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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off about term-time holidays

61 replies

SeahorsesSwim · 28/01/2017 07:04

My dc is in reception at an academy. The policy is the requests for time off school in termtime to be approved by the Head, but obviously frowned upon.

I wasn't planning to go on holiday this year, maybe a weekend or something as holidays are so expensive. I just found out that another parent has applied for and been given a week off authorised by the head, to save money vs going in school holidays. She said they're going to the med, nothing special happening etc. The school won't charge for the time off.

Aibu to be really pissed off? Other parents have paid through the nose for holidays not in term time, some people don't have a holiday etc. I think if this is permissible the policy is pointless.

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 28/01/2017 07:43

It's a week. The child is 4 or 5. They're not sitting exams this year. She is entitled to take them out until the term after their 5th birthday. Personally I've never taken dd out but I can't raise my blood pressure over it either.

skinnyamericano · 28/01/2017 07:45

I think ultimately it's about what you want to do - if you want to take time off, it looks as though you've got a good chance of it being authorised.

Or if you disagree with term time holidays in principle, don't do it! Who cares what other people are doing. We go for cheaper holidays than we would probably choose, as we disagree with taking the kids out.

welovepancakes · 28/01/2017 07:46

A friend of mine had a family holiday at the end of gruelling cancer treatment. I doubt she would have shared this with all & sundry in the playground. Could be something like that

Hassled · 28/01/2017 07:47

Heads aren't actually allowed to authorise holidays unless in "exceptional circumstances" (no-one's really defined what that is). So I'd be very surprised if the Head had approved it unless there's more going on that you don't know about. Probably what's happened is that the Head has said her child's attendance rate won't fall below whatever percentage threshold they use even with that week's absence and so it won't incur a penalty.

MelbourneClown03 · 28/01/2017 07:50

YANBU OP
Any time out of school, even in Reception is damaging to your child's education. We've just had a child miss 10 days of school for a holiday to Spain, recently. In that time, I have taught my class 7 new sounds. This child has no concept of these sounds.. might as well be showing him squiggles on a pageHmm

By taking your child on holiday in term time, you are saying to your child "there are rules... but they don't apply to us" - an appalling example to set.

To have that attitude is 2 fingers up to the other parents who keep to and respect the rules. I'd be majorly naffed off to.

CheeseDreams · 28/01/2017 07:52

I will be taking my daughter out of school for a week this summer for a holiday and plan to continue todo so each year. The school will put is down as an in authorised absence and report it to the local authority. The only risk is that we get at fine of £140 (which no one in the school ever has). £140 is a lot less that the extra it would cost to take her in the holidays.

Holidays are precious, her dad works long hours and to get time away with him (which we couldn't afford in the school holidays) is important.

Most people at our school feel the same and take their kids out of school.

Figure17a · 28/01/2017 07:52

Either the mum is enjoying winding you up, the child isn't legally required to be in school, she's given the school another reason for the term-time holiday, or it's entirely possible the holiday hasn't been authorised but she's taking it anyway. No fine isn't the same as authorising and it. My LA have suspended fines following the IOW court ruling

AllThePrettySeahorses · 28/01/2017 07:54

Where is this wonderful school?

Just shows how this kind of thing needs to be standardised. I got threatened with a fine after DD was off for 5 days with Noro and giving in a doctor's note. And she's only just turned 4 1/2 so not compulsory school age yet.

mambono5 · 28/01/2017 07:56

Who cares? Do you own things, some people will always play the system better than others. Frankly, as long as the teacher doesn't have to waste the time of the entire class to catch up with the holiday children, it does not really matter. Some parents have very valid reasons, others think they are clever. Ignore them.

What really gets on my nerves are parents who chose to take holidays at term time, but then dare moaning that the official holidays are too long because their kids are bored! They can't have it both ways.

THirdEeye · 28/01/2017 07:58

Over reaction or what melborne Hmm

As I said before.....it is not compulsory for a child to attend school until the term after they are five. Therefore, it would only be those autumn born children that this would apply too.

So it is hardly sticking two fingers up, when a child by law does not need to attend school!

Nataleejah · 28/01/2017 08:10

YABU
None of your business

soontobemrsmckeown · 28/01/2017 08:15

We were taking our dd out for just over a week in reception but due to me undergoing surgery we are having to move it to Oct so she will miss a week of year one. Will put this in my letter to the head to explain and hope it gets approved if not we are still going or we will loose just over 2000 we are away over half term but need a day before the break up and mon to Thurs of the week after half term.

Mulberry72 · 28/01/2017 08:22

It's none of your business OP.

Greta84 · 28/01/2017 08:24

I think there are more important things to worry about. Her child, their holiday, their money and their relationship with the school. I can understand why they're doing what they are and I'm sure you can do. It is probably frustrating for you but don't let it bother you so much.

Buggeritimgettingup · 28/01/2017 08:33

If you're worrying and cross about that at the beginning of your school journey as a parent you'd better hunker down as there are a lot worse things to come.

Nataleejah · 28/01/2017 08:34

Sounds like jealousy and "Its not fair!" feet stomping

ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets · 28/01/2017 08:38

Just book a holiday and stop moaning.

BrieAndChilli · 28/01/2017 08:47

It is not compulsory for a child to go to school until they are 5 so you could delay them starting until say January etc BUT once they start school they are bound by the same rules as everyone else, you can't just send them in when you want, once they have actually started attending school then it is compulsory for them to be there everyday!

bimbobaggins · 28/01/2017 08:59

I think yabu. If you want a term time holiday book one yourself and take the time off. Don't be jealous of someone else who has.

THirdEeye · 28/01/2017 09:00

brie that is actually incorrect.

Regardless of if they are in school or not, until the term after they are five it is not compulsory for a child to be there as I have mentioned for now the third time.

Aderyn2016 · 28/01/2017 09:07

You sound petty and pathetic. Not your child, not your business.
People have a right to make different choices to you. Nothing is stopping you from applying for term time holiday authorisation as well.

HeCantBeSerious · 28/01/2017 09:09

Move to Wales. No academies and a government that accepts that 10 days off in term time isn't a disaster.

HeCantBeSerious · 28/01/2017 09:18

It is not compulsory for a child to go to school until they are 5

It's not compulsory for a child to go to school full stop. It's compulsory that they receive an education. That doesn't have to be at school.

rollonthesummer · 28/01/2017 09:22

Our Lea only fine if you are off for over a week anyway.

tutuloves1 · 28/01/2017 09:24

You probably already know this but it isn't compulsory for a child to attend school until the term after they are 5.
I've just had it confirmed by my daughters school that as she isn't legally obliged to be at school until September 2017 (she's a summer baby so that's the term after she turns 5) that there's nothing they can do legally with regards absence of any kind until the term after they are 5. HTH