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Original poster

Would you be honest with school regarding holiday?

67 replies

namechange085 · 02/12/2022 13:36

DD will miss two days of school after February half term due to us being on holiday and it being a lot cheaper to fly home a couple of days later.
For them two days I could just ring school and say she isn't well enough to come in or I could request the holiday knowing it will 100% be rejected and go down as unauthorised. I was planning to ring up but recently read a thread where someone got caught for some reason school rang them.
WWYD?

OP posts:

BabyFour2023 · 02/12/2022 18:57

Unfair to make your child lie. Just tell them. I’m sure they will know anyway, they aren’t daft.

Ivyblu · 02/12/2022 19:01

@tsmainsqueeze I agree. I wouldn't even mind but it's not even about the child missing education as such it's just a money making thing. Absolutely nothing to do with the kids falling behind after covid and lock down I'm surprised people still fall for that!

Whee · 02/12/2022 19:03

sheepdogdelight · 02/12/2022 14:26

Just say you are going on holiday and accept it will be unauthorised.
Much better than being caught out in a lie. Or asking your children to lie.

This is what I did. I'm a teacher and couldn't really care less when a child is on holiday. It makes me uncomfortable though when I know they've been told to lie as many children find this stressful.

Interested in this thread?

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General education

Roselilly36 · 02/12/2022 19:03

Two days is only 4 sessions, so you won’t be fined, just tell the truth, better that than being proved to be a liar, if you kids drop you in it!

Thinkbiglittleone · 02/12/2022 19:10

Yes, just own your choices and be honest.
We told our DSs school he would be one day late back due to holiday. His school is classed as a really strict one locally on attendance. But as our DS had otherwise really good attendance and we were honest (which the head thanked us for) it was fine.
They have previously given out many fines but I think they are to repeat offenders.

Notanotherone6 · 02/12/2022 19:20

Tell them honestly. You won't be fined but it won't be looked kindly upon when the kid inevitably tells them for you.

Lauren83 · 02/12/2022 19:24

My son started school in Sept, I decided to be honest and got a standard letter warning of a fine saying it was unauthorised, we didn't get the fine though, it was the last 2 days before Oct half term so I knew they would know we were lying if we said he was ill

CaptainMyCaptain · 02/12/2022 19:49

Ivyblu · 02/12/2022 19:01

These fines started long before Covid so nothing to do with it. It's not the school's idea either they are answerable to government for attendances.

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 02/12/2022 19:55

It always amazes me how much people on MN encourage one another to lie.

Just tell the truth. Your DD could well blab anyway and it’s unfair to ask her not to talk about her holiday.

Ivyblu · 02/12/2022 20:21

@CaptainMyCaptain I think you have misunderstood my post. I am well aware fines came about before covid, I also know it's the local councils that send the fines out sometimes.

CaptainMyCaptain · 02/12/2022 20:28

Ivyblu · 02/12/2022 20:21

@CaptainMyCaptain I think you have misunderstood my post. I am well aware fines came about before covid, I also know it's the local councils that send the fines out sometimes.

Well why mention covid then?

Figgygal · 02/12/2022 20:32

Tell the truth

Ivyblu · 02/12/2022 20:32

@CaptainMyCaptain have you read the full thread. It's you who has picked up the wrong end of the stick here.

Do you have something to add to OP?

CaptainMyCaptain · 02/12/2022 20:42

Ivyblu · 02/12/2022 20:32

@CaptainMyCaptain have you read the full thread. It's you who has picked up the wrong end of the stick here.

Do you have something to add to OP?

I responded to the OP earlier on in the thread. It was you that mentioned Covid.

LSSG · 02/12/2022 20:55

But why would anyone tell their child to lie? Surely teachers know people do this and understand/don't care?

TimeForMeToF1y · 02/12/2022 20:56

LimeCheesecake · 02/12/2022 16:54

I would lie about being sick. However, I’d wait until you were away and send a message saying “we are on holiday at the moment, but due to issues with flights, we won’t be able to travel back until Tuesday, the children will be back in on Wednesday.” You aren’t asking your dcs to lie about being sick, they went on holiday then came back on Tuesday/Wednesday.

Why make up a silly lie? What does that acheive, I don't understand the point of that?

NotaClue541 · 02/12/2022 20:59

Please tell the truth. Primary head here. Your kids will give you away. I had a very sad conversation with a little girl who was worried that her mummy had told her to lie to me and she didn't want to. Please don't put your kids through that. School will find out and it damages the trust - the school will wonder what else are you lying about?

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