Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Year 6 of primary school & family holidays

49 replies

ScottyTeapot · 07/02/2019 07:44

Hi all,

Having looked at peak holiday prices for summer this year, I'm probably going to take my child out of school in October for a week to ten days. (And build any financial penalty into the cost of the holiday.)

However, is this an OK time to whip her out? I'm aware that its SATs year, but I believe this prep fully ramps up during the spring so the preceding October should be OK, shouldn't it?

WWYD?

OP posts:

CluedoAddict · 07/02/2019 07:59

No time in Year 6 would be suitable. They cover so much in the last year your child will miss out.

Sirzy · 07/02/2019 08:01

Why not do a 10 day holiday at October half term then you will only need to miss a couple of days?

Otherwise wait til post SATs

totallyliterally · 07/02/2019 08:05

I'm planning post sats taking out. The work is done for the schools results (I don't believe sats have any use for a child) we will know where we are going next year.

I've never taken out of school before but will be our one and only chance for a holiday abroad. (He's never been)

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General education Primary education

PotteryGirl · 07/02/2019 08:07

No. Going into Yr 6 is a crucial time. Sorry.

Hollowvictory · 07/02/2019 08:08

I take my children out every year for a week never been fined however they are in year 6 and this year I am being fined.
In October they weren't doing any sats work. Sats are only important for the school not your child personally. It counts towards nothing for the child. I wouldn't take them out though if they struggle academically.
Enjoy your holiday

Sirzy · 07/02/2019 08:12

SATs may not count to anything specifically for the child however deliberately adding to their stress by letting them miss chunks of what is needed seems unfair all around!

ineedaholidaynow · 07/02/2019 08:14

totally there are usually lots of other things going on post SATS, including transition time for new secondary and Y6 residential, which your DS may not want to miss out on. Might be an idea to check out school timetable before booking anything.

OP, I would do as one other PP suggested and tag a few days onto the half term, if you want a longer and slightly cheaper holiday. Y6 is a crucial year and I was amazed at how soon the whole choosing a secondary school thing started once you are in Y6 including open days etc

CinnamonToaster · 07/02/2019 08:15

I've only done it once, Oct of Y4 and Y6 for my two. It's not ideal, but generally later is worse.

The last week of autumn term might be marginally better as there tends to be less book learning then and more Christmas plays etc.

At our school they say Y6 is work hard, play hard - lots of work in the middle sandwiched by lots of fun stuff at either end.

Justmeagain123 · 07/02/2019 08:26

I'm thinking June after SATs, not so much because of costings but because I'm worried about how hot California would be in August, he's not Y6 yet so I'm going to watch this year what happens in June as I don't want him to miss anything ceremonial or high school prep etc. Judging by how stressed the kids are made to feel at SAT level I'd be worried to have him miss out before in case it overwhelms them.

Hollowvictory · 07/02/2019 08:31

October is fine there is no sats pressure the. June is residential, visors to secondary school etc stuff they don't want to miss.

MeetOnTheledge · 07/02/2019 08:32

I'd go with the ten days over October half term option. The weeks after SATS were the best weeks of primary school for my DCs, so much fun stuff going on, residential, sports day, preparing and helping run the school summer fair, transition days to secondary school, rounders tournaments, leaving party, I'd hate for them to have missed any of it. Same with the last week before Christmas, the year 6s have the big roles in the school play, their last carol service, their last Christmas dinner at that school.

Crockof · 07/02/2019 08:49

Agree with finding out when transfer days are etc. Personally after Sats are completed the children seem to do very little. Early June is good as transfer days. Etc are usually later. But if October suits the go then, they learn more. From the holiday.

Original poster

ScottyTeapot · 07/02/2019 09:05

Thanks all. I am looking for this year as opposed to next year, so she'll only just have hit year 6 in early Oct.

However, Oct half term is coming up almost as expensive as the summer, hence me looking in early Oct.

For what it's worth, I personally believe that R&R as a family is crucial, and won't hesitate to book something in term time if it doesn't clash with something crucial for her.

She's a clever girl, and would not suffer any hardship from missing a week!

OP posts:

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 07/02/2019 09:10

For those saying SATS have no relevance for the children, that is simply not true. Their progress 8 measures (how they progress through high school) are set from SATS, as are their predictions for GCSEs. Most high schools also use them for initial setting as well, though this can be changed after internal assessment.

Sirzy · 07/02/2019 09:12

Intelligence has nothing to do with the impact of missing a week of important information has or the stress that can cause the child.

Babdoc · 07/02/2019 09:22

I used to take both DDs out of primary school for a fortnight every year. The headmistress always gave her blessing and laughed, saying it would give the other kids a chance to catch up! I’d have hated this business of fines nowadays.
Both DDs were top of their classes and are now graduates and home owners with good careers, so it obviously did them no harm.

Gazelda · 07/02/2019 09:23

October was crazy busy in Y6. Secondary school visits and applications. Parents evening which was so useful to see what targets or ambitions the teacher had that we needed to support.
I'd avoid if poss.

shpoot · 07/02/2019 09:36

Babdoc ugh, that's awful. I've got images of your genius princesses gliding their way through the hall looking down on their peers who needed to "catch up" with them

OP rather than a full 10 days out why don't you do what others suggest and go 2/3 days before half term? I've found loads of cheap deals, try changing destination or departure airport

southnownorth · 07/02/2019 09:40

I wouldn't take mine out at that point. My daughter is a worrier though and she would worry the whole time about what work she was missing.

I think once sats were over would be better. Lots took a little holiday then.

totallyliterally · 07/02/2019 22:37

@MrsElijahMikaelson1 some school do use Sats. Of the 4 we visited (mix of grammar and non) none of them do.

And yes organising the time after sats to not mix residential or any other things has already been checked :)

spinabifidamom · 07/02/2019 22:47

What about half term?
That way she does not miss anything important. If I was taking my child out of school then I would do it then.

Dolceandgabbana14 · 08/02/2019 05:03

What would your response be to the teacher taking a week off in the run up to SATs because he/she couldn't afford to take their family away during school holidays?

Grobagsforever · 08/02/2019 06:22

I'd do it. Holidays as a family are crucial for kids mental health, SATs ARE for the school and of course your child can catch up with your support. It's a week not a month.

Life is short and must be lived to the full. The hand wringing that goes on about this stuff on MN is batshit. It's Year 6, not her A Levels!

VashtaNerada · 08/02/2019 06:30

As a teacher I see the impact of taking a week out of term time and the difficulty that even the bright ones have catching up. I personally wouldn’t do it, once you have children you have to go for less ambitious holidays. That’s how the majority of parents approach it.

StitchingMoss · 08/02/2019 06:42

I love all the justification on these threads for taking kids out of school - if holidays are so crucial (and let’s face it you’re talking about holidays abroad) what do u think us teachers do? Are our children all deprived and stressed and suffering poor mental health?!

Do it, don’t do it. Just stop with all the nonsense justification - my parents could never afford to take us abroad in school holidays but equally would never have taken us out of school. We had loads of fab UK holidays and days out etc - we survived! You child isn’t suffering if they don’t get on a plane on an annual basis FFS.

Flip

1 2