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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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Original poster

To think ONE holiday ONCE in term time should be allowed

201 replies

SilverStreak7 · 09/09/2013 16:02

Basically we booked to go away on a Sun Break (don't buy and newspaper but did buy for the vouchers) and only date we were given was next weekend .. We didn't think it would cause a major problem as my older two , when younger, came on two such holidays with us with no problems .. Now though Im given a letter (with a form to fill in) and letter says if permission is denied Id be liable to a fine or court action .. Some will say we have had six weeks for holidays, which is true, but Im on a limited income as only me and my boys and term time holidays are very expensive and I want them to at least have one holiday away . . This will not be a regular thing . ,probably won;t go again in term time.

To be more reasonable I have said if Homework is given I will make sure it is done and ready to be handed in on Tuesday

OP posts:

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 09/09/2013 16:48

'Well I guess you have DHs or DPs who earn megamoney so can go away anywhere during holidays .'

'A Teacher, I imagine, can well afford the over inflated holiday time holidays ..'

You, OP, have been doing more judging and being presumptuous than anyone on this thread who has just pointed out that it's illegal for children not to be in school during school termtime.

GreatNorthRoad · 09/09/2013 16:49

I meant the one about her having too many dc!

Mind you op, you missed alo of school and you're now unable to take dc on holiday. Obv there will be other factors, but a link possibly?

Also agree with the poster who said the sun holidays aren't the bargain they seem-have heard a lot of people say the total actual cost was much higher than they expected. I also know someone who's just back from one in school hols?

AnyFucker · 09/09/2013 16:49

OP, you could still have a lovely break if you went Friday straight after school and came back late Sun evening/early Mon morning

The Sun breaks are cheap and still the case if you have 2 nights instead of 4 ?

Buzzardbird · 09/09/2013 16:50

Maybe namechange OP and post the question in 'chat'? AIBU is only for those who can take being told people's opinions and don't suck up to the OP and tell them what they want to hear.
Brave though, a first post on AIBU after one day!

ouryve · 09/09/2013 16:50

.They done what they thought was right and I never fell behind in school , ,I caught up just fine and come exam time got good grades .

KellyElly · 09/09/2013 16:51

I don't see anything wrong with leaving say a week before the summer holidays to get a cheaper deal, as lets face it kids do very little them anyway. I'm not sure about once a term but if it was just a day or so and your child had a good absence record I wouldn't think that would do much harm, especially at primary level.

Buzzardbird · 09/09/2013 16:51

I would change your name to 'AllSaints'

LaurieFairyCake · 09/09/2013 16:53

Great

I did not say she had too many DC - I noted that she must have 'many' as the last time she went she took 'some' of them on holiday in 1999. I said there must be an age gap.

I would never say 4 is too many. You have read it wrong.

LtEveDallas · 09/09/2013 16:53

Silver, just lie. Call the school on Fri morning and that your children have D&V. When you get back write a letter apologising for their absence due to D&V. It's two days, they aren't going to miss anything vital

Sirzy · 09/09/2013 16:54

good plan lteve then your teaching children not only is it ok to stay off school when it suits its ok to lie aswell!

LtEveDallas · 09/09/2013 16:56

Yes, absolutely

ouryve · 09/09/2013 16:56

Brilliant idea, LtEve - that's why those of us with children with genuine chronic medical problems constantly have the EWO on our backs.

ExitPursuedByADragon · 09/09/2013 16:57

Gosh. She was chippy wasn't she.

LtEveDallas · 09/09/2013 16:57

Really? No, I don't think so.

ZingWantsCake · 09/09/2013 16:57

silver I think the very reason you asked is because you want to do the right thing, but stuck between 2 things that both benefit your kids in different ways.

if you think they (and you all as a family) will benefit far more from a holiday then go and sod the unauthorized absence.

if you think it is prudent to not miss school or only miss it with authorizied absence - there's is little precious you can do about the HT's discretion.

try and explain to him/her your reasons.

we have never taken them out without permission, but there were occasions when we would have!
but thankfully the HTs understood our reasons and granted leave of Absence!

I had to fight about about one particular day. it was granted.

then what did I see on next years attendance sheet? two days for DS2 were unauthorized - because he was ill and I fucking forgot to write a letter about it!

I was so angry with myself, but nothing happened. water under the bridge.

there. I think that is a supportive post. please calm down (says me, little miss temper-tantrums!)

CaptainSweatPants · 09/09/2013 16:58

I'd go after school Friday night & come home Monday op & just take 1 day off

LtEveDallas · 09/09/2013 16:58

Oh, that was to ouryve, not exit.

Yes, OP sounds pissed off Exit.

ExitPursuedByADragon · 09/09/2013 16:58

And to be honest I really don't care what you do.

HTH

5madthings · 09/09/2013 16:59

Has the it said not to go or just that they won't authorize it?

I just got a letter saying to go and have a nice holiday etc but it has to be officially marked as unauthorised and that there will be no repercussions. this is despite us having 'exceptional circumstances.'

Feminine · 09/09/2013 17:02

op have you researched the section you've posted in?

its a little harsher here.

But...YABU. I really don't think its cool for you to take your kids out of school for a holiday.

We have never had a holiday! My eldest is 14.

We are poor, but law abiding!

gazzalw · 09/09/2013 17:15

I actually think that every child should be given one week's holiday to encompass the entirety of their primary education (and notes on number of days taken would follow them if they move schools) - it is then up to parents to take it as/when/if required. That would seem fair really and would mean that the law-abiding ones don't feel so aggrieved. For secondary school I cannot say that there should be any such flexibility....

the problem is that some people abuse the special circumstances and this has repercussions for everyone.

For what it's worth OP, not quite in the same league but...we collected vouchers for free tickets for Chessington (we don't read The Sun either!). DW sent them off the day we'd collected the required number (so as soon as she could) and we were given our 3rd/4th choice of dates and even though she'd asked for weekend ones, "as we have school age children", they gave us weekday ones which we can't/won't use...

ghostspirit · 09/09/2013 17:17

just go. tel them they were ill. just make sure they dont tell anyone when they go back on the tuesday ;)

Sirzy · 09/09/2013 17:20

Ghost why do you think its ok to teach children to lie?

ghostspirit · 09/09/2013 17:26

because sometimes in life we need to lie.

Sirzy · 09/09/2013 17:27

that may be the case but we certainly don't need to teach children its ok to lie.

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