To take my children out of school next week?

[Conair]

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.

@Brightbluebell

I’m a headteacher. I fully expect a high level of absence next week. I am sure that there will be a number of very creative reasons why children will not be able to attend. I have no inclination at all to investigate each and every absence and verify the reason given. Good luck to those who can do it and I hope that they all have a wonderful, safe Christmas with their families.

The very, very last thing I would ever think to do is to fine parents for doing the best for their families after this incredibly difficult year.

Oh bless you!

That's so wonderful to read.

You have to do what is best for you op. I'm pulling my DC out next week and have already told the school, we were honest as to why. We are going to self isolate so we can spend Christmas day with the grandparents.

My dd’s year group has now closed for the term and they are teaching on line - the majority are not self isolating (only close contacts of whoever tested positive) but they decided to keep them all off.

Ds is at primary and will be in until the. 17th. I’d consider keeping him off but I don’t feel it’s fair to him to miss all the Xmas stuff just to sit at home while I work!

Brightbluebell you are exactly what a lot of parents need to hear from. Thank you. Apparently, our school receptionist is in charge and won't let me speak to anyone else at the moment.

Kids have missed enough school already. This year is not going to be a normal Christmas for anyone, far better for kids to enjoy the activities offered the week before Christmas and have a quiet Christmas - far better than risking mixing at Christmas!

Check the school or LA webpage on non authorised absence. We are allowed 9 sessions (so 4.5 days) of non authorised absence before we get a fine. So if there is an inset day on the 18th, that’s only 8 sessions (4 days).

@RedditFreak you’ve interpreted it incorrectly.

“Sickness or unavoidable cause” this was also the second time the child had been taken out of school for over a week to go on holiday.

www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2016-0155-judgment.pdf

I'm doing the same

I'm divorced from their dad, we have both moved on and have new relationships / families
I want them to be able spend time with both parents over Xmas and I'm not compromising on that

I’m tempted to keep mine off too. Have this horrible image of one of the DC’s classes being told to isolate just before they break up on Thursday. I’d be gutted, I’ve paid for a couple of Christmas walks and my Mum is desperate to see the DC. My DS’s class had to isolate last month so it’s already happened once to us.

RedditFreak
The Disney guy seemed to base his complaint on his daughter having great attendance of 90% (which is a day off a fortnight, so not that good).

The Independent article talking about being a minute late is the Disney man's spin on it.

Let's be real here, who do you think knows more about how attendance is actually monitored in schools: thousands of school leaders and LAs, or a man who didn't ensure his children had good attendance and got annoyed about being fined for a holiday?