AIBU to take daughter out of school for 5 days despite being out of school a year.

[Hatecuddles]

My daughter is in year 3. She has been out of school now since March with no return at all. She has been in shielding the whole time.
She hasn’t seen any school friends / she hasn’t been to the park etc
For 6 months she didn’t live the house at all. Recently has been allowed on walks.
Anyway she was due to go Disney land in August just gone, it was moved to April but been moved again til September which will land in school time.
She has a life limiting illness and the original holiday was meant to be from a wish charity.
She has been doing remote learning every day. She hasn’t had an ounce of outdoor fun in a year. She is however behind in some subjects especially reading.
Doing well in
Maths / science / art and music.
The school are not going to authorise the holiday and say it’s very unreasonable to keep her off school for a holiday after a year off which I do understand but I also feel like she needs this so bad and I can’t bare to tell her it’s cancelled for good.
Would I be an awful parent to take her ?

She has shielded when shielding has been in place. Regarding school, it was decided at the time when the schools reopened ( shielding children were also sent back to school ) but her medical team after 2 days of schooling that she should stay home ( she caught a virus with in the first day and was hospitalised for 6 days ) there was no social distancing at all. The kids were all sitting with each other on the carpet. She was on a table
With 4 other people including a girl who’s mum was very vocal about her not believing covid and parties etc. Her medical team signed her off as the school had very small classrooms with 30 children in them and no social distancing.

With a life limiting illness, I’d certainly say take her out of school as the education is not paramount due to her condition, living life while she still can is most paramount BUT only when it is safe to do so and that may not be this September. Personally, with how slow France are with the vaccine (for various reasons) I wouldn’t be planning in September snd be realistic with her that it may to be later.

Could you try appealing their decision?
My dc went to Disney with a charity (similar to wish) and missed 10 days of school. We were given permission on appeal as I agreed to help catch him up and I stated all the positives that would come from it.
Either way I would have taken him out of school. He got so much out of the visit that school could never have taught him. I'd do it again.

It doesn't really matter if they approve your request or not. You can still go it will just be unauthorised absence. Not many LA's are even issuing fines anymore.

Go... go... go.

She needs this more than most children and it sounds like you need this too. Forget school and if they are unreasonable enough to fine you set up a go fund me to pay it - I would certainly contribute.

Its not as if you're saying she just needs a bit of a break because you feel like it. If she's ill enough for a holiday from this organisation (and I'm so sorry she is) then she should go. What do you want to look back on - a few days of phonics and science or some fantastic once in a life time memories?

Really hope it goes ahead. Feel quite angry reading this.

Simular situation here, with child off since march due to shielding. In you shoes we would go on trip.

It seems that it is not just the nature of your DCs life limiting illness that the school do not understand, judging by their management of Covid 19 within the school. I'm certain there are better schools your DC can be going to.

I'd go- I don't think you should tell us the life limiting illness but the medical sign-off suggests enough for me to go there were I in your shoes.

Oh my gosh, don't think twice OP. Totally deserved, 100% go

Go, go, go! Hope your lass has a ball

100% go and I’m sure if you told the school they would give you the time off / grant you the weeks holiday. Have a lovely time

100% take her. I hope you all have an amazing time

I would go in your situation.

However, I think it is too early to tell whether it will be safe to go this September. Is it Eurodisney or Florida or maybe even California? Disney California is not yet open but will be soon. Florida is currently opening. However, there is still no travel into the US for anyone who has been in Europe. I mean I assume this may change come September but at this moment you cannot get into the US.

I think absolutely on your circumstances your daughter deserves to go but given the reason for her prolonged absence from school is for health reasons, you need to make sure the trip is safe and doesn’t end up making her sick.

You may also need to consider hotel quarantine on arrival back into the UK depending on travel corridors and rules in place at that time.

Definitely go!

I am pretty sure that the schools aren’t allowed to authorise holidays anymore unless there’s a military parent home from war during term, or some other very specific circumstances. So try not to be too annoyed at the school.