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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take my children out of school for one day

50 replies

Ilovehamabeads · 06/04/2014 22:08

Basically we booked a week family holiday for next year in a school half term. When we booked the company did mon-mon bookings, and as my school had a training day on the following Monday this was ok. Since we booked, they have altered their turnover day to Friday, and so the start of our holiday will now be the last day of term. It's a bloody long drive away and if we went straight after school on fri it would be about midnight before we arrived.
AIBU to ask for 1 day off for them, as the holiday is as much a half term holiday as it can possibly be, and I really don't want to miss the first day of the holiday.
The company did offer us cancellation with refund of deposit if new arrangements didnt suit but I don't want to cancel, this is a big family get together and I want to go!

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 06/04/2014 22:11

It's not unreasonable to ask but you probably won't get permission and could be fined.

wheresthelight · 06/04/2014 22:16

If the booking is Mon-Mon how are they missing the last day of term??

If the school has changed their inset day then explain that and I am sure they will agree it

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 06/04/2014 22:16

How old are your DCs? Certainly ask, I don't think you are being unreasonable at all, but the official answer may well be "no".

Depending on the ages of the DCs, I would probably just take them out of school for the one day anyway TBH.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 06/04/2014 22:17

Booking is now Fri-Fri.

Stripytop · 06/04/2014 22:20

Don't bother asking, just take them out of school. Leave a message early on the fri morning to say they wont be in. If you have good attendance usually, you won't have a problem.

deakymom · 06/04/2014 22:26

if they fine you challenge it (pay first or it will mount up) you booked appropriately they messed up

lj123 · 06/04/2014 22:28

Just don't tell them! It's 1 day!
I'd just call and say they are sick but mostly over weekend so should we back tomorrow etc.

Original poster
Ilovehamabeads · 06/04/2014 22:28

DCs are 9 and 5.
The booking was mon-mon but has been changed by the letting company to fri-fri. The first fri is the DCs last day of term.
I have never broken any school rules before. The school will definitely say no to the day off, as is the case for every school now I think, so I would expect a fine. I just don't like doing the wrong thing but at the time we booked, I wasn't..
What's better (or rather, less bad) do you think.. Being refused a day off and taking them out anyway, or not asking and just calling to say they won't be in.

OP posts:
UniS · 06/04/2014 22:33

If you close enough to your holiday location you could ....

Take kids out of school early - just after afternoon registration, then drive straight off on holiday.

Major advantages, you get the car packed with out children around, no missed school sessions. School don't have to report the session as missed if the child was present for registration.

Katz · 06/04/2014 22:34

If you don't want to break the rules, compromise. Ask the company for a discount as you won't be able to get there until Saturday.

redskyatnight · 06/04/2014 22:39

Why not just go after school or on the Saturday?

CocktailQueen · 06/04/2014 22:42

Don't bother asking. Just take them out a day early, ring in sick on Friday.

Sparklysilversequins · 06/04/2014 22:43

Fine! Sshmine! Call in sick.

Original poster
Ilovehamabeads · 06/04/2014 22:48

Thanks for replies :)
Yes, could whip them out at 1.01pm I guess, didn't think of that. That could be the solution. Thanks UniS

OP posts:
Sparklysilversequins · 06/04/2014 22:50

I'm doing that this Friday. Flight at 16.00, will be picking dd up at 1.05.

MargotLovedTom · 06/04/2014 22:57

Well if going straight after school would get you there at midnight, then taking them out at 1pm only shaves a couple of hours off. Personally I'd just take them out of school for the day, unauthorised absence, but our school is pretty laid back and there wouldn't be a fine. If they were more strict then I'd phone in sick.

shemademedoit · 06/04/2014 23:07

I'd go further than that....but then my DH says I'd often pick a lie when I could easily tell the truth Hmm ! I'd have the youngest off on Thursday, and mention to the teachers that you hoped child no 2 wouldn't get it....then call in sick for both the next day. Yes. I'd be that stressed about being challenged if I just so happened to take them both out with no prior hint on the Friday. (I'm crap at breaking rules...)

Nocomet · 06/04/2014 23:08

I'd just go and let them chase me for a reason if they can be bothered.

The whole things a farce, I do not see why I should lie or grovel to spend time with my own children.

Also it's not fair on the other pupils in the class who know full well X wasn't at the dentists, he'd gone to catch a plane.

Abbierhodes · 06/04/2014 23:21

I'd lie. No one will follow it up if their attendance is otherwise good and you say they were ill.

If you request the holiday, they will have to follow it up. They can't choose to let you off but they can choose to turn a blind eye.

Original poster
Ilovehamabeads · 06/04/2014 23:25

I couldn't call them in sick, my DD would buckle under questioning within seconds on her first day back as would I

OP posts:
EllenJanesthickerknickers · 06/04/2014 23:33

I took my DSs out for one day when the school I work at had an inset, but not theirs. It was unauthorised, as I expected, but I informed them a few weeks before and the attendance officer said I would not be fined. They have 99% attendance otherwise. I don't think they fine foe one day, it needs to be more like under 85% attendance.

NewLisaLife · 06/04/2014 23:37

Id
Phone in and say they were ill.

MargotLovedTom · 06/04/2014 23:40

Would they really be questioned about one day's absence on the first day back after having a week's half term OP? I think it'd be forgotten about by then.

MostWicked · 06/04/2014 23:43

You won't get fined for one day. Just take them out after registration.

BlackeyedSusan · 07/04/2014 00:08

give them loads of fruit on wednesday and they get "diarrhoea?" 48 hour rule?