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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not cancel our holiday?

25 replies

Voidka · 12/09/2011 13:49

In July before the children broke up for summer we were given a calendar for the next school year. It said we would be breaking up on 28th March for Easter.

On Friday we got a note home to say this was wrong and we would break up on the 30th.

However I have already booked us a holiday and we leave on the 29th (flying so cant change it). Normally I am really anti taking the children out of school, but I feel like this isnt my fault. The school office were sucking their teeth about it when I phoned them earlier as the school has a very strict policy.

AIBU?

OP posts:

pictish · 12/09/2011 13:50

Nope you're not.

CailinDana · 12/09/2011 13:51

Of course not, it was their mistake. A couple of days missed is not going to make the slightest difference to the children.

GypsyMoth · 12/09/2011 13:51

So what's the worst that will happen? School should be more accommodating over their mistake

Just go

They will only be missing an Easter egg hunt/Disney film/celebration assembly

Andrewofgg · 12/09/2011 13:51

YANBU. Send them a copy of the earlier note and tell them you are doing it. Tell them you are, don't ask Can I.

cheekeymonkey · 12/09/2011 13:52

YANBU, it's not your fault they made a mistake. Why should you be out of pocket? It's 2 days not a week, don't think it will stop them getting into Uni.

cheekeymonkey · 12/09/2011 13:53

Oh and they ABU for sucking their teeth, sounds like a dodgy workman

PattySimcox · 12/09/2011 13:55

You are totally reasonable. Don't cancel it if it i their fault - or you can tell them that you will charge them if you have to rebook your flights

LydiaWickham · 12/09/2011 13:56

Not your fault, send a letter to the Head explaining the situation, don't say you can't afford to change the flights, say it's not possible to change the flights. Put in a photocopy of the original dates you were sent.

You won't be the only family in this situation, under normal circumstances I'm against taking DCs out of school, but this is understandable.

School secretaries always suck their teeth about such things. Doesn't mean the Head won't understand (and I'd guess the fuck up was the fault of the school secretary you spoke to, they won't want there to be ramifications for their mistake).

Birdsgottafly · 12/09/2011 13:57

They won't be following the normal school routine just before they break up anyway. I have paid alot more for holidays, to find that all mine have done is watch DVD's etc on the last two days.

Hassled · 12/09/2011 13:59

Worst case scenario is that the DCs get one day's unauthorised absence against their name in the attendance register. It has to be a fair bit more than that before anyone really cares.

catgirl1976 · 12/09/2011 13:59

yanbu. It is their cock up. I would be giving them a piece of my mind if they dared to suck their teeth after they had made an error in the first place. Perhaps they would like to pay the charges you would incur if you changed the flights?

slavetofilofax · 12/09/2011 14:03

I'm like you, and normally very anti taking children out of school in term time, even for the last couple of days.

But the school made a mistake, and you booked your holiday in good faith. Definately go.

Is there any chance the person you spoke to on the phone is responsible for the mistake, perhaps even partly, and that's why you got the reaction that you did? The realisation that the mistake has consequenses?

VikingBlood · 12/09/2011 14:04

YANBU, their fault, flights booked, end of story. I do however disagree on the comments about missing a few days of school being of little consequence, even if it's the last days before the end of term the kids should be working ( at DVDs being shown at this time of year). I think maybe you should see if the teachers can give you some worksheets or a summary of what will be missed.

mummytime · 12/09/2011 14:16

My kids primary did this once. But they were very good about everyone who already had flights booked, or in the case of one teacher her wedding booked.
I'd just take them out, it won't affect them that much. Just keep a copy of the initial dates.
If your kids are at secondary you can get them to get work from their teachers.

MissTapestry · 12/09/2011 14:20

YANBU, their mistake, not your problem.

herdingcats · 12/09/2011 14:26

I would just take them. My Ds's school once changed their holiday date by a week ,so our whole holiday was in term time. I contacted them and they said it was ok as they had changed the dates. On our return however I recieved a letter about unauthorised absense. I was furious because I copied the information to the school office,form tutor,head of year and school head. They then denied knowing we were going away . Make sure you have a reply from them agreeing. It is very difficult to get it taken off the childs record otherwise.

Lambethlil · 12/09/2011 14:29

Do not cancel. Do not ask, tell school that your children will be missing the last 2 days of school due to the change of dates.

Do not let the Office ladies boss your around. Its non of their business!!

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 12/09/2011 14:45

yanbu - their mistake so tough!!! I am sure they wont miss anything life changing!

LadyMontdore · 12/09/2011 14:50

Of course YANBU.

EightiesChick · 12/09/2011 14:51

I would send a letter, with a copy of their original letter, explaining why your DC will be missing 2 days, and ask for it to go in their file. Just as backup in case it goes down as an unauthorised absence. YANBU.

fedupofnamechanging · 12/09/2011 14:52

No one ever does anything important the day before a holiday at primary school. I would go ahead with my plans - it was their mistake, not yours. i wouldn't take any shit from them about it either.

lemonmousse · 12/09/2011 14:55

We keep any letters recieved requesting holidays in a file specifically for that purpose - these have to be kept in conjunction with the class registers for (in our LEA) 5 years - so, as EightiesChick says, make sure you put all the info and the 'whys and wherefores' into that letter. YANBU.

GrimmaTheNome · 12/09/2011 14:59

YANBU.
One year DD - and a few others - returned to school a day late because the school had changed dates but not proactively ensured we knew (it was on the website, might have been in a newsletter but certainly no letter informing us).

DD was still given a full attendance certificate that year because the school accepted it was their mistake. They didn't count it as an absence at all, let alone as an unauthorised one.

MangoMonster · 12/09/2011 14:59

Yanbu, it was their mistake and it's only a couple of days.

MamaChoo · 12/09/2011 15:33

YABU to be organised enough to have sorted your plans for next Easter

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