Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Holiday or 100% school attendance!!!

28 replies

Katyloo77 · 21/09/2016 10:40

Just wondering what others would do in this situation. It has been 3 years since we could afford to take a holiday abroad ( which we did in school holidays). I have found a great holiday for October but would mean that DS needs to take last two days of this half term of school, leaving on the Saturday same holiday is £900 more...! Which we cannot afford. DS talks nearly every day how he wants 100% attendance this year as you get a badge from school...do I support this and miss the holiday or take a family break. DH works away all week and a family break with a bit of sun would be good for all of us. DS is in year 3!

OP posts:
Mybeardeddragonjustdied2016 · 21/09/2016 10:42

Let him make a 'best holiday' badge instead! We are in the same boat - kids always get 100%but we are away soon too! Kids more excited about hols!

Original poster
Katyloo77 · 21/09/2016 10:43

Badge...Good idea...! Maybe I'm over thinking this one.

OP posts:
Eolian · 21/09/2016 10:50

I'd avoid missing 2 days of school if I were going to get in trouble for it or be fined etc. I certainly wouldn't avoid it for the sake of a 100% attendance certificate. I totally disapprove of them anyway - if a child is ill, it's appalling to make them feel they've failed at something! I'm a teacher btw.

Ijustworkhere · 21/09/2016 10:53

Since the 100% attendance award at schools seems to be a prize for not getting sick, I'd take the holiday. He's only got to have one case of a sickness bug and he's not getting the badge anyway...

ReallyTired · 21/09/2016 10:54

What are the chances of a year 3 going through the entire year without being ill once?

user1474404784 · 21/09/2016 11:16

Agree with PP - make him a badge and assure him he will have much more fun on holiday! Maybe with ice cream bribes Grin

Original poster
Katyloo77 · 21/09/2016 11:20

Thanks all...never taken a child out of school for holiday. Do I tell school it's holiday or say he is sick on last two days. I have always been taught "honesty is the best policy" but in this case is honesty asking for a problem?!

OP posts:
user1473282350 · 21/09/2016 11:32

I'm against 100% attendance as I honestly think children need to learn that when they are sick, they need to rest and that continuing doing what they normally do and running to the GP for a prescription of antibiotics is not the right way to get better from most childhood illnesses.

Your child will have completely different learning experiences during the two days holidays and will probably absorb more of these two days than he would if he were in school with the end of half term craziness.

Go book the holiday!

Yes, I would tell the school, be prepared that they may not like it - ask for work in advance that he may miss and depending on where you are going write a quick "we are thinking of looking at this for education purposes" list for the holidays.

Bountybarsyuk · 21/09/2016 11:35

I wouldn't mention it to the school. I did, and it turned into a big palava and they were going to tell the welfare office and I got numerous letters for months afterwards about poor attendance and so forth, and this was for a one-off week before Christmas once in their entire schooling!

I would just book it and ring in sick. The rules are daft and I no longer play by the rules.

Gowgirl · 21/09/2016 11:37

I would ring in sick, save everyone a load of paperwork

greenfolder · 21/09/2016 11:39

On the odd occasion I have taken dd3 out of have written and told them. I haven't asked permission cos they won't give it. However school is reasonable and la has a published policy of only considering fining if it's more than 5 days in 13 weeks.

CecilyP · 21/09/2016 11:39

As it is so early in the school year, the chances of him not being ill for single day in the rest of the year are fairly remote, so he probably wouldn't get the attendance badge anyway. If it was June and he was nearly there, that would be different. So I would go for the holiday.

YelloDraw · 21/09/2016 11:43

Holiday

ScarfForAGiraffe · 21/09/2016 11:45

I wouldn't lie. The teachers here have said they don't like it - it's not right to make children lie to their teachers and friends.

Id just write a letter letting them know of your plans, and why if you feel like it, stating you're aware it can no longer be authorised. It's much easier for teachers if they know your child won't be in.

So far here people haven't been fined if less than 5 days and even then rarely but it probably depends on the head. In your case you're saying more than you'd be fined.

Do it!!

idontlikealdi · 21/09/2016 11:48

Holiday for sure.

viques · 21/09/2016 11:51

Please do not ask for 'work in advance that he may miss' . If you take your child out of school then you have to accept that he will miss some work. Teachers have enough to do to teach the children who have turned up let alone sorting out stuff for those on holiday!Anyway they are not likely to be learning 'new ' stuff for two days at the end of the half term so your child will just have to concentrate a bit harder when they go back.

My response to can 'we have work ' ( to shut the kids up while we lounge around the pool) used to be, learn 10words a day if you are going abroad, buy a notebook and write a whole page diary of what you have done and seen each day ,find out 20 interesting facts about the place you are staying and learn how to count to 50 in the language.. funnily enough I never got a single diary back to look at.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 21/09/2016 11:51

I wouldn't lie. The teachers here have said they don't like it - it's not right to make children lie to their teachers and friends.

This.

Bountybarsyuk · 21/09/2016 11:54

The children don't usually have to lie if they are going off for two days into a holiday. Who is going to ask them why they are not there on Thurs/Fri when they are not there? By the time they get back, no-one will be interested in when they left.

Ego147 · 21/09/2016 11:55

Take the holiday.
2 days in year 3 make no difference.
Don't lie. Just tell them he won't be in - it will be unauthorised.

Have fun.

Bountybarsyuk · 21/09/2016 11:55

I also don't lie directly to the teacher, I would just ring the appointments line and say 'x isn't coming in today'. You don't even have to give a reason if you feel that strongly about it.

Writing letters draws attention to yourself when you are breaking the rules anyway, where's the sense in that?

ScarfForAGiraffe · 21/09/2016 11:56

We did a diary viques when we took ours out. It didn't get properly looked at in school but she treasures it :)

KathArtic · 21/09/2016 11:56

For goodness sake, save yourself a load of shit and call in sick for two days.

Fuck honesty, enjoy yourself!

user1471439240 · 21/09/2016 11:57

A tan may be hide to disguise?

Glittered · 21/09/2016 11:58

Similar thing happening here
Dh is turning 40 before Xmas and we have planned a weekend away as a family this means Dd missing school on the Friday and Monday
I don't know whether to just bite the bullet and tell the school or ring in sick on those 2 days. She's only in reception

ScarfForAGiraffe · 21/09/2016 11:58

False dichotomy. Can enjoy yourself and be honest :) I'm an ex teacher and happy to take my kids out in term time sometimes when they are small. Would always have the courtesy to tell the teacher though.

Swipe left for the next trending thread