To take my dc out of school for a free holiday?

[JadeJaderson]

I'm very much by the book usually. we've never taken the dc out of school during term time and always book holidays in the holidays.

But...I entered a competition a couple of weeks ago and have won a free 5 night stay in a holiday park (similar to Centre Parks type thing).

The con is it's in October, smack in the middle of term.

It's somewhere we've wanted to go for a couple of years but never have because a weeks holiday there in the school holidays costs more than a week abroad. So the week in Spain invariably wins. And I'd never have dreamed of booking a holiday during TT.

But I've won it, it's there for the taking and the total package is worth about £400.

Wibu to take them out? What about all you rule abiders who, like me, would never book during term time. Would a free holiday sway you?

I'd definitely go

I'd go and I'm a school attendance officer!

And If you would go...what do I do with the school? Should I be honest, tell them I've won a weeks holiday? Call them in sick?

I'd go and just pay the fine, it's still a bargain.

Like you I play things by the book normally but would be tempted in this situation, although not sure I would go if there was a way round it. Is it possible to transfer the holiday to someone else? If so can you sell it to someone else (friend, friend of a friend, ebay?) then use the money to top up to your usual holiday cost and go there during school holidays? Or ask if possible to instead offset it against a school holiday booking?

I'd absolutely go and enjoy every minute of it.

If you get fined, well you haven't pai anything for the holiday anyway. :)

paid*

No.,,the t&c are really clear, non transferable, no exchanges etc. Part of the competition was giving full names of the parties who'd be stay in so there's no way around it.

i'd go...unless GCSE year

How old are your DC? If they're under 14/15, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

What ages are your dc?

I would go, but I'd also tell the truth. A boy at my school was off sick from school for a week with a tummy bug, his mum phoned each day with an update. The following week he returned with a lovely tan and announced he'd been to Turkey. Always tell the truth.

I'd go and I'm a teacher!!

And yes - tell the truth about it!

I'd go and be honest. Even if they can't authorise it, the fine will be less than the cost of a holiday and you may not get fined anyway. I wouldn't lie because that would mean asking dc to lie, which I wouldn't do as it would undermine my children's trust in their teachers, to see them as people we aren't honest with, in my opinion. I'd just come clean. They won't blame you even if they can't officially sanction it.

They'll be going into Years 1 and 3 in September so a lonnggg way off GCSE!

I would never ever go on holiday during term time. However, I would in this case. Hope you go and have a great time.

The problem is that it's parents taking kids out for a cheap holiday that make it so hard for parents who want to take children to see a sick relative abroad (someone started a thread about such a case earlier).

My nan has offered to pay for me, dp and 3 dds to go away next year. Of course we've jumped at the chance, however it is during term time. But I say tough, they've got excellent attendance otherwise and theres no way we could get away another time (this is our 1st family holiday abroad in 11 years) so we'regoing.

Go. honestly. go.

Personally I'd sell it to someone else.

I also don't get the assumption that primary education is more important than secondary. For me it's even more vital!

Sorry that should read less important!

Its not able to be sold mellowjello

I Can't Theycall, it's non transferable.