Taking kids out during term time for family holiday?

[NotmySundaybest]

Do any of you do this?
When we were kids we always got took out to go away. I know times have changed & obviously fines are now issued.
Just wondered if you would still take the kids out of school as paying the fine is cheaper than the extra holiday cost?

If you would do this or have how old are your kids?

Since mine have been at senior and mid way through Primary I always book when they've broke up. If I knew they deffo wasn't missing anything important I would be tempted.

And none of these "once in a lifetime" experiences happen over a weekend or school vacation?

We went to the US for the 2017 total eclipse of the sun. It was in August, luckily. Had we not we may well have travelled for this year’s, which took place in April during term time. (My dad was 70 in 2017 and 77 this year. It would have been considerably harder for him to travel, but had it been the only opportunity, too right we’d have taken DD out of school.)

I really have never been on an AI beach holiday!

So just looked. I can do a family holiday (2 adults and 2 children) to Turkey. It's 3 star for 7 nights and £644 this week. In august the same holiday is nearly over £2k. I'd take the fine.

I have recently read about someone on a cruise. They thought they were 'safe' as it was not the school holidays. Unfortunately the cruise is full of kids running around! Families can complain about paying more for holidays but people who don't want to deal with kids running riot in restaurants etc also have to pay more to go on adult only holidays!!!

We have lovely holidays too. In holiday time.

I don't see why a holiday in Greece etc should be more memorable than a slightly humbler one.

No but our holidays to Australia, Bali, Canada, Singapore….amongst others….are far more memorable to my kids than a beach holiday to Spain…or Greece

Yup, I do, and have no regrets. I don't ask or expect any catch up work, because that would be taking the oiss, and she is already ahead of many of her peers so I have no academic worries. Our holidays though are to go and see family, which she doesn't have any of except her parents here, and I wouldn't give that opportunity up so she knows she has people somewhere else

@Inspireme2

How many days will the miss?

I've told school we are going away. I don't want to have to phone school every day pretending they are both ill.

I'm hoping we won't be fined as it's two days and they have good attendance.

How can she not have been fined?

@DrCoconut

It is really unfair on separated parents

At least it's not coming out of the joint household income. That's worse.

@Mindymomo

We’ve done it but our DC are adults and although we weren’t fined

Your experience from 20+ years ago is pointless

Well Australia was a one off…..so it’s generally 9 days a years ( over 2 trips) …..I honestly don’t know anyone in our town(NW) who has been fined in primary for taking term time hols…. Everyone does it

@MrsDTucker how? If I have to pay a fine from a single income (or worse two fines to appease my ex by covering the cost I have incurred for him) that is at best equal to two fines from a joint income and potentially worse.

Honestly my children only missed school for medical appointments or if too unwell for school - they are grown up now. I was never taken out of school for holidays.
I now work in a school so still only go on holiday outside of term time.