day off school for family day out

[ghostspirit]

would you let your children have a day of school for a day out?

Yeah, if it was a one-off in an otherwise great attendance record I don't think I'd mind a day off for the DCs.

Regular time off, regular term-time holidays, in fact any term-time holidays we've never done, nor are we likely to. But one day isn't going to make or break an education.

Can't people get stopped by police or community officers and ask why their child not in school?

We home ed our eldest and that's never happened to us ship!

So actually he did want to go on the school trip. I think it's a shame you offered him something to make him change his mind.

Chessington will always be there though. School trips happen on that one particular day.

I wouldn't take mine out of school for a cheap trip to a theme park, no.
It's not a good enough reason for me to warrant it.
I took mine out earlier this year for a weekday wedding. They were bridesmaids. For me, being bridesmaids warranted a day off.
Bargain chessington tickets not so much.

rhonda i did not offer something to make him change his mind is said he can go chessington or school trip thats giving him a choice. if i did not want him to have that choice then i just would not have given him any choice.....

I've taken my children to Chessington 4 times in the last year. We live quite some distance away (over 100 miles) so it is always a full day out. I've never queued for anything for more than about 10-15 minutes. I've never taken my children out of school to do it and 2 of the days we went were in the May half-term holiday. You just need to choose the right days to go. I'm afraid I'm not going to tell you which ones they are though - I quite like not having to queue!

Of course you made him change his mind. You made it impossible for him to go on the school trip by booking Chessington on the same day.

rhonda yes your right i went and got tickets on the same day as his trip so he would not have a choice. i did not know he had a trip that day

We are going on a short break next weekend, my children will be having the Monday of school.
We have asked the school and have been granted permission.
The reason is my son is autistic and can not cope with a packed holiday Park.
So going before the schools break up in England will be beneficial for all of us.
Also he has done so well this year compared to last year at school and really deserves this.
My whole family does.

So he's missed out on a school trip - which would have been fun for him. Was it curriculum based as well or purely a treat?

And what have you told the school? That they're ill?

One day in the grand scheme of things is not the end of the world.

But

I think it is a really bad example to set your children...the idea that attending school is optional, that you can give it a miss if something better comes along. It will not help with their work ethic IMO.

Yes I would. But I can't as I work term time.

Used to take the kids out of school for the last week of term when they do nothing more than watch dvds all day.

I have and will continue to. I just phone her in sick, high schools don't like you taking days off.

I take DD out for a day at the Windsor Horse Show in May and Olympia in December. Some of the best events are on a state school day, as at Xmas the private schools have already broken up.

Does not hurt missing a couple of school days.

I think it's pretty poor taking him out of school just because you got a cheap deal at a bloody theme park. Funerals, weddings, once in a life time opportunities etc I can understand but a theme park?! You have got the whole summer to take them away. Yes it's expensive but thats all part of having kids.

Children will still be learning even if it is in the last few weeks of the summer year.

Are you going to lie and ring in sick for your children?

Under 10, yes

I do if neccessery.

I think if you're getting everything else right, the occasional day off school will have no bearing on a persons work ethic at all.

Also a PP mentioned being stopped by police or community support officers. I've been home educating for three years and know a massive amount of home educators and I have never heard of anyone being stopped.

Yes, I would do it.

Teaching full tilt at this time of year? DD1 is on a school trip to a zoo all day today. Yesterday they did "drawing and messing about" because the other half of the year group were on the same trip.

Next week DD2 is going on a trip to the local park for the day.

Not much traditional teaching going on at all!

Sorry, I wouldn't do it unless you can be completely honest with the school for requesting a day off.

If you have to lie about it I feel you're not setting a very good example to your children.

Perhaps you could consider going on an inset day? There are lots of tickets on eBay at the moment for about £10 each. I know this because I've booked cheap tickets for an inset day before holidays commence.

No I wouldn't do it on a day he had a trip - there's likely other activities surrounding the trip at school which he will now not be able to participate in fully.

OP - were you the poster who's older daughter wasn't allowed to have the day off work for the trip?

I took mine out to go to Alton Towers and see the fireworks last year, DD and her friends had a day off the previous year to watch One Direction. We are in Wales so people are still having two week holidays authorised however my kids head teachers will refuse holiday requests if attendance is poor.

SIL is a deputy head and had a day off to go to a theme park and two days at each end of half term for a holiday, other SIL is a teacher and had three days off to go to Las Vegas, another day to see a concert and has left early loads of times for various events.
It was a bit of a family joke that when BIL got married on a weekday, both teacher SILs got a day off to attend but I as a TA was refused.

I do dislike people deciding that there's nothing important happening at school at the moment. DS has been having sex education this week which is pretty important. DD has been having normal lessons.

I think it's worse to take him on a trip day than a normal one. These events can be very memorable and cement friendships, never mind being worked towards in class and afterwards.

YANBU. I did it last week as I had free tickets for a day out and couldn't afford it otherwise.

I'm a supportive parent and play a huge part in educating my children academically and emotionally so I don't feel guilty at all about one day off in a year. Surely it's just about moderation?

I can't stand the fear culture that comes with even very little time off school. It's so stifling.