamed of not going in- I categorically did not know that school was viewed as 'optional' like it is today!

I wouldn’t , I’ve signed them up for school, I know that school is Monday to Friday , I wouldn’t take them out of school unless they were unwell or a close family member had died.

plenty of other days for days out.

No. I wouldn't do that.

I have two high schooler's, and have taken them out of school on random days.

I am astounded at the cavalier attitude shown to their children’s education by PPs who are happy to take their children out of school at the drop of a hat for a bit of a jolly. Nothing like giving your DC the idea that education is optional and a day off here or there really doesn’t matter. When they’re in year 11 and skipping school, don’t be surprised.

Bang goes Oxbridge

No

My friend went today and in 3.5 hours went on 2 rides.....so you won't be avoiding any queues. Absolutely heaving with teens after exams.

I applied for permission to take my DC to an educational event that only happens on a week day in term time. School said no, it would be unauthorised. We are still taking him, I can’t imagine they will do much about it.

I really wish parents had to pay to send their children to school. As a tax payer I’m sick of paying for education when parents don’t value it.
if you choose the school system then send them in.

Personally I didn’t, but then I teach in primary school. I am still teaching the curriculum and will do until the last day or two. We did watch a film when the heatwave struck last week, but it was linked into their history and literacy lessons.
I also see the impact lost learning has on individuals when the rest of the class is in. The child that doesn’t attend has gaps in their knowledge and for some they can cope and catch up, others can’t.
Obviously, I value education so even before I became a teacher (it’s not my first career) I did not take my kids out of school. I wanted them to know they had a right to be educated and things like Chessington could happen other days.

I wouldn’t take kids out of school now (July). The independent schools have broken up, it won’t be that quiet. Better to do it when they’re in school too.

Schools do not do sweet FA on the run up to summer
you obviously don’t understand how crammed the curriculum is

I didn't make a habit of it but I did it occasionally.

I didn't lie to the school, I just handed a letter to the office to say DS would be absent on whatever day and I understood it would be unauthorised.

I take mine out 2-3 times a year for holidays, she normally misses 1-4 days each time (this year it was 1 Friday for a long weekend in Paris and then it will be 4 days during last week of term for out longer summer holiday, then probs another day for a Xmas market break in December).

I will stop doing this when she gets to Y7 or Y8 though.

I’ve done this occasionally, took dd to legoland once and another time to see a musical.

Probably did this less than once a year though.

Yes, but I would check your YR3 child is tall enough for the rides at Thorpe Park as from memory most are minimum 140cm

I have worked in many schools and yet to encounter this mythical school who do nothing.

We may have a movie afternoon in the last week to give some time to get organised but other than that even in reception it’s business as usual

I am also very much in the camp that my child’s health and emotional well being are the most important thing more so than a schools tick box register so have also allowed the odd duvet day. Missing the odd day does not turn them o to delinquents or adults that can’t hold down a job. It teaches them that they and their needs matter and makes them into more resilient well rounded adults not sad, stressed litttle clones

I think there’s little concern right at the end of term. So ok.

Funny enough, my ds got a really bad illness two weeks before end of term so he was off sick for a few days. Ds had been going on and on about our summer vacation to the US (in August), so when we got back to school after the sickness, class teacher said “oh you’re back! we just assumed you’d gone on vacation already and reported in sick.”

I explained that no, he really had been ill and she looked astonished.

I absolutely would and here they do sweet fa the last few weeks of term just trips, sports day, world bloody cup colouring sheets and extra play and the minimum the school can get away with. As long as my child is fully achieving a consistent high standard of work I am happy for them to miss days for outings or to spend time with relatives they rarely see due to distance. Who have come to visit. You are the parent so it’s your choice what’s best for your kid and you can ensure they do t fall behind.

It’s fine. Your DC isn’t going to become a school refuser because you missed 1 Friday to get a head start on a long weekend away, it’s a lot more complex than that!

I always used to miss a few days to go on holiday and I never, ever thought this.