Would you/have you taken dc out of school for a day for a one off day trip/treat

[shatteredmama]

Just that really - dc in yr 1, had pretty much 100% attendance in yr R, has no issues, sociable, doing well..

This wouldn’t have crossed my mind previously but following two recent experiences during summer hols and a weekend when we went to Legoland/Chessington and were faced with ridiculous queues of 1.5 hr plus for rides compared with how quiet those places are today (I’ve checked queue times in their apps) it does strike me that dc would’ve had a far better experience going school time mid week with me then catching up on a bit of schoolwork at the weekend.

I’d only intend on doing this once or twice a year, I don’t expect it will sit well with the school however so am just wondering if any of you have done this and how the schools responded, or how you dealt with it if going about it a different way.

Am new to the voting thing, but please vote yes if you’d do what I’m planning or no if you wouldn’t, thanks 🙏

In my whole childhood I simply never went to legoland or chessington or any of these theme parks. My parents could have afforded it but it was not considered important. I didnt miss it at all, and had a happy well rounded childhood, and am successful happy adult.

Your child does not need these "experiences" at all.

I used to do it occasionally when dc were young.
Didnt even tell the dc once for a day trip, I loved getting them all dressed for school and then whizzing straight past in the car and seeing their confused faces 😊

We had planned to take DD for a term time holiday in may so in ordinary times yes think a special treat once a year is fine. But after 6 months missed school and the possibility of school closures or extra absences due to illness etc. through the year no I wouldn't.

Normally not an issue as it's one day at that age.

But you can't just say he's a bit ill at the moment, you'll get a grilling about symptoms, they'll be asking him if he's hot every two minutes and if he does mutter about being a bit hot following prompting he'll be stuck at home.

Also five is a bit young for him not to be yapping about his trip to his friends about his trip.

@Katiepoes

I did without any qualms - to go to a Taylor Swift concert that required some travel. My daughter was 8, she lost one day of school and I do not regret it for one second. In fact I'd do it again, if we are ever allowed gigs again that is. I guess her chance of attending Harvard is shot to pieces now but we'll shake it off

You'll have to be careful not to cause bad blood with the school. 😉😂😂😂

Those saying that a theme park is not more important than school may not have a good work/life balance themselves so don’t even pay attention.

Excuse me

I've got a good work life balance and happy well adjusted kids. Seriously, there are these things called weekends, holidays and inset days and this is what they are for. There are 160 or so days every year when children aren't in school. It's a form of arrogance to think your little snowflakes must miss school because you think they shouldnt have to queue in a theme park like everyone else.

OP be warned, theme parks basically operate on the basis that they need max capacity to make the profits they want. Legoland etc tend to close rides/run at reduced capacity in school term to offset reduced visitor numbers, so you will still be queuing.

I took my 7 year old out of school for the afternoon after her sports day was in the morning, they'd have done nothing of any use that afternoon (I checked) and we went to for a swim in the sea and had ice cream before it got rammed with school kids. It won't matter in the long run, spend the quality time.

A thank you to everyone, I appreciate and respect all of your views, I am more inclined to allow her to skip a day still but as many of you wisely pointed out, its probably best to do it later on, when Covid has hopefully cleared off. Wishing happiness and love to you and yours.

Yanbu go for it. Enjoy your day !

Yes, missing a couple of days of school a year will have fuck all impact on their education.

Why would school even know? They were sick weren't they.

@FunnyInjury

I used to do it occasionally when dc were young.
Didnt even tell the dc once for a day trip, I loved getting them all dressed for school and then whizzing straight past in the car and seeing their confused faces 😊

That is amazing, absolutely brilliant! I bet they have never forgotten that 😄

When DS turned 7 he found out there was a swimming gala at school on his birthday (he bloody hated swimming galas)
On the morning of his birthday he had a new bike - DH and I said, fancy a day off school?? We all went to the beach (his sisters were reception and nursery) - he rode his bike, had fish and chips and his first can of coke!!! He is sixteen now and still remembers it as one of the best days of his life!!!

Take the day off x

No, I wouldn't lety dc have a day off for a trip to the theme park. In my opinion it teaches them that school is a choice and that they don't have to go if there's something better to do. When ds wanted to go to the Science museum we waited for an inset day; that way the museum wasn't as busy as in the holidays but he didn't have to take a day off school.

Absolutely! I used to love random days off school and I seem to have turned out pretty well :)

I took DS to London a week before the summer holidays started for a big birthday as he'd always wanted to go but wouldn't have been able to deal with the crowds (he's Autistic) and I once kept both kids off so that DH and I could travel to a concert.

If it's not a regular occurrence then I really don't see the big deal, life experience is just as important to learning IMHO.

No

But I can understand how it is tempting though. On balance rules are rules and if all others did something like this it makes a mockery of rules. Less considerate (selfish) families may then take the piss with discretionary days off. The fact that you are asking (and open to persuasion either way?) shows some conscious thought as obviously you are tempted but know it is not quite right and uneasy with it. At least I hope so original poster. If there were very plausible and extraordinary deserving reasons like child just recovered from some major illness etc (not necessarily Covid) then I may be more tempted as part of a well being recovery reason for extra day off if permitted by school.

Just expect that your child may discuss the outing the next day

If you go on a Friday they may have forgotten about it by the following Monday! And if they do say something they could be seen as getting their days confused and you went over the weekend!

Nope. Use inset days for those sorts of things.

Yes its so much quieter when kids are at school we are going Thorpe park next week.

Yes we have done this before and I totally don't regret it - we had had an amazing family day trip away and loads of fantastic experiences.

Never have done before but this dec we are going away a few days before end of term

*My parents could have afforded it but it was not considered important. I didnt miss it at all, and had a happy well rounded childhood, and am successful happy adult.

Your child does not need these "experiences" at all.*

It’s called having fun and being spontaneous 🙄

A primary school child is hardly going to miss a vital part of their education by missing one day of school. They could still grow up to be ‘successful happy adults’.

If your child has a good attendance record, the odd day off school is fine. We always put in a holiday form for ours for similar things that required travel to an event at the end of term. It was always agreed.

As long as you’re not expecting his tea her to provide the work that he will catch up on at the weekend!

i used to do it occasionally when dc were young.
Didnt even tell the dc once for a day trip, I loved getting them all dressed for school and then whizzing straight past in the car and seeing their confused faces

I was all for voting YABU but I have read the thread and this post esp has made me feel differently. It's something they'll remember among thousands of school days and as a pp says at that age one day away can't hurt. It's a terrific idea. I must do this for DS. (Maybe not right now though)..don't tell the school!!

Nope, we've never done that and never would, the only days off my DDs get is when they're unwell or have appointments. No issue under usual circumstances, however, as a lot of parents take children out of school for holidays, and you're only talking about one day.

However, I do think that at this point in time, with children having been out of school for so long, now is the time when they need to become used to being in school full-time again.