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

Why not just go somewhere you can afford without taking doc out of school?

No he just thinks its abit crazy how mad your all getting over this, I honestly didn't think 4 days off school would get people this worked up fair enough if i said i was pulling him out for 2 weeks, but for days really!?!

Because it is disruptive to schools, teachers and other pupils.

The OPs holiday won't be at the end of term it'll be the week before half term. Not sure about other schools but ours does nothing special the week before half term it's just regular school.

Y

You want to be entitled?? Then save those holiday pounds so you can afford to send your child to a private school. Longer holidays, time off whenever you want it AND your child still gets better results than most state school children. Works for us!

I am quite strict when it comes to dd being off school she only had 3days off lastyear, BUT seriously it's 4days! Your dc won't miss much in that timeframe and will not remember those four days off school. However your dc will remember an amazing family holiday!

Who cares what strangers think op! If you want to book the holiday book it. I would.

I think a few days off school to go on a family holiday is fine at that age. If it's the only way you can afford to take them way then go for it I say. They will get some lovely lasting memories of a very special time together as a family. I think that's just as important at that age.

What a shame if your child gets chicken pox or d & v for those days ??.

Just do it...we've taken our daughter out for the last 3 years, for 2 weeks. She is still in the highest maths and English groups in school and thriving.

The school residential this year was 4 days, which she went on....you can make your holiday educational.

It's not about what strangers think, my2 (leaving aside the fact that the OP clearly does care what strangers on the internet think otherwise she wouldn't have asked).

It's about what the head teacher thinks and whether the OP is happy to go against rules that are there for everyone, whether you agree with them or not.

Genuine question for those advocating lying to the school about the reason for the absence (and, presumably, getting your child to collude in the lie for the sake of consistency), how would you feel if the head teacher lied to you about your child?

Dizzy, the OP has £3700 to spend on the family holiday.

I'm not sure that counts as "not being able to afford" an alternative holiday taken during any of the other 39 weeks school holiday.

Just go!

As a teacher, missing 4 days (20hours) of of an entire childhood of education will make absolutely No difference whatsoever. He will remember the fun he had in Cyprus more than the lessons he sat sat through.

penelope, I don't think school is about remembering individual lessons, is it?

Oh term time holidays are one of those flash points on MN. I never understood it tbh. But then I am in Ireland and it is quite common here. My parents used to take us out for three weeks every June when we were in primary. I finished school with the best Leaving Cert in the school. Myself and my two sisters all have degrees and further professional qualifications. So dont think it did us any harm, and we got lovely holidays that are still some of my best memories.
When DD was 5 and in Junior Infants we went to Italy in June. I spoke to her teacher before we left and she was fine with it. Said that the experience of a holiday was educational in itself. I ordered to take some school work with us but she said it wasn't necessary. It wasn't the cost that put me off going later but the heat. My kids can't stick heat and nor can I so a holiday in Italy in July would not be an enjoyable experience for us and Cyprus would be unbearable.
I have a couple of primary school teacher friends and they have said he same thing about term time holidays not being a big deal. That travel and new experiences are good for children and these benefits outweigh wht they miss.
We haven't taken term time holidays since (save a day or two for family weddings) but we are going to Florida in a couple of years. We will go over Oct mid term but will take a few days either side of it as well.
If I were you OP I would book the holiday. It's not going to have a negative impact on your child missing 4 days in school. Family holidays are important.

I think it's safe to say if the OP is willing to take her DC out once she'll do it again in later years.

Lots of people have more than 1 child over 2 and part of having children is having to pay for them. Still don't get how it's costing you so much for 2 weeks in Cyprus with 2 kids and 2 adults. You could go somewhere like Spain for much less.

What do you mean by the school frowning? I think there's so much worse the a child can do (disruptive etc), a few days absence isn't going to rate for much frowning.

No he just thinks its abit crazy how mad your all getting over this, I honestly didn't think 4 days off school would get people this worked up fair enough if i said i was pulling him out for 2 weeks, but for days really!?!

You were the one who posted looking for universal approval opinions

laymedown, no-one's saying family holidays aren't important or that children don't build memories on holiday. The question the OP actually asked was whether she is BU to take her child out of school to have this holiday and build memories.

Like dietcoke, I'm struggling to understand why the OP is unable to find an alternative holiday within a budget of £3700 that could be taken in the 39 weeks of school holiday.

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.

penelope, is that the rule in your own school, and would your head teacher be happy for you to encourage a child on your own class to take a term-time holiday?

Penelope if you are really a teacher, I think that is really shoddy advice you've just given.

£3700 would easily buy you a decent non term-time holiday . Maybe not there but cut your cloth accordingly. If you a have a 2 week half term surely it could still overlap with that.

3.7K for a holiday?! Parallel universe or what!

Holidays aren't essential for survival y'know and with a plush wedding in the same year you sound a wee bit entitled.

penelope If what you're saying is that a child won't learn anything of use in 20 hours of education I think that says a lot about your teaching.

dietcoke