term time holiday... argh don't know if what I want to do is right

[PrincessScrumpy]

I've always been against this but it's probably my only chance to visit my brother in Canada.

dd1 started school 2 weeks ago. Originally our plan was to go to Canada last year. We planned a 2nd baby and were going to take him/her at about 3 months old so I could breast feed on the plane and all would be good. However, this didn't go to plan and we were blessed with wonderful twin girls. Dh and I could not face a flight of 9 1/2 hours with a 3yo and twin babies. So now dd1 is 4 and dtds are 1. If we don't go to Canada before dtds are 2 then I won't be able to justify the cost of us going as it will be close to a small house deposit, plus db is planning to have a family so their currently large house won't be able to accommodate us forever. So we thought we'd go this year. However, db travels a lot for work all through north America. He will be home for some of the Easter hols and a little bit after so we are thinking about taking dd1 out of school for the week after the Easter hols.

I'm worried how the school will react as I'm new to it all and really struggling with it morally. I think the trip will be really educational (visiting glaciers, trip to Rockies etc) and we'll stay at my brother's so dd1 can do homework easily.

Sorry to ramble on. I just think I'm so close to it I can't see all the sides. Should I take her out of school or accept I won't see my brother for many years except on Skype?

I'm normally against term time holidays but to visit relatives and in reception I would go

Take her, she will have a fantastic time!

She's FOUR. What will she miss in school? Nothing.

When does dd turn 5 - she doesn't have to be in full time education until she is, and you can't be penalised for taking her out.

I think your best chance of getting it as authorised absence will be to emphasise the once-in-a-life-time-ness and not mention the price issues. Is it anyone's massive birthday, or someone getting married out there that means you must go then? Oh I thought it was.

Worst case scenario, they fine you, IIRC it is £50 per week per parent.

She'll be 5 just before we go.

In theroy we fly home on the Thursday so she could go to school Friday - missing only 4 days... she might fall asleep in class though!

God. Just go. Fantastic opportunity and she won't miss much if anything at school.

YANBU. She's only diddy and it's not for months on end like some parents insist on.

I probably would go in your shoes, but I would not say she'd be missing nothing. She'll miss phonics lessons, and she may feel a bit discombobulated when she comes back.

I would go.

I'd have a word with the headteacher and sound them out, it sounds like a fantastic opportunity and I'd take my child whether the school said yes or no but then I'm quite bolshy and the headmaster at DD2's school is scared of me.

Just go -you may not get the chance again for a long time . You will have two extra full fares to pay from next year once your twins are two. It's not worth not doing it for a week off school.

In reception, do it. I'm normally very against taking children out of school for holidays, but it's reception. I work in reception and I know the teacher I work with would make it a learning thing for all the children, we would look at a map and show where you were gong, look at the flag etc. we would probably also get you to send a postcard to the class and take pictures of interesting things to send into the class, you won't get away with it completely!

Go!!

Yanbu

Speak to the school, yes - and point out its once-in-a-lifetime nature and educational value. But I'd go anyhow, regardless of their response (and be prepared for them to be unsupportive). If there's any suggestion that she may miss out educationally, you could work on some stuff while you're away - but she'll gain so much from experiencing being on the other side of the world. It's not like you're the sort of parent who'll be pulling her out of school willy-nilly to sit on a beach in Benidorm just to escape school holiday prices. Go off and enjoy yourself!

I don't think the "she won't miss anything" argument is true as in 2 weeks she's reading really well and they've done 6 letters, 26 words to learn and numbers 1 to 10 so it seems to be a school where no day is wasted but dh and I would be happy to take work with us - we'll have the plane journey for a start.

Princess - yes you are right, and you can easily get suggestions from the teacher books to take eg ORT Phonics books.

GO. The benefits far far outweigh the small amount if lesson time she will miss. Have a wonderful time!!

Aren't they only 'legally' required to be in education from the term after their 5th birthday anyway?

Euphemia I do and I'm an ex teacher.It's a week,she's 4 and the maj of that week should be play.

What she'll experience will be more beneficial 10X over.

She won't miss anything she can't catch up with. Go, definitely.

Prairie - yes the majority is play, but in the Spring Term they'll be doing daily phonics, and daily Supported Reading at our school, as well as numeracy carpet sessions. Not anything that can't be caught up on with the parents' help in a child who picks these things up at a normal rate, mind you.

Go, taking a week or two off school for holiday is fine. Think nothing of it IMO

Most schools allow authorised absence for this sort of thing unless the child is doings sats or exams.