Taking kids out of school for holiday

[Holg]

Hi,
Looking at booking a holiday for summer. My kids school breaks up on a Wednesday lunchtime, if I book to fly out the Saturday before it’s £1200 cheaper.
Kids are lower/mid primary school, I don’t think there will be much real learning going on these last few days.
So would you book it and just have them miss the last 2.5 days? How would you do this with the school? Tell them in advance knowing they’ll say no? Would the school rather you lied and called in sick? They both currently have 98%+ attendance, obviously this could change by then but Not sure if that makes a difference!
thank you!

Just be honest with the school. Nothing to be gained by lying - schools aren’t daft and siblings both being suddenly ill last few days of term would be quite the coincidence and chances are the children would say something anyway.

The price difference is crazy. Just tell the school that’s what you’re doing. They’re not missing anything in the last 2.5 days of term. I took my DC out of school for 3 days earlier this year and they didn’t bat an eyelid. I’m fairly sure your child needs to miss 10 consecutive sessions (5 days) for a fine as well, although that might differ from council to council.

Just be honest with the school. Don't ask your kids to lie.... they know what you're doing anyway.

They won't be able to authorise it but that's all they'll say.
Our headteacher usually emails to say it can't be authorised but that they understand why you are doing it so enjoy 🤷🏼‍♀️

I wouldn’t even give it a second thought - loads of people will be doing the same. Just let the school know - they won’t authorise it because they can’t but I don’t imagine they’ll be the slightest bit bothered! Our school breaks up on a Monday this year for the summer holidays!! I wonder how many kids will be in that day….

Yes just mention to school. Our school does the School reports including attendance ahead of end of summer term, so those last few days aren’t always registered properly in the attendance records afaik.

Absolutely nothing useful appears to happen on those days except tidying the classroom and messing around. The teachers know loads of kids will be out and it seems to be just play and trying to stay cool in the unbelievably hot classrooms.

Have a lovely holiday, make sure you put some of your £1200 savings to buying the class teacher and TA a nice end of term gift!

You book the holiday
You inform the school when your children will be absent
The school won’t authorise it because they aren’t allowed to, but two and a half days won’t generate a fine.

You don’t lie and say they’re ill. People can tell when you’re phoning from the beach.

Please don't lie, accept any consequences, and when on holiday please be courteous to the local people where you are going.

I would do it, inform the school and accept it will be unauthorised. I doubt you'll be fined, but even if you are it's still much cheaper.