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Original poster

Do you let your DC stay off school on the last day of a term?

128 replies

goaskmum · 12/04/2022 13:42

For example, the last day of school before the Christmas holidays? If it’s a half day and they’re just watching DVDs?

I don’t like allowing DD to do it but sometimes she asks me

OP posts:
Furrbabymama87 · 12/04/2022 17:59

No I don't. They need to know they can't just stay off for no reason. And with covid and picking up loads of viruses this year, they've had enough time off. Also, last day of term is when they do fun stuff and bring things home. They'd only be sat at home otherwise.

BogRollBOGOF · 12/04/2022 18:00

There's been a couple of times that we've signed out after afternoon regestration to get the mark and headed off for the ferry to visit relatives, because 5 hours for a 3 hour journey just isn't enough margin for delays and we did miss the sailing one year. Not without a substantial reason though.

I have occasionally given DS1 a "duvet day" in week 6 or 7 of a long term when he's been run-down/ a bit coldy, but not full on ill because he gets knackered (has ASD) and it's better to let him get more energy back to get through the last couple of weekd of term than plough on. He normally has 99% attendance.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 12/04/2022 18:11

Dd2 I kept off. She had an amazing habit of getting into trouble on the last day.
Only have dd14 now. She was off last day of summer term last year, which for some odd reason was a Monday and Sports Day.im amazed anyone went!

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cantkeepawayforever · 12/04/2022 18:24

If you do keep your child off, would you mind just being honest to the school about it? I find the insult to our intelligence shown by parents, in thinking that we might just not notice that the ‘vomiting bug’ always happens on the last day of term, deeply offensive. I always mark the register as ‘unauthorised holiday’ anyway, as the other kids quite happily dob their friends in.

JustLyra · 12/04/2022 18:27

Randomly one of our local schools closed at 11am before Easter.

Some of the school buses take 90 mins coming in from other villages.

I’m amazed the HT was apparently amazed that hardly anyone was in.

tigger1001 · 12/04/2022 18:29

Didn't let them off in primary. My eldest sometimes asks and sometimes doesn't. But mostly it's spent watching films so if he asks I tend to say yes if it's a half day.

Youngest hasn't asked and enjoys the relaxed feeling of holidays approaching but that might change.

The bus journey is 40 minutes each way - it's a long time to spend on a bus to sit watching various films in different classes for a half day.

tigger1001 · 12/04/2022 18:31

Meant to add that quite often my eldest has been either the only one in class or only a few in class. So hardly worthwhile.

BakewellGin1 · 12/04/2022 18:45

I've actually booked a pantomime this Christmas on the last day for nursery age DS as it was significantly cheaper, better times for his age and I know from oldest DS that actually in their primary school they do Christmas Assembly, Fayre and Nativity week before the last and partys are done Monday to Thursday of last week. Friday is 'dress down', 'toy day' 'dvd day'...

Oldest DS secondary age goes into school but hates it as they watch dvds all day and as he says he could netflix and chill at home instead.

PinkSyCo · 12/04/2022 18:47

No.

excelledyourself · 12/04/2022 18:47

Are we talking primary or high school?

Totally "a thing" in high school where I am.

And the board games and videos on last day was a thing when I was in primary school 28 years ago.

Films still are for my DS17. But there's very few kids there to watch them.

Ponderingwindow · 12/04/2022 18:49

I try to make sure she attends on those days especially because there tend to be more opportunities for socializing. She has academics covered, but the more relaxed times can actually be very valuable for her.

Daisy03 · 12/04/2022 18:56

I've offered my child so we could leave for a holiday a day earlier and she point blank refused, said it's a tag day and too much fun

Starlightstarbright1 · 12/04/2022 18:57

No.. my ds did once during vovid. 3/4 of his class were off. All his friends. I did partly to reduce risk as it was just before Christmas

He recently asked for a day off his friends were on a trip .. He went to school unhappily..

I do think that there is more to school than learning the subjects. The social side is important too.

OnaBegonia · 12/04/2022 19:42

No. It's a lovely, relaxed social occasion that marks the end. It adds to the class cohesiveness that children mark these moments as they grow.
seriously??
🤣🤣
Where I live the schools
shut a day early to celebrate the town fair and most kids are off the day before too.

Moancup · 12/04/2022 19:47

This is bizarre, never heard of it.

Do the kids who are allowed to miss a social last day grow up to be mumsnetters who complain about work Christmas parties and unannounced visitors?

WhereHasSpringSprungTo · 12/04/2022 20:06

I did at xmas.
They finished 12.15.
Email said dvds and allowed on phones tiktok etc providing age appropriate.
So no different to home. So i let him have day off. Younger one was at pre school so we had a rare day together went for breakfast he helped sort gifts out and went for ice cream.

Haudyourwheesht · 12/04/2022 20:10

@cantkeepawayforever

If you do keep your child off, would you mind just being honest to the school about it? I find the insult to our intelligence shown by parents, in thinking that we might just not notice that the ‘vomiting bug’ always happens on the last day of term, deeply offensive. I always mark the register as ‘unauthorised holiday’ anyway, as the other kids quite happily dob their friends in.

I really wouldn't take it so personally if I were you.

angelsandinsects · 12/04/2022 20:17

I have done this from time to time when the DC were in primary school. I always thought it was cheeky that the school finished at 1.30 so that they got their attendance mark but the teachers didn't actually do any teaching for that afternoon and then I began to realise that for the last couple of days of any term and the last week of the summer term they had longer play times than usual and watched a film or CBeebies or, occasionally, had "colouring in competitions".

My DC were the sort of kids who were very rarely ill so it wasn't as if they'd missed any learning and had to catch up. Actually, even if they did that opportunity wasn't provided to them so it wouldn't have made any difference.
A side effect of this was that they weren't eligible for the 100% attendance awards which I also hated.

angelsandinsects · 12/04/2022 20:25

@cantkeepawayforever I always double checked what the plan for the last day was with the teachers/headteacher. On one occasion, I did change our plans and send them in as the non-work day was slightly more imaginative and so something I supported.
When DC1 was in Yr1, she missed the last day of the Easter Term as it was going to be a long playtime/film day and the teacher located me in the playground after SATs to say that they were going to have a film day on the Thursday (two days later) and she knew that DD disliked films so I might prefer to do something else with DD. A quick phone call to my boss and I planned a lovely day out for DD and I.

AmberGer · 12/04/2022 20:35

My DS has missed the last half day of high school (usually at Christmas). If they finished at usual time he would be there but as they decide, for whatever reason, to finish at midday it causes us problems. Firstly, the school buses don't run if it's a half day closure.
Secondly, the school is almost 4 miles from where we live, my DS is disabled, he can't walk very far and last year I couldn't afford the taxi fare home so I didn't send him in.

PAFMO · 12/04/2022 20:37

@goaskmum

For example, the last day of school before the Christmas holidays? If it’s a half day and they’re just watching DVDs?

I don’t like allowing DD to do it but sometimes she asks me

No, because it's the best day of all. I'd be concerned (as both a teacher and a parent) if a child didn't want to go on the last day.
bigred22 · 12/04/2022 20:38

I had no idea this was a "thing" but no, mine will be going

DanglingMod · 12/04/2022 20:39

@WhereHasSpringSprungTo

I did at xmas. They finished 12.15. Email said dvds and allowed on phones tiktok etc providing age appropriate. So no different to home. So i let him have day off. Younger one was at pre school so we had a rare day together went for breakfast he helped sort gifts out and went for ice cream.
School emailed to say they were letting students on their phones and TikTok??? Genuinely flabbergasted at that. Zero tolerance on phones at my school for obvious safeguarding reasons.
JustLyra · 12/04/2022 20:41

@WhereHasSpringSprungTo

I did at xmas. They finished 12.15. Email said dvds and allowed on phones tiktok etc providing age appropriate. So no different to home. So i let him have day off. Younger one was at pre school so we had a rare day together went for breakfast he helped sort gifts out and went for ice cream.
If phones were allowed mine would definitely be off. No chance one class teacher can keep an eye on what is going on on multiple phones.
Cocopogo · 12/04/2022 20:42

I don’t however I resent paying bus fares for half days of this nonsense when I’m barely making ends meet

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