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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Holiday abroad or school taster sessions?

29 replies

Pinkbutton85 · 10/05/2018 11:05

My eldest is due to start school in September. I have tried to find out which dates the taster sessions are on to book the holiday around these, but have been told by the school that they don't know themselves yet.

We're wanting to go on holiday before the school holidays to avoid the rush and as the price at least doubles between July and August.

I haven't ever been abroad and neither have my children. So this would be an exciting first for us all.

But I'm concerned is that she will miss one, maybe two of the taster sessions that they have before they go off to 'big school'. How are important are these sessions? All of us of the new starters have already planned to meet a few times over the holidays so we all get to know each other and the kids get to meet each other too.

My OH is adamant that she will enjoy the holiday more and that the taster sessions aren't 'a big deal'. Where as I'm leaning more to forgetting the holiday and making sure she attends the sessions..

WWYD?

OP posts:

TenGinBottles · 10/05/2018 11:06

Holiday.

blackteasplease · 10/05/2018 11:07

They aren't important and no one will remember if you werent there.

The kids certainly dont form ever lasting friendships at the taster session!

NotARegularPenguin · 10/05/2018 11:08

Holiday

Alexkate2468 · 10/05/2018 11:08

Holiday!

PinkHeart5914 · 10/05/2018 11:10

Holiday, I don’t really see what the point is in taster sessions personally

Lifeaback · 10/05/2018 11:13

The taster sessions at high school are much more important for friendship building and feeling more comfortable starting the school, at primary school they are quite irrelevant. A trip abroad will definitely do her better!

PhilODox · 10/05/2018 11:15

Primary- go on holiday.
Secondary- do the school sessions.

Gagastwin · 10/05/2018 11:17

School sessions!

My parents took me on holiday so I missed mine, it was horrible not knowing who was in my class or knowing where anything was. I was the only one not to attend in my class and the other kids picked up on this.

Sleepinghooty · 10/05/2018 11:18

Holiday! Tasters were a waste of time I think (more useful at secondary)

Bearhunter09 · 10/05/2018 11:18

I’m assuming as you want to go before schools break up it’s primary school in which case yes go! Travel for kids is so so important where are you thinking of going?

MarcellaBackland · 10/05/2018 11:20

Holiday. You don’t even know for sure if you will miss anything and even if you do it will be fine. You are already going to meet the other kids, and if the school admin are nice maybelet you take her to have a peek at the classroom.

elQuintoConyo · 10/05/2018 11:23

Holiday.

Where i live these taster sessions don't exist and neither do teachers pop by your house to judge say hi. It's totally alien to me. My son started school just fine (he's the youngest in the class) as did all the other dc i know.

Hoppinggreen · 10/05/2018 11:26

So you are planning to go on holiday before School breaks up for the summer and you have dc in year 6 is that right?
I have and will take my dc out of school for an odd day to start a holiday early but I would leave my year 6 to enjoy the last few weeks of Primary. When dd finished Sats in y6 there were all sorts of fun activities not to mention the transition days and she had a brilliant time to round off her Primary years. I wouldn’t have wanted her to miss any of that

Hoppinggreen · 10/05/2018 11:27

Bugger, just realised you are talking about starting Primary
Ignore me, go on holiday
( rtf hopping)

Andthatsthat · 10/05/2018 11:30

Highly unlikely there will be any sessions during the last week of term. Holiday that week maybe?

TheSecondOfHerName · 10/05/2018 11:31

Starting primary school: go on holiday. The first couple of weeks in September will be dedicated to helping them get used to the school and its routine.

Starting secondary school: the taster session is useful for finding out what form you're in, where your form room is, meeting some of the other kids who'll be in the same form as you, getting a sense of the layout of the school. It's not essential, but would make things less terrifying in September.

sothisisspring · 10/05/2018 11:35

It really depends on how confident your child is. Have they been to the school before? Will the school let you visit on other dates? The school not being able to tell you dates is pretty shit to be honest. School taster sessions at my sons school are on the calendar at the start of the year as it requires staffing changes etc

Original poster

Pinkbutton85 · 10/05/2018 11:42

The school have literally just called me back to say that they will be able to tell me the dates tomorrow.

It's a small school in a small village, most of the children at her nursery will be going to the school with her, so she does know a few already. I was more concerned about meeting her teacher etc. We have already been for a tour of the school and met the head teacher which she came along to.

If the dates do fall at an awkward time then I will as nicely if we could have a quick meet with the teacher before the end of term.

Coming for a home visit.. that's a thing?!

OP posts:

wontbedoingthat · 10/05/2018 11:46

If you're thinking about what's best for your dc then holiday! She won't even remember the taster probably. And the first few weeks in September will all be about settling in. Holiday, holiday, holiday!

rara67 · 10/05/2018 11:46

Holiday! If you can walk by the school a couple of times that will help your child and take some photos and look at the school website. From memory preschool start talking about big school from Easter and then the taster sessions are early July, then there is a two month wait to start. It must seem forever when you are only 4! Our school did a staggered in take so I don’t think DS2 started until second or even third week of September. Meeting up is an excellent idea. Both DS were lucky in that they started school with a large cohort from preschool. Finally, as I remember the taster sessions were only an hour. You will save hundreds of pounds by going outside of school holidays, it will be less crowded and lovely weather but not scorching heat. Have a super time, this holiday will be very special for your family.

Original poster

Pinkbutton85 · 10/05/2018 11:48

Holiday it is!

Thank you for all the replies.

I definitely wouldn't take her out if it was year 6. & if it wasn't her first year then I would probably sway to taking her out in term time and just paying the fine. If that meant a cheaper/quieter holiday.

@Bearhunter09 We're looking into Corfu, Gran Canaria or a cruise around the med :)

OP posts:

metalmum15 · 10/05/2018 11:50

Holiday. My eldest missed her morning taster session because we were away, school let her come in the week before for a quick look round and to meet her teacher. By the time they actually start school 2 months later half the kids have forgotten what the classroom /teacher /other kids look like anyway.

theLandslidebroughtmedown · 10/05/2018 11:51

Holiday!

Yes, teacher visiting you and child at home is a "thing" (you can say no!) - gives you chance to ask any questions about reception.

Jessikita · 10/05/2018 11:52

Holiday.

My generation went straight into full time school without all this nonsense of taster sessions and staggered starts and we were fine!!

Uniglo18 · 10/05/2018 12:00

Holiday definitely. The taster sessions for both of my children's schools were scheduled for July. You might be ok if you book the holiday in June.

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