To take our kids on hol in term-time

[zozzle]

We are taking our kids out of primary school to go abroad in term-time (end of June) and have been surprised at the slightly shocked/negative reactions I have had from other friends (mums in the playground). DCs are 4 (Reception) and 8 (yr 3).

My friends seem to tow the line more than me though, and admit they don't like breaking the rules. Breaking the rules has never bothered me though if I think the rules are unreasonable!

It will be the first time we will have been abroad as a family since DC were born and it's also partly to celebrate my 40th. We have holiday'd in the Uk for the last 8 years and fancied a change this year.

We can't afford to go abroad in the school holidays and the possible £100 fine we will incur from taking the kids out of school (although DC 2 is only 4 and doesn't legally have to be in school yet - so fine will prob only be applied to DC1) will still make the hol much cheaper than going in the school holidays.

Won't the hol be an educational experience in itself for the DCs? Wouldn't do it in SATs years or exam years. It is a v. middle class school with quietly pushy parents.

I just don't get what the big deal is!

ilovesooty we are going away in sept, the end of sept, the kids will have been at school for 3wks? and we go away the 22nd of sept for a week as THAT is when dp can get time off work! ds4 will be just starting in reception in sept so will have a few weeks of settling in and half days etc and then a week off. ds1 will be in yr 9 and the others in yr 6 and yr 3. we have spoken to the school and applied for the time off and they are fine with it,they have said it woudl be nice for the children to make a diary wiht photos and a bit of info about their holiday that they can each share in class at 'show and tell' :)

Cor people on mumsnet need to chill the fuck out. My parents took me on holiday in primary school and I have carried on my education. I really don't think one week of PRIMARY (ie not as important as secondary school) is going to do much damage do you?
Stop going on about "breaking rules" and it "being detrimental to your childs education" and pull your judgy pants out of your arses. I can't even remember what I did in Year 3.
Go OP I hope you have a lovely time :)

Well I took my dc out in September. Why? It was a siblings special birthday and an opportunity for the whole extended family to get together. Kids had a fantastic time and I don't regret it. School no longer approves holidays so I wouldn't risk a fine. Although others do including a Parent Governor so I wouldn't feel guilty OP.
Also lost some sympathy with this rule when it was deemed ok to close the school for a day for a funeral. Fair enough but funeral was at 3pm. Plus many staff members didn't even know the deceased.

Not sure if someone has mentioned it butit isn't a £100 fine. You have2 kids, not sure if they can fine you for the reception one, but if the can if it is 5 days out, you can be fined 50 x 2 kids x 2 parents x5 days, that is £1000. I think usually going on holiday in the holidays could well be cheaper.

Does anyone know anyone who has actually been fined - because I don't!

I don't know anyone that's been fined, but that's because I honestly don't know anyone whose taken their kids out for a holiday during term time.

Well I was thinking about this last night (yes I am that sad )

Kids in school roughly from 9 - 3 every day which is 6 hours.

1 week off is 5 days which is 30 hours.

Therefore, if I get DD1 out of school every Friday an hour early that's pretty much a wash, when you take the actual holidays they already get into account.

Damn glad this thread is here now, that'll suit me so much better and save a logistical nightmare for me.

We took our 4 dc out for a week in Feb. It was a two week holiday but we managed to attach it to the half term.

It was a fun family holiday but it was certainly educational too. We visited the Sphinx, the pyramids, a mosque and the Cairo museum and we saw Jeremy Paxman there too. They swam daily and my middle two dc improved their swimming enough to ditch the armbands completely. They learned so much of the culture, the currency a fair few words in Arabic, and lots about coral reefs.

I couldn't give two shiny shits if anybody disapproved, we do what is best for our dc. Although incidentally my eldest two did some of their topic writing at school on Egypt and they all had lots to take in for show and tell.

I should add that most holidays of ours are camping in the UK and in holiday time. Sometimes you have to live a bit though!

The best time to take kids on holiday is outside of term times. It's cheaper by miles, and they soon catch up. Also there are no boring school teachers bending your ears about why they actually deserve six weeks summer holiday.

I'm taking my two out for 8 days in July as a celebration of finishing my studies, next year I'll be teaching full time and will have to stick to holidays then.
I'm not even gonna claim thats its educational as time will mainly be spent lounging, swimming and eating. It will however be an amazing family time at the end of a year of full on studying where the kids have had to be without quality time from me.
Yes we could of gone in the hols but its cheaper to go now and to be fair two weeks before the end of term they will be missing very little I have dutifully filled in my holiday time and been told by the head to have a lovely time.