Time off school - WWYD?

[Fatmomma99]

Hi All

I think I know the answer - MN is quite firm on this, but going to ask the question anyway.
My DD is away this week, not with school, but a group she is part of outside it. School have given consent for her to miss school this week. She's back on Sunday quite late 11ish, if all goes well at airport/on the roads.

This week is going to be VERY full on, and she is the youngest one there (she's 13 1/2).

They're all exhausted at this time of the year anyway. Next week is the last week of term, and there's going to be very little work happening - lots of activities planned.
She has excellent attendance (98%).

I'm really tempted to let her sleep in on Monday morning and send her in when she naturally wakes. I won't lie to school about it, and she'll get a U in the register for the morning.

Is that terrible? (runs and hides)

Oh I didn't see your last post - if she wants to go to school I think it would be v v unreasonable to stop her - she has the right to attend school and does not need parental permission to do so!

I wouldn't send her if she is really tired.there is no point being there if she is not in a fit state to learn.She may NOT be tired though- she may have slept on the way back.

I agree it's mollycoddling. C'mon. A lie in from being tired from an activity week? I want my children to realise activity goes hand in hand with normal life. If she's tired then early nights for the rest of the week

She'll be desperate to go in?

Then let her. She'll be fine and can go to bed early on Monday night. The school have already given her the whole week off. Being " a bit tired" isn't an excuse for not going to school.

I don't think it matters either way. It's the last week of term and she's not going to miss much. So I would leave it up to her - at 13 she should be a good judge of how she will feel.

My then 13 year old did a language exchange to Madrid with school earlier this year. Returned on an overnight long distance coach service arriving at 5.30am followed by bus transfer to school arriving at 7am. They were given permission by the school to take the day off, but quite a few of them (including my DD who like yours was the youngest on the trip) chose to go in.

I think it should be her own decision. Presumably she has no plans after school on Monday?

I don't see why you should be flamed but at 13 I really think she's old enough to go in and have an early night on the Monday instead.

Id say she had to go, it doesnt sit right with me that because shes tired she should get the morning off. sometimes if you want to do something you have to accept that you might get tired and still need to do everyday commitments. If they arent doing much it wont matter that shes abit off too but im sure she could manage for just one day.

Could you compromise and send her in later? When my DD had had a school trip that came back late they were allowed to come in at first break, the teacher in charge explained that way they still counted as present for both 'sessions' so it didn't affect school's attendance figures but got their lie in.

I'd do the same. It's sensible.

I think if she's already missed a full week of school, it's a bit much to let her miss another morning for a lie-in.

SO THEY ALready gave her a week off. And thats not enough?

plus if 'nothing much' is going on at school it wont be too wearing then , will it?

Our school let kids in late (by a set time) if a school related activity has kept them up late. Ask the school they may feel the same way.

I'd do whatever I thought was right for my child and ignore the "If you let her go in late once, she'll never have a decent work ethic" crowd.

It makes sense to do what you're doing. DS has just been away on an activity holiday with the school for a week and got back late on Friday. Then yesterday he was due to go to a scout activity camp which had already been paid for. So, I took him early evening which meant he still got to sleepover and take part etc but had yesterday slobbing around and resting at home.

He's back home now with other dc's and they're all shattered!

I would send her to school. Early night on Monday.

Send her in! If she'd been under 8 I'd have said leave her sleep but a 13 year old will be fine surely?!

I kept my eldest off for one morning recently to allow her to sleep in, on the school's recommendation! This was primary though and although the circumstances were slightly different, the reason for the time off was to catch up on sleep.

So therefore I agree with you!

The problem might be that if you don't send her in you jeopardise the next child's chances of being allowed to go on a similar trip in future. Sounds likeshe was given special permission for this. Next time school might say no, we won't let anyone under 14/15 do this as last time the child didn't make it back to school on time.

www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/articles/emotions/teenagers/sleep.shtml

"They need more sleep than both children and adults, but they get less than either."

so, no, not a toddler - but with sleep requirements which are different to adults.

I think your plan sounds good.

I know if I'm exhausted I feel sick and routine tasks become really difficult. She's likely to drop off in class in the hot stuffy classroom.

hell I'd be tempted to keep her home. Monday all together.

but there is NOTHING going on on this day at school - so she can go!!

Well of there's nothing then an extra day won't hurt will it.