To take kids out of school in term time?

[AtSea1979]

I know this has probably been done to death but couldn't find it.
2 DC, yr 1 & 5.
Want to take them out for a week in November, offer came up for holiday, not exceptional circumstance. Not available in half term.

*why

I have observed, as a parent, a similar pattern among my son's friends as aneekname has as a teacher.

It's not so much that missing a week here and there is terribly detrimental, rather it's that it is part of a general attitude towards school which isn't generally conducive to getting the most out of it.

I've done it. Up until the rule changes we had a regular 4/5 days in May for a package holiday ...to a complex where they ate chips ... Shocker

Dd1 just left year 6 with level 6s dd2 is in year 5 and performing ahead of dd1 at that age, dd3 is in nursery working at early year 2 levels

I am also the daughter of a teacher and work in education

I think a week a year has no impact at all provided you avoid exams and have good attendance

It depends on the school. Some schools aren't too strict about it, depending on whether the child is a regular attender, they don't always make a big deal about it. Personally I don't agree with it at all, if holiday company's weren't so dammed greedy putting up their prices in holiday time there wouldn't be a problem. Why should some kids never get the chance to have a holiday.

YANBU. Go ahead, have a great time. Claim illness rather than tell the truth.

Teaching children to lie.. Brilliant!!

kids are taught to lie all the time - "Don't tell Granny she's fat" was the first one in our house.... DD's response was "why not? She is!!"

but I would never claim illness to circumvent a fine - that would make it fraud...

kids are taught to lie all the time - "Don't tell Granny she's fat" was the first one in our house.... grin DD's response was "why not? She is!!"

That isn't lying. That is not saying things that might be hurtful to someone.

LaBelleDameSansPatience Sun 17-Aug-14 17:53:47

Interesting post Belle and from a teacher too.

I think YANBU, personally.

My only concern would be about the lying - when we did it we just came clean and took off for 10 days. DS's teacher was totally fine with it - asked if she could come too

We had an unofficial MN vote on this a few months back (link below) and if I remember rightly slightly over half of people thought termtime holidays should be allowed.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a1991413-OK-one-vote-each

Andrewofgg - I agree that, as in all circumstances, consideration of others is necessary. But you can do this and still go away. You just make sure it won't make the teacher's life more difficult (by asking if they mind, and if necessary doing the work of that week with your kids yourself so they won't need extra "catch up" attention).

In my opinion YANBU. You have to work out if the possibility of a fine is worth it!