To take my child out of school to see Santa...?

[Mooey89]

He’s 4, one of the youngest in the class. This year he’s at his dads for the first time for Christmas, so trying to over compensate a bit probably!

There’s a big special Santa event arranged by the local radio station, it’s supposed to be incredible, travels around the country so not available next year.

I booked our tickets back in august(!) and the only available non day time slot left was 3:30... they’ve just emailed saying we need to be there an hour early so need to pick DS up from school at 2:30!
He’s in year R... it’s the 18th Dec. I figure he won’t miss much...

AIBU?!

YANBU. Nothing he can do at school will mean as much as that trip with you. And as he is not five yet he doesn't need to be in school full time anyway.

Smarshian "YABVU. There are hundreds of santa events all over which are cheap and easy to attend outside of school hours. Garden centres usually have good Ines which will be just as magical for your 4 yo." There are hundred and hundreds of days in school, I expect many will merge into one for a four year old! It ludicrous to say he would be better off going to a garden centre!

elliejjtiny "It's people who do things like this who cause schools to crack down on attendance" I think schools crack down on attendance out of the misguided idea that being present at school equates learning. It doesn't.

VeryPunny "It doesn't matter if he's statutory age or not, once he's started school, he must attend as any other child." I don;t believe that is true in England, but you may be elsewhere.

Do it. He doesn’t have to legally be there and he’ll hardly miss any. Have fun!

I always click on should I take my child out of school posts to look at those who disagree with any reason for not been in school.

Have a fantastic time and enjoy the special moments with him

Oh and never ask on MN if you should take out of school..

I would do it and my dc are in year 4 and year 2.

Exactly, Balfe.

They’re so advanced these days. When I was 4 I’m sure we pratted around with sand/water/paint, etc.

Nowadays it’s all isoperimetric theorem and quantum mechanics in YR.

Crying with laughter at the unemployed vs. surgeon comment! That was a joke yes?

Crying with laughter at the unemployed vs. surgeon comment! That was a joke yes?

I assumed it was......it was, wasn't it?

I work in Reception. Pick him up at lunchtime and enjoy yourselves.

YABU filling his head with the nonsense of Santa (bah humbug). See how we all think differently about these things.

YANBU to take your child out of school. It's a once only deal, he won't even remember he left school early in a few years. It will make not an ounce of difference to his schooling. They do no work in the last week of school. Enjoy this time.

Crying with laughter at the unemployed vs. surgeon comment! That was a joke yes?

Of course it was a joke!

I would happily take my child out of school for a 2 week holiday too though.

Only primary school though. I wouldn't do it in secondary school.

Kids spend so much time in school and homework that a bit of family time away is worth it

You can never be too sure if it’s a joke on mumsnet I apologise for my response.

It was the first line that made me think it might not be a joke

No need to apologise, Dipping!

It wasn’t very funny anyway

I just imagined what some people might reply with and got in there first.

Take him, absolute no brainer!

Just take him!!

In Reception playing is the work!

But at 2.30 on the last week before Christmas all he will miss out on is tidy-up time (fighting over the dustpan and brush to sweep up the glitter) and story time.

The office won't even ask where you are going, they'll just go and get him and wave you off.

No one will give a shit, your DC will miss nothing.

My DD has won tickets for a west end show and would love me to go with her (it will make lovely memories). It's a matinee so I'll have to skip my afternoon at work (in school) I'm sure that will be fine..........

YANBU - he is very young, and even if he was 14 rather than 4, the last day of term just before Christmas is just mad abandon.

Enjoy your time with him - I hope you both have a magical experience.

@mooey89

FFS it's an HOUR of school lost. Of course YANBU.

Ignore the naysayers poo-pooing you, and take your son to see Santa.

4 is a lovely age! Hope he has a good time seeing SANTA.

@Shelleyboobs

Taking your 4yo child out of school to see Father Christmas could be the difference between your DS eventually becoming a top surgeon or unemployed.

LOL!!!

I wouldn’t have bothered posting on here because every one will jump on you saying YABU.

I don’t think YABU, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. Don’t tell the school, tell them he has a dentist appointment or doctors appointment or even phone in sick and keep him off all day. He’s 4 so it’s not really going to effect his school work (they won’t be doing much this time of year anyway). Enjoy your trip to Santa and ignore what others think. Children are only little for a short time x

4 year olds don't actually have to be at school so do what you want

Of course you should take him. Have a wonderful time!

Ignore the joyless miseries, of course it is absolutely fine. I'm a teacher and wouldn't bat an eyelid at that point in the term. I would tell the school what you're doing though, because a) your DS shouldn't be expected to lie and b) it's just more polite and won't make any difference. He'll get his attendance mark for the afternoon anyway, so it can't go down as an unauthorised absence. The worse that can happen is you get some disapproving looks!

Yanbu. Take him and enjoy!

He’s 4. It’s an hour. It’s a few days before Christmas (schools round us will have broken up by then). He isn’t going to miss much. I don’t usually condone in-term absences but I’d do it ..... have a great time.