Would you allow your year 6 child, miss the last two days of school, to go on a fab holiday ?

[JennyTals]

I feel so bad at the thought of dc missing the last 2 days
Esp as dc will be leaving the school

Listen to your child, he's not a baby and if he's happy that's great.

Depends on the child.
DD would not have wanted to and would have been very upset but DS wouldn't have cared

The fact that the majority of posters have said that they were upset they missed the end of a school chapter, that they remember that many years later, would surely mean that it’s not a good idea.

There won’t ever be another last day at primary school. It’s a big change and a rite of passage to the next stage.

The cruise will be available later, or next year. Cruises really don’t give you the opportunity to see very much of a country, so it’s not going to be a great cultural experience anyway. Certainly not a profound educational experience.

Yes, without hesitation. They are 6 years old. Holidays are healthy and educational, too (probably more beneficial than being in school at that age, especially on the last 2 days).

No way. The child has been in the school for 7 years and is missing the best day (last day), what an anti-climax when they leave in the Wednesday two days before everyone else. I’m mid 40s and can remember my last day of primary school. The whole school made an archway and we ran through it in the Churchyard and came out to cheers and singing with our shirts signed. It was a lovely summers day.

Same with my own children. It was a big deal. Different school, but they still did the archway thing.

Aww no the last few days of yr6 were so lovely for my two, I wouldn’t want them to miss it, they did all sorts of nice stuff.

Yr 6, not 6 years old. Perhaps you aren’t in the UK.

No, if it was the last couple of days of year 5 I might think differently.

Yep. Sad I know.

Think it’s unfair to ask him he knows what you want him to say and may not fully appreciate what he is missing.

I agree. This is way over the top. I think trying to induce DC to be upset is almost abusive. Ours had a big screen playing photos of their school days since reception with sad music to accompany it. Very, very odd.

The sad music and old photos are giving funeral vibes

im so torn even with almost 400 votes it’s almost a 50/50 split
i suppose if I do go on a cruise next summer I can book early
and we would still get a holiday this year

so torn
literally 50/50

No my DS is in year 6 in the loveliest school and they make that whole leaving thing really special, he wouldn't want to miss it and nor would I.
(Was actually invited on a paid for short break holiday abroad by a family member and declined because of this!)

No, the last couple days were really lovely for them and part of the transition. The leaver’s assembly on the last day was probably one of the most emotional and touching things I’ve experienced with her at school so far. They made it really special for them. A holiday is a holiday, even a really good one, though sorry definitely wouldn’t miss it if it’s just a cruise. It can always be planned around another time. I’d personally rather miss out time in Y7 if I had to choose.

I asked my now Yr7 DS this morning on our drive to school, and he said no, he would not have wanted to miss any of it.
This is of course, somewhat skewed as he remembers everything they did over that last week.

Ooops! Yes, of course. I would still taken them on the holiday, though.

DS did actually miss the last 3 days of Y5 for a holiday

I think your “varies by the child” is the key. For us, DC1 missing it would have been a lifelong regret that some here describe. Whereas DC2 not at all, they walked out skipping while the ones next to them were sobbing their hearts out.

The only thing I’d be wary of is that asking them doesn’t mean you’ll get the right answer. They don’t necessarily understand the impact themselves ahead of time. So you need to think about it yourself as an adult and guide them. Is it a tight knit class? Do they have some very close friends they might not see much again? Do you know what the scheduling typically looks like for your particular school (ie exactly what they’ll miss)?

When I was their age I wouldn't have wanted to go. Day before last day we had a trip to a theme park, last day we had a party and disco. Very fun, very how amazing you are isn't it brilliant you're off to senior school.

If your DC are happy to miss it, and they're making this weird somber thing about it I'd go on holiday!

Also you have a few years ahead of you where your idea of a good time and theirs is likely to massively diverge. Many 11-14 year old would rather sit in a field with their mates than go on a (to you) dream holiday in the south of France with their mum and dad. They get through this by about 16 and appreciate lovely holidays again but being away with a sulky young teen with FOMO is no fun for anyone! .

If your DC wants to go on the holiday I would go. I'm not usually one to advocate term time holidays but let's be honest, nothing important happens in the last few days of term at primary school anyway and in year 6 it's not like they're inconveniencing the teacher or the rest of the class by having to catch up on stuff later since they're not going back.
Some DC obviously want to be there for leavers' assembly and all that kind of thing I suppose in which case I'd be guided by them, but mine would certainly rather have had a nice holiday. My children were all champing at the bit to move on by the time they'd finished Sats anyway and weren't particularly bothered by all the "leaving" stuff. The last half term was a bit of a waste of time really, apart from the transition days to secondary which should be over well before your planned holiday. I'd go with your DC's wishes on this occasion.

When my DC left primary I thought it was way over the top, sob fest etc. It was only afterwards I realised how important it was for them to mark the ending and to really feel the emotion of leaving primary. I think it really helped them to draw a line under it and get a good start in secondary.

I don’t recognise these depictions of sobfests, my kids had a water fight and a party.

For my child who had been bullied and had a miserable time at primary school the emotion she felt walking out of the gate knowing she never had to go back was relief. She could have done it any day. No ceremony needed.

I cried for 2 days in 1983! 😀