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

But optional surely they could do them any time(like any non statutory assessment).Must be what our school does as plenty of children go on holiday,have time off for fixtures,courses etc with the head's blessing.

melissa your post about being stuck in a tent is vile as are your insinuations about children missing out if they don't circumnavigate the globe.

You have been fortunate. Others simply cannot afford foreign travel, during or outside term time.

Sort it out.

It doesn't say it's more important, it just says that a work life balance is important.

Somewhere along the line you have to remember lessons to learn and achieve. Missing 20 hours is not a big deal.

Yeah rhonda, stick it to the man….

Just checked the school dates for next year and there is an inset day on Monday the 9th June so therefore ds would only miss 3 days.

Bears, your repeated posting here is bollocks. You don't want people's input. You want to be told you're right.
It's boring and disingenuous.
You do what you want to do and let your children grow up believing that they can just do what they want all the time.
Good luck to you

Excellent. I would book it right this second if I were you .

Jackshit - I have done most of my travelling so far on a sub 30k income as Im still training. I am able to go so frequently as I go within term time its affordable to me.

Since levels are being scrapped from Sept anyway it's difficult to see what value an optional SAT next year is going to have. Not that they have any value now anyway.

If it's only 3 days I would just go OP. It's not really that big a deal. Like a previous poster said, this policy is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, except with the sledge hammer aimed in the wrong place.

Never, ever ask advice on flauting Gove's rules on Mumsnet, OP. Just go, if you can justify it to yourself. You don't need the approval of this lot.

It's quite sweet that so many are under Gove's spell, though; this new rule isn't for the benefit of your wunderkind. It's a money-making exercise and another way of making sure that the less rich amongst us don't get to enjoy the same privileges in life as the wealthy, who will either be able to afford holidays in schools breaks or to pay the fines.

Go. You DO have a right to a holiday, despite what this lot say.

It's a money-making exercise and another way of making sure that the less rich amongst us don't get to enjoy the same privileges in life as the wealthy, who will either be able to afford holidays in schools breaks or to pay the fines.

I agree with this (though it clearly doesn't apply to the OP).

Melissa, you are quite terrifying.

Yeah rhonda, stick it to the man….

Just do it bears.

I've done it almost every year.

I've not been fined, though I've been prepared to pay it. My kids education hasn't suffered. I haven't lied to the school. I don't need to give reasons or justify it. I don't discuss it in the playground.

The only thing you seriously need to consider (other than the fine) is what your kids might miss out on in terms of school events/activities. I'm not doing it next year because my dd will be in yr 6, there will be a lot going on for her and I don't want her to miss any of her last year.

Apotnoodle, I am allowed to argue my point as many of you have done on here! Maybe I should just stay quiet then and let you all be rude to me as you have done. I asked for people opinions and I gave reasons for booking then back hardly asking for people to say your right am I?!?

It says says nothing about my teaching, it shows a healthy attitude to 4 days off school. 4 days in 2340 spent (on average) at school in your whole life. Hardly a big deal is it.

My head honestly would agree with this attitude, sadly the LA don't and their policies have to be abided by. 10 days authorised gave plenty of of leeway for pupils, parents and head teachers.

It's quite sweet that so many are under Gove's spell, though

Don't be patronising, marmalade. If schools don't follow the DfE's rules, they get shafted by Ofsted.

I would much prefer not to have to listen to parents' excuses about why their DC have been absent without a good reason. It's the most boring part of my job. But, like most people who work in a state schools and have a job description, I have to do what I'm directed to do or get the sack.

How many times do I have to say Ive paid alot more to go in half term, last year, the year before etc it is only next year that we would struggle to pay over £5000 for the same holiday 3 days later! And we are not rich by any means we will be cutting back a lot this year as we have done in previous years so our children can have a lovely summer holiday that they will remember.

Ten days authorised was never a right' though penelope. It was always at the discretion of the head.

At least it seems your HT understands that he / she has to follow the LA procedures. Still interested to know whether your head would approve of you advising one of the children you teach to go on an unauthorised holiday - in practice, rather than in theory.

OP, how do you know the 2-year-old will remember the holiday?

3Bears, don't let them make you defensive. You don't need to justify your decision. You asked for opinions, you've heard ones from both camps, and you can do what feels right to you, for your family. YANBU.

yes the 2 year old probably won't remember the holiday SuburbanRhonda but my 8 year old would.

Do it.
And enjoy your holiday.

bears. Stop posting and start booking.

I know a couple of heads that are quite happy to tell parents that they think the new rules are total bollocks and that although their hands might be tied they would advise parents to go anyway.

I'm not saying it was a 'right', just that it gave leeway. My views on the subject are are known to her. Luckily I haven't had to advise parents as they make their own own decisions. I have had frantic emails from parents about needing time off for appointments, funerals etc and they think they could be fined. I reassure them that a funeral is always more important than school.