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 can't you just go somewhere cheaper during the holiday?

You don't have to go to Cyprus, there are other places to go on holiday. And you don't have to go for two weeks, you could do a week or ten days and still get to go to the place you want to go without missing school.

We have not been fined yet, but even if they did its only 120 for one child its hardly worth worrying about imo.

melissa If you don't mind my asking how long ago was this? The fines might not have been put in place when you were doing your GCSEs I think they only started doing it in Sept 2013

My DD isn't even at school this morning

I have taken dd out twice this school year. We have been on 3 holidays since Oct but one was in half term, one was 2 weeks with one week over half term and 1 week school time, and then 1 week in term time.

Four days of school versus holiday with family. Easy. Go. Enjoy. You are lucky because you have the money to go, and to pay the fine.

I'm sure you can find a perfectly good £3700 holiday within school holidays.

The term time holidays I have been on this year have been packed with children. The holiday villages are great. I have a friend working at one at the moment, and my best friend also used to work at another. Your dcs will have a fantastic time.

A lot of people taking term time holidays atm, as tiggy said, booked them before the new rules were put in place. Next year they know that everyone will have booked them knowing the rules so they won't be lenient, unless it's exceptional circumstances you won't get permission.

You dont get permission now but that doesnt mean they will fine

I know Penelope got told off but I agree with her.

I was teaching yr 2 before I had ds and four days to a child who is doing well and usually has good attendance will make zero difference.
Children who miss one day here and there continuously are worse because they have little gaps in what they've done. One period of absence won't make any difference in the long run.

I suspect absence gets more critical as they move into secondary education.

Go OP.

Go,wouldn't give it a second thought.

Our school doesn't fine,similar LEA policy.

As for disruption get real.You get more disruption from music lessons and sporting fixtures.Our school had a sports week which the maj do buggar all in.Wish we'd booked ours for this week and the previous.

And year 3 isn't a year to worry about if your DS is doing fine imvho.Bit of a nothing year for all my 3.

you went on holiday in Cyprus this year. Your DS hasn't stopped talking about it so you want to make him happy by taking him again next year. "But I'm only taking him for 4 days". no, you;re only taking him for 4 days next year. When you come back from that, will you tell your DS he can't go abroad again or is this 4 days a year from here forward?

Best of luck sightseeing with a 2 year old by the way. I'm sure he'll love the cathedrals

want a cheap holiday? travel independently - those tour companies are totally ripping you off

Has any parent been sent to jail or fined £2500?

Well what Peter parker said really my dds loved florida one of the times I took them out 3 days at end of summer term I didnt rush to book it for the next year

Well, clearly your mum wasn't bothered about keeping the school informed, so I can see why you now have the same cavalier attitude to school attendance yourself, melissa and why you intend to do the same with your own DCS, as you stated upthread.

Oh well wouldnt say its done me any harm and you are right I would be happy for my dcs and gdcs to do the same

Ehric Not that I know of. Because the fines are so cheap relative to holiday costs I think people generally just pay them and go anyway. That why they're starting to make it even stricter.

I would have thought one of the advantages of having younger children is that they care less about what sort of holiday it is, as long as everyone is happy and having fun.

So I agree with peterparker about sightseeing for a 2-year-old - he'd probably be just as happy at Butlin's.

Nigella was just thinking that too - we usually book an apartment, flights and car for two or three weeks in school holiday time and come in cheaper than that. And that is flying from the arse end of nowhere which always bumps up flight costs.

Wonder how long it will take the holiday companies to bump up prices during term time given that parents are just going to factor in the fines.

Best of luck sightseeing with a 2 year old by the way. I'm sure he'll love the cathedrals
I've been traveling and sight-seeing with DD since she was a baby. It's been great, all around. At 3, she went with us to Italy, and was fascinated by Pompeii and yes, she enjoyed the churches full of art (baby Jesus everywhere - big hit!). She came back with an interest in Roman gods and in volcanoes, particularly, which we've been careful to nurture. (She also loved the hotel swimming pool, of course.) She's not some sort of prodigy - just a regular kid with a bit of curiosity. Small children do get something from being exposed to art and new experiences.

Don't think the 7 year old would be to interested either. As I said upthread if you want to make it educational take them on a city break, many more museums and ruins etc than in Cyprus :)