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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think its fine to take a reception child out of school this Friday.

88 replies

ReallyTired · 09/07/2014 10:59

My neighbour's son was five years old last week. Legally he does not have to be in school. There is no school tomorrow and my neighbour is planning to take him out of school on Friday and take a mini holiday.

I feel that the school doesn't have a leg to stand on if the teachers are striking tomorrow. The poor kid is utterly shattered and I think a short holiday will do him the world of good. I would take my daughter on Friday out if I didn't have an older child.

OP posts:
EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 09/07/2014 11:00

Legally he does have to be in school since he's 5, but I don't have an issue with taking time off for a good reason.

MrsGoslingWannabe · 09/07/2014 11:00

YANBU

Littlefish · 09/07/2014 11:00

Please don't link the Teachers strike with taking a child out for a day. The two issues are completely unrelated.

Heels99 · 09/07/2014 11:02

If he is shattered, won't he be getting a break on the Thursday anyway? Depends whee they are going on the mini holiday. She could also be fined.

MrsGoslingWannabe · 09/07/2014 11:02

Why Littlefish? There's less than a fortnight left and they decide to strike... again.

momb · 09/07/2014 11:03

Littlefish: as far as a 5 year old is concerned it is exactly the same. The reasons and causes are significantly different (no need to debate them on this thread) but the experience of the child is identical.

Hoppinggreen · 09/07/2014 11:04

Well you might think its fine but you aren't the one issuing the penalty noticed.
The school can fine her for this, whether they do is another matter.

MyFairyKing · 09/07/2014 11:06

I'm sure your "friend" will do it anyway.

Gileswithachainsaw · 09/07/2014 11:12

The strike is nothing to do with it.

It's approaching end of term and is all "wind down" time anyway. If he's shattered a little holiday will do him the world of good.

Be a billion posters now banging on how U it is but I think she should be able to.

Mrsjayy · 09/07/2014 11:12

Its not fine to do it really but im sure you she will do it any way comparing teachers strike is a low blow teachers want to work they dont want to strike they feel they have too so they are heard school teacher s are not childminders

memememum · 09/07/2014 11:13

Ehricloves - I think that legally they have to be in school the term after their 5th birthday rather than just when they are 5.

ginnybag · 09/07/2014 11:14

I'd love for someone to tell me why they are 'completely different', when the net result is identical for the child?

It isn't considered acceptable for a five year old to miss a single day of school for any reason other than illness. That's made clear from the ability of the LEA to issue a fine.

Why, then, is it not the responsibility of the LEA - note, NOT the striking teaching staff - to maintain school opening as normal on Thursday.

I understand why the teachers are striking, and I support it, but the changes to acceptable time off this year and the use of financial punishments does open up a new field which leads to cases like this, where there's a clear gap in the logic.

Because what the LEA is now saying is this:

Child MUST NOT miss any sessions of school... absolutely not. In fact, so much not that we'll punish you if that happens. Yes, we'll take you to court, if needs be, and charge you.

Oh, except then.... THOSE sessions are obviously different.

Tell me how?

HedgehogHairbrush · 09/07/2014 11:14

i didn't think a fine could be issued until you miss 5 days ie 10 sessions?

Mrsjayy · 09/07/2014 11:14

Fwiw 7 have no qualms at taking kids out last few days of term people just need to realise its not fine though parents do it because it suits them

EarthWindFire · 09/07/2014 11:15

Surely they are on school holidays soon anyway so why not wait until then.

bughunt · 09/07/2014 11:15

Yawn. Just do it.

BreconBeBuggered · 09/07/2014 11:17

I'm sure the little boy won't be harmed by his one-day absence. Is that what you meant? The strike will have no bearing on whether or not his parents end up with a fine, so if a fine is imposed, bringing up the enforced closure of the school will be a waste of breath.

Littlefish · 09/07/2014 11:17

Whether a 5 year old thinks they are the same or not is not the issue. ReallyTired is not a 5 year old.

deakymom · 09/07/2014 11:21

its the term AFTER the 5th birthday you have to take them to school or home school

Original poster
ReallyTired · 09/07/2014 11:21

It becomes complusory to send a child the term AFTER they are five. A child with a June birthday does not have to attend school until September (year 1) The little boy's parents won't be fined.

I think its a good idea.

OP posts:
Idontseeanyicegiants · 09/07/2014 11:22

I did similar with my older 2 just before last Christmas, a combination of utter tiredness at the end of a busy term and the previous week of horrendous colds led me to take them out of school for the last 2 days before they broke up. Granted it was so they could stay in bed not go on holiday but I would have done that too.
The years work is pretty much done by then and most of the schools break up next week. No hesitation here Smile

HedgehogHairbrush · 09/07/2014 11:23

I'm the most conventional, line-toeing, obedient citizen type-person ever BUT I'm dreading my DC starting school as I do not want this level of decision-making on my behalf regarding the welfare of my child.

If my child was exhausted and we wanted a break, I would do what I felt best and go. Just as we do atm. In general, my DC attend preschool and I attend work and we all have very good attendance. However, on odd occasions like a friend or family member's wedding, or to accompany my DH on a work trip, or because we're really run down and need to stay at home in pjs, I will inform all the places we're meant to be and negotiate time off and to make up what's missed. It works absolutely fine and hasn't resulted in any issues for me, the dc, my employer or their preschool.

The lack of any flexibility at all fills me with horror, it's like some sort of weird intrusive regime.

deakymom · 09/07/2014 11:24

so far this week my high school daughter has built and launched a rocket built and launched paper airplanes played "extreme frisbee" today she is at the space centre followed by an overnight camp on school grounds school is still on for another two weeks she is not doing a scrap of work

when i was younger we only had one wind down day at the end of term and that was the LAST day of term

if i could take her for a holiday i would she is learning nothing at school

Gileswithachainsaw · 09/07/2014 11:25

I they are in school then the "five" thing is irrelevant. They are subject to the rules even if they are still only four. It applies with regards to them starting.

Still, I think these things should be taken on an individual basis and allowed in many circumstances

littlejohnnydory · 09/07/2014 11:27

School can't do anything about it until they're compulsory education age and the child won't count in the school's attendance figures. And of course the child won't be disadvantaged by it!