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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

littlejohnnydory · 09/07/2014 11:28

Fully intend to send my dd (five in October) part time until after Christmas when she is of comulsory education age.

littlejohnnydory · 09/07/2014 11:28

compulsory, that is.

CrapBag · 09/07/2014 11:28

Do it.

Its one day, legally he doesn't even have to be in school so there will be no fine.

He is not going to fail in life because he had 1 Friday off, near the end of term when he was in reception.

I can tell its the end of term as DS (year 1) is shattered. he actually slept until 7.30 the other morning which is unheard of!

Happydaysatlastforthebody · 09/07/2014 11:29

It's not compulsory to send a child to school at any age is it in this country as long as you can demonstrate you home educate.

Attendance at school is important as is a sensible balance between the health if the child and the need for families to spend quality time together.

A good HT will understand this.

This has nothing to do with the strike.

TeenAndTween · 09/07/2014 11:29

deaky she is learning!

built and launched a rocket - Design & Technology, Science
built and launched paper aeroplanes - Design & Technology, Science
extreme Frisbee - PE, team working skills
space centre - science, possibly history/geography
overnight camp - adventurous activity, independence skills

probably some reading and maths in there too if you did but know it

spence24 · 09/07/2014 11:33

I really don't get the big deal here. It's one day. Didn't anyone else have a week off in primary school for a family holiday, when you were able to do so as long as the school knew, and they were notified in plenty of time? My education never suffered as a result of it.

Really, this is why I know so many people who home educate and do a damn fine job of it. There are so many restrictions and rules and regulations that dictate how a family should operate, forgetting that everyone is different and things work well for one family that may not for another. A degree of flexibility should always be allowed.

Gileswithachainsaw · 09/07/2014 11:39

Dd had a weeks holiday In reception. She wasn't behind, the teacher said she wouldnt miss anything.

She had a week where she ran, cycled, played, wrote, practiced spellings, coloured pictures, talked everyone's ear off, fished and had a week off shitty school dinners.

Did her the world of good and she learnt just as much as of she'd been in school.

Flipflops7 · 09/07/2014 11:41

YANBU, agree with Hedgehog.

GobblersKnob · 09/07/2014 11:43

I would for something interesting like leaving early for a holiday, but not just so they could have a random day off. It's the last day of term, they do fun stuff and say goodbye to everyone before the break, why would you exclude them from that?

SaveTheMockingBird · 09/07/2014 11:44

I wouldn't do it as I am a stickler for rules, but I can see why your friend might want to do it.
At my reception aged DS's school, these days they are being told about Year 1 and taken into those classes to have a look around and talk to the teachers. Your friend might want to check with the teachers that they are not doing this type of important stuff on that day before taking him out.

mummymeister · 09/07/2014 11:44

the only person making a big deal out of this is Gove because he is the one who changed the law. your friend has a choice. either to ring in and say the child is sick (and I suspect there will be quite a few of those following the strike) or fill in a form and request exceptional leave. if it is refused then depending on the schools and LEA policy your friend may be fined £60 per parent total of £120. and before anyone comments, yes they can fine for one day and no they don't fine everywhere it is a postcode lottery as to whether you are fined or not.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 09/07/2014 12:20

CrapBag - I thought that, once the child was actually enrolled in school, they DO legally have to attend, even if they have not yet reached the term after their fifth birthday. You don't legally have to enroll them in school until the term after they are five, but once you have enrolled them, even if they are only 4.5, they do legally have to attend.

WorraLiberty · 09/07/2014 12:26

Under these circumstances I would keep the child off for the day.

On another note...I genuinely don't get why all these children are 'shattered' and 'exhausted' at this time of year.

I keep reading it on various threads...but they've only back a few weeks from their last week off

Happydaysatlastforthebody · 09/07/2014 12:27

But you can take children out to home educate when you like can't you? I don't mean off days but you can change your mind and do that.

I know people who have.

kslatts · 09/07/2014 12:27

deakymom - a trip to the space centre and building and launching a rocket sounds quite educational to me. Just because she isn't sitting in the classroom doesn't mean she isn't learning.

In response to the OP - why doesn't your friend just take ds on a nice day out tomorrow, then wait until they finish school before having a holiday.

ThingyTheBusCleaner · 09/07/2014 12:35

I don't think it's a big deal to miss the odd day at that age

BUT

We have loads of parents thinking the same as you in these last couple of weeks of school - some of the kids have been virtually part time.

They have missed some or all of: sports day, trips and residentials, the giving out of reports, grades, books and presents, and a fun international day which the children had been working on for the last couple of weeks.

Its a real shame they missed out and even though its not regular "lessons" it IS educational and worthwhile.

We have prizegiving on the last day and we're already aware that some children who have been given prizes won't be there. Tbh it's a snub to the teachers and most teachers feel like giving the prizes to a kid who CAN be arsed to turn up....

museumum · 09/07/2014 12:38

Building and launching rockets and airplanes and visiting the space centre is learning nothing???? seriously? you don't value problem solving, challenges, creative thinking, learning about science in context?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 09/07/2014 12:49

Worra - I always found that my dses were really tired by the end of the school year - I think it was just the cumulative effect of the whole year's work.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 09/07/2014 12:50

I am somewhat that anyone could fail to see how much a child could learn from building a rocket, visiting a space centre etc etc!

Mim78 · 09/07/2014 13:28

Sounds fine to me if this is only time it happens. Nothing to do with strike just common sense - one day off will make no odds.

Tangerinefairy · 09/07/2014 13:33

My dd is absolutely shattered and totally fed up with school atm. It is a VERY busy term. The children I teach are also very tired. It is hard work being in a bustling, fast paced, crowded, noisy, sociable space from 8.30 to 3.30 all day. I love it to bits but I am shattered by the end of the day and by the end of the week I can barely keep my eyes open..... and I work part time!

Yes, your friend should do it. The odd day does NOT make a huge difference, I don't care what schools or the govt tell people. A couple of weeks or regular absence yes but the odd day makes no difference at all.

Gileswithachainsaw · 09/07/2014 13:36

Of course thy are shattered by this time of the year

Aren't you?

It's hot ergo they don't eat as much and exercising is more draining. It's light til late so maybe sleep isn't as long or as good.

Yr 2s and 6s have had SATS. So e reception kids may not have been full time long or only just turned 5.

What part are you struggling with , to see tiredness as a possibility?

Artandco · 09/07/2014 13:46

I don't see the problem. However I'm not that bothered with half of the pointless rules. My ds is 4, he knows the days of the week but rarely knows what day it is that day, I could just say it was the weekend already :)

I really don't see how much a 4/5/6 year old is going to not learn in one day. They are small, and school doesn't actually teach them that much. As I said ds is 4. He hasn't started school yet (in sept), however he can already read, write, play sports well, knows variety of history/ religion/ geog things. I doubt one day off occasionally will affect much.

Isn't school supposed to only teach about 50% of what they should know anyway and parents should help with the rest

I remember saying I had a tiny sore throat and my parents would let me stay off school if I wanted too. Still did excellent at school/ uni.

HedgehogHairbrush · 09/07/2014 18:28

mimmumeister Where have you read they can fine for one day? Everything I've read online says 10 sessions/5 days before fine.

Vinomum · 09/07/2014 18:38

I think if the boy's attendance for the year is otherwise good (90%+) then one day off won't do any harm.

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