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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to consider taking my child out of school for a holiday?

24 replies

firefly78 · 29/04/2014 20:36

we were going to go abroad this weekend and take our 6 year old daughter out of school for 2 days. But is it worth the risk? how much trouble will we be in with the school? do we say what we are doing or pretend shes ill which doesn't seem a great plan!!

OP posts:
Joules68 · 29/04/2014 20:37

Haven't you just had 2 weeks off school?

Original poster
firefly78 · 29/04/2014 20:39

yes but prices about 6 times as much during school holidays.

OP posts:
candycoatedwaterdrops · 29/04/2014 20:40

You won't be in trouble but you will have to pay a fine.

5madthings · 29/04/2014 20:42

She may not get a fine, my local authority only fine for five or more days and if you have poor attendance already.

tripecity · 29/04/2014 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

whitewitchofnarnia · 29/04/2014 20:42

Just do it. Not everyone can afford to just take have a holiday during the school holidays. If you do get fined it will cost less than if you went in the school holidays proberly.

Xihha · 29/04/2014 20:43

yabu, you've just had Easter holidays and it's not long til half term.

Don't pretend she's ill, teaching children to lie is a bad idea and she's 6, she will go back to school and mention something that gives it away anyway.

mummy1973 · 29/04/2014 20:46

Go but don't lie.

Shockers · 29/04/2014 20:50

I'm taking DS out of school for a week in June. I do it every year. He doesn't have any other time off as he's (thankfully) very healthy. I would never lie to school as I think that's an awful lesson to teach children. I prefer to be upfront and accept any consequences. DS always catches up on the work he's missed afterwards.

Charley50 · 29/04/2014 20:53

Just do it. I did it.

WeeClype · 29/04/2014 20:57

I'm taking mine out for 2 weeks in June, it's the last 2 weeks before the school breaks up so I know he's only missing watching dvd's and sorting the classroom out I'm sure others may think different, I'm also in Scotland where we don't have fines.

PenguinBear · 29/04/2014 21:02

I really don't see it as a problem. I'm a teacher and would love to take my 4 out for a week as we cannot afford a decent holiday during the actual holidays. if I could I would and think children can learn so many life experiences from a week away.
Go and have a great time (but don't lie to the school!)

QueMierda · 29/04/2014 21:04

Go for it!

WooWooOwl · 29/04/2014 21:04

If she's 6, has she got SATs coming up?

I don't entirely agree with SATs, but whatever the rights and wrongs of them, they ex oils, and I think it would be incredibly selfish to deliberately make it harder for the school to get their deserved results because of an absence for a holiday.

Apart from that, I don't agree with term time holidays anyway. You have plenty of other opportunity to have family time, you don't need to go on an expensive holiday for it, and if you can't afford even a cheap holiday in school holiday time then save up and do it next year.

You definitely shouldn't expect your child to lie. She spends a lot of time at school and her school and teachers are an important part of her little world. Belittling that by sending the message that they aren't worthy of the truth will not be a positive thing for your dd, no matter how fabulous a holiday you have.

moominmarvellous · 29/04/2014 21:05

Why bother to ask on here and get a million votes for and against.

Do what you want to do.

soverylucky · 29/04/2014 21:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
firefly78 · 29/04/2014 21:13

thank you. no we wouldnt lie which is why I said that wouldn't be a great plan.

OP posts:
Original poster
firefly78 · 29/04/2014 21:13

shes in year 1 so sats arent till next year.

OP posts:
Original poster
firefly78 · 29/04/2014 21:16

woowoo owl I would be interested to know where these cheap holidays in the school holidays are as in this country or abroad none are as cheap as a holiday in term time. We both work and would like and need a holiday. not been abroad for 5 years. Course we could be mean and not take her but that really wouldn't be very nice would it?

OP posts:
mummymeister · 29/04/2014 21:30

the fines are £60 per parent per child per holiday. so that's £120 to take her out. some LEA's don't fine until its 5 days, 10 days, 5 days per term, etc each have their own rules. you will have to fill in a request for absence form at school. if you can make a good case you might be given authorised leave. if you don't and its marked as unauthorised then whether or not you are fined is down to the schools and your LEA's own policy. be honest though but factor in the £120 fine into your holiday costs. chances are you might get away with it but just depends - postcode lottery and that's the problem with the legislation.

Icantstopeatinglol · 29/04/2014 21:37

I'm taking my 6yr old ds out for 1 week in July. Be honest with the scho though, that's what my ds school has been pushing for the most. They want to know where all the children are.
I checked with them and they said it would go down as unauthorised but we wouldn't be fined. The secretary actually said to go for it, I don't think my ds school agrees with the fines.
If it was an important time of year or I thought my ds was struggling then I wouldn't but actually my dsis has been quite stressed at school so I think a week relaxing and having fun with his ds will do him a world of good Smile

Icantstopeatinglol · 29/04/2014 21:38

ds has been quite stressed

Icantstopeatinglol · 29/04/2014 21:39

Jeez didn't mean to shout that ha! Grin

wobblyweebles · 29/04/2014 22:48

I am doing so right this minute, but we are not in the UK school system :-)

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