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AIBU?

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Original poster

To take my children out of school next week?

60 replies

Conair · 09/12/2020 18:26

I have 4 children, one has just has a positive case of covid in his class so has to isolate until Thursday 17th December ( the school is taking an inset day on Friday 18th so this will be the last day of term)
Due to this my husband is now working from home on the days I don't work to look after him.. I am seriously considering taking my other children out of school in order to try and have the family Christmas I have planned all year so there is less risk of them having to isolate over the Christmas period... I know there is no guarantees.
I appreciate this may be a divisive subject but one I think I'm making in the best interests of my family...
Would the school allow this? Or would I face a fine? I'm sure we are allowed 5 days before we are fined by I really want to make sure before I make my decision.

OP posts:
BluebellsGreenbells · 09/12/2020 18:28

There are other threads on the same topic.

Original poster
Conair · 09/12/2020 18:29

Ohh thanks.. can't believe I missed them doh

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 09/12/2020 18:31

How old are they op? Will they miss anything meaningful or memorable? Will you be expecting school to provide work?

Can your DH reasonably work from home and supervise 4 children?

eeyore228 · 09/12/2020 18:31

Our Xmas is screwed every year because of where we work so I don’t get this desperate need for nothing to be ‘ruined’. I certainly don’t understand the need for authorisation either. Make the decision and accept consequences IF there are any from the school. It might sound harsh but this year has been screwed for most of us and will continue to be because we don’t all have this 5 day window to take advantage of over the festive period. Just do what you feel you need to hun. I’m sure lots of people would support you because there is a desperate need for a ‘normal’ Christmas.

RedditFreak · 09/12/2020 18:58

Your LA can take you straight to court and there have been cases which they have done this

Attendance is 100%. Not one min late is ‘allowed’.

It depends on how good it is at your school. I de registered mine due to this. I love it.

modgepodge · 09/12/2020 19:07

I seriously doubt they’ll fine you. Please don’t ask the school to provide work though.

If one of them just happened to spike a temperature Sunday night you’d have to all isolate while you get a test...which could possibly take 4 days to get the results for Wink

TheTrashBagIsOursCmonTrashBag · 09/12/2020 19:11

I’m in the same boat OP- 1 child has been told to self isolate, the other one only just went back after being home for 2 weeks and for that reason the one who’s meant to be in school is at home until they go back in January. School are fine with this at least half the other parents have done the same and the school is a ghost town apparently. Such a shame especially given how in the lead up to Christmas in every previous year the kids all have so many fun and festive activities to do in school.

FoxyTheFox · 09/12/2020 19:23

I think schools are expecting patchy attendance for the foreseeable future due to self-isolating and quarantine.

Yesmate · 09/12/2020 19:24

@RedditFreak What do you mean attendance is 100%. Not one minute late.
No LA expects 100% and no LA takes you straight to country unless you have been fined and warned previously.

MindThatTree · 09/12/2020 19:26

Just tell school there’s been a positive case in your household and the kids now need to isolate.

katy1213 · 09/12/2020 19:28

I think you're going to be really baffled that, despite copious hand-washing, that tummy bug has swept through the family.

TheRubyRedshoes · 09/12/2020 19:31

Yes op.. Rustle up a tummy bug

Feministicon · 09/12/2020 19:33

What year are they in?

Isthatitnow · 09/12/2020 19:34

If you expect the school to be open then you have a moral,obligation to send in your children, same as those of us who work in schools are obliged to be working. Why should we have to be in, risking our family Christmas we have planned but you don’t?

ohwhatamiserableyear · 09/12/2020 19:47

@Isthatitnow

If you expect the school to be open then you have a moral,obligation to send in your children, same as those of us who work in schools are obliged to be working. Why should we have to be in, risking our family Christmas we have planned but you don’t?
That doesn't actually make any sense.

I'm still in teaching through next Friday ... the fewer students that come in, the safer I am, frankly, and the more likely I'll be able to enjoy the holidays with my own family.

buckeejit · 09/12/2020 19:54

Im in NI & its been left up to us if we want to send dc after Fri. We had a message from ds teacher today practically begging us to keep them off, telling us they won't be learning anything new after this Friday!

I'm a childminder and we've no family for Christmas so I'm undecided what to do. There's a chance they'll extend the break in the new year & I will go mad if I have a month of children all day every day!

WentworthPrison · 09/12/2020 19:58

I'm a teacher and I would do this. Ordinarily I'd never say take a day off unneeded but for the sake of 1 day it seems pointless to risk infection.

monkeytennis97 · 09/12/2020 20:00

@ohwhatamiserableyear I agree with you. Tbh I'm hoping lots will be off next week so it feels safer for me and all my colleagues.

RedditFreak · 09/12/2020 20:02

@Yesmate

If you go onto the Facebook fines in school. There are about 10 people who were taken to court with no previous fines

When they made this law. The guy who took his kids to Disneyland took his fines to the high court. Because of this. They court then defined attendance at 100%. Meaning any child who does not have 100% attendance. Which means not late once in their school life.

It's all there to see

Bookworming · 09/12/2020 20:14

*Your LA can take you straight to court and there have been cases which they have done this

Attendance is 100%. Not one min late is ‘allowed’.

It depends on how good it is at your school. I de registered mine due to this. I love it.*

Utter bollocks!

Do it OP!

Glitterynails · 09/12/2020 20:19

I would keep my child off. Unfortunately I am a teacher so this isn’t an option.

Yesmate · 09/12/2020 20:20

@RedditFreak I probably won’t to be honest. Facebook isn’t exactly a reliable source 🙄

Firstworddinosaur · 09/12/2020 20:20

Do it OP. I'm taking mine out next week. Lots of positive cases in the school and the bubbles keep getting closed then the kids have to isolate for 2 weeks. I'm not risking the window of opportunity to spend time with my family. Restrictions are going to be around for months.

tywysoges · 09/12/2020 20:27

DD’s school says they will authorise the absences if requested but parents need to take responsibility for the home learning. Sounds fair to me.

RedditFreak · 09/12/2020 20:27

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/term-time-holidays-supreme-court-rule-father-jon-platt-fine-daughter-school-disneyworld-holiday-trip-precedent-a7669661.html

It states

Following the judgment, Mr Platt said the ruling had reversed "decades of judicial precedent" in a move he described as "shocking", adding that it meant a child being a minute late to school "is now a criminal offence".

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