To take DS out of school for 4 days next year?

[The3Bears]

We came back from our family summer holiday last Sunday, 2 weeks in Cyprus at the Holiday village and we absolutely loved it so want to book again asap while we can benefit from the free child place as ds2 is 2 next year so we will have to pay for him too. We went on the 24th May this year and our holiday cost a fortune, no free child place and £1600pp aswell as our wedding in Cyprus on top of this
So we had a look and it's over £1000 cheaper to leave on Thurs the 28th May next year and a free child space but ds1 whose 7 and will start Juniors next year will miss 4-5 days off school and I'm unsure wether to book. We've never had a holiday in term time before and his attendance is great, he's doing really well with all his work and with how much everything cost this year we'd be unable to pay extra to go on the 24th this year so would have to miss out
IABU if i book this holiday as I'm feeling really unsure about it all and would like some advice as to what you would all do?
TIA

squirrelled, this has already been suggested by lots of PP.

OP has her heart set on Cyprus during term-time.

Nope just pointing it that taking the odd week out during 14 years of schooling doesn't equal educational doom.

Would also point out that several police families attend our school and all that I know have taken their kids out.

It's not to get a reward, marmalade.

And no-one is saying don't have a holiday. Just not a holiday in term time.

sorry retro i really dont see what having a degree or being in the police has to do with anything

Envious and resentful about the figures mentioned for the OP's holiday. Every time someone spouts that someone is 'entitled', it's invariably thhe tedious sackcloth and ashes routine that is trotted out on here whenever someone mentions spending more than 50p on anything.

Or better still, officer, why not write to Michael Gove, who is responsible for these things, if you want to complain?

I know it's not to get a reward, I am using hyperbole. What I mean is that you won't be thought of as a better parent by ANYONE for denying your family a holiday to keep the school happy.

Well I don't see what people who question authority or those who haven't done well at school (both which have been cited as reasons against the odd term time holidays) have to do with the subject either.

Parents who have kids with otherwise good attendance who are doing fine at school are not the same people who consistently truant so we can quit with the merging of both groups.

shady, you're being ridiculous.

The OP brought up the cost of the holiday by way of claiming that she couldn't afford to go at any other time.

Other PP have suggested £3700 is enough to go during school holidays and questioned whether she has looked hard enough for an alternative within that budget.

IIRC, the only poster who has used the word "entitled" is whoever suggested the OP transfer her children to private school so she could take as much time off as she wants.

you won't be thought of as a better parent by ANYONE for denying your family a holiday

No-one is suggesting denying your family a holiday. Just not in school time.

Of course the school will frown on it, thats their job...go and have a wonderful holiday....

I do it every year too Heels. Our school isn't that bothered. It's very small, they don't have fines here, they're very flexible. They also pretty much stop all academic work for all of December and from about now for summer (we're in Scotland, so finish in a few weeks anyway).

Absolutely agree that you need to use your own judgement.

It's mad in here today - taking your kids out of school for four days being seen as revolutionary, and skimmed milk with cereal being the work of the devil . . . I'm just waiting on the Daily Mail sad face story about the woman whose kid couldn't use the loo in SpecSavers to lighten things up . . .

Don't want a medal. But if you choose to be part of a community then you should live by its rules unless there is a very good reason. My kids' school is generally so very reasonable, flexible, and has kept a creative and child-centred ethos even in these ridiculously pressurised times. I rather think the least we can do is show up.

And the OP doesn't have to forfeit anything, she has plenty of options available to her within her budget.

Never understand these threads. You weren't asking if you were BU, you were seeking justification - you got a bit of it but you also got some disagreements. You were going to do it anyway. Pointless.

We need a new forum "IANBUEAWM aka I am not being unreasonable, everyone agree with me"

OfficerVanHalen

Totally agree with every word.

"It's a big wooden cross but you have to provide your own nails."

Arf!

"Just not in school time."

Bollocks, again. DS's friend's mum works for the ambulance service and her annual leave is dictated to her by the NHS (eye roll) This year, her extended 2 week leave falls NOW. She has been denied five days by the school, to tie in with her DH's leave. So they have no holiday, potentially, until 2016, as next year, her extended leave is in April term time. Fuck that; I'd be off.

'I feel that it sets your stall out as a parent, that having a jolly is more important than education. And that attitude and its effects will come home to roost later in their education'

Oh what absolute bullshit. Sanctimonious, patronising claptrap. FFS. Like I said my parents took us out every year for 3 weeks. We got holidays and experiences we never could have afforded otherwise. We spent wonderful time together as a family.
I was NEVER under any illusion about how important they regarded education to be. I saw it in the time they spent doing op homework with us every evening of the 8 years we were in primary school. The extensive discussions about secondary schools and university courses ,the attendance at every parent meeting by both of them, the participation in PTAs and school governance and political lobbying on behalf of the schools interest.
Education is important but 100% attendance is not. Sometimes it is worth sacrificing a bit of that attendance in order to give your children other experiences.
OP book the holiday. I would in a heartbeat.

There is a good reason,it's a shit rule used by a government who want to tackle regular truancy by penalising other families in order not to spend money on tackling the problem properly.Pretty much like the lunch box police and ridiculous free school meal policy.

Yes I will be voting accordingly too next election.

What precisely is your beef about it, Rhonda? I feel strongly that parents who are otherwise responsible about their children's education and welfare should occasionally be able to exercise their own discretion in these matters. It's hardly Crime of the Century, and I think these Cromwellian types should get a bit of perspective.

IME missing time off school does matter. Dd is in yr3 and had 2 days off sick and missed out on learning meaning she couldn't do her homework properly. The teacher had to spend separate time with her going over what she had missed. Fine, because she had been genuinely ill, not so fine if someone has chosen to miss school.

Personally I would also be worried that if they have a long period of illness combined with the 3 days that you get a visit from the EWO. I wouldn't want to have to justify a holiday to them.

Also does your ds want to miss school. We suggested taking a Friday afternoon off before Easter and both dc (yr3 and yr1) we're horrified and made the decision that they would rather be at school with their mates than make the most of a weekend in centre parcs

The problem with finding another holiday, within budget, in school holidays, is that that holiday would be cheaper in term time too.

There is a persistent feeling of being ripped off which spoils the holiday somewhat.

If consider paying £3000 for a holiday in Cyprus in school holidays, I can then see that it would only cost me £2000 in term time.

A holiday in UK which would be £2000 in school hols might only cost £1200 in term time.

I'm always going to choose the cheaper option.