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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call into school sick when actually on holiday?

199 replies

RosieLancs · 28/04/2021 08:43

AIBU to lie to the school and pretend the kids are off sick when we are in fact on holidaying?
In a rash moment I booked a caravan holiday for me and the kids the week before half term.
It has been a long year and I feel like we deserve a little family break.
I would normally go in school holiday time but it was over triple the price for the half term week which took it out of our price range.

I know I could land myself with an £120 fine here and if that happened then so be it but would I be unreasonable to just ring them in sick for that week?
Has anyone else done this and gotten away with it before?

If its relevant - after a recent parents evening both of their teachers said they were still very confident and well adjusted after the lockdowns of the last year and both are working at 'Greater Depth' for their age group so I don't feel missing 5 days of school will harm them in any way.

OP posts:
toobusytothink · 28/04/2021 10:01

So couple of months ago everyone whinging about schools being shut and kids’ education blah blah and how much they’ve missed and now parents voluntarily getting kids to miss more school. Priceless 🙄

Seriouslymole · 28/04/2021 10:02

I’m amazed people are OK taking kids out of school when they have missed so much already this year.

Seriouslymole · 28/04/2021 10:03

Totally cross-posted with @toobusytothink and @Hopikins there!

Viviennemary · 28/04/2021 10:04

Just do it. I was the honest person till a few years ago when I realised everyone else wasn't. Do what's best for you.

FizzyApricot · 28/04/2021 10:05

@toobusytothink

So couple of months ago everyone whinging about schools being shut and kids’ education blah blah and how much they’ve missed and now parents voluntarily getting kids to miss more school. Priceless 🙄
You're assuming it's the same people.
Sunshineandflipflops · 28/04/2021 10:05

I took my secondary kids out of school for a week last year to go on a week's UK holiday that had been cancelled due to Covid and it was a case of go in the only other week they had available (which was term time) or lose the deposit. We decided to go and I emailed school to explain the situation, informed them that both kids had v good attendance and grades and they didn't fine me.

To be honest, the benefits we all got from that week away would have been worth the fine anyway.

apooagnuandyou · 28/04/2021 10:06

@Seriouslymole

I’m amazed people are OK taking kids out of school when they have missed so much already this year.
funnily enough, in my kids schools the parents who have already booked holidays for this year and next during term time are the ones who played the "keyworker" card.

Says it all really.

Sunshineandflipflops · 28/04/2021 10:07

Also, when we re-booked the holiday schools were shut and I had no idea if they would even be back by then (if they weren't then the kids could have done their home schooling on holiday).

HappydaysArehere · 28/04/2021 10:09

Agree. Lying isn’t a good example and our head used to say that it was the basis for children truanting in later years. It provides its an alright attitude if you don’t want to do it and school doesn’t really matter.
So if it is booked just tell the truth and you won’t have to explain those rosy cheeks after being ill when the children return to school. Also they won’t be demanding, hopefully, Covid test results.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 28/04/2021 10:09

funnily enough, in my kids schools the parents who have already booked holidays for this year and next during term time are the ones who played the "keyworker" card

Wow. You don't get to make up key worker status.

Key workers deserve holidays more than anyone.

Rooroobear · 28/04/2021 10:09

My kids school always fine. But it’s only if they miss 10 registers in a term (so the morning counts as one and the afternoon as one) so to get 10 registers that’s 5 full days so we ended up having our child in school for the Monday morning am register took him out of school a bit later in the morning so I’m the end only missed 9 registers which meant no fine.

loveheartss · 28/04/2021 10:09

It's not just education that kids have missed - I do not begrudge a family going on a holiday right now at all.

Loosen your judgey pants some of the previous posters.

If you get past it without the fine then good for you OP, if your kids have good attendance 4/5 days really isn't the end of the world is it.

Whinge · 28/04/2021 10:10

I emailed school to explain the situation, informed them that both kids had v good attendance and grades and they didn't fine me.

The school has no control over the fines. They just have to report any absences.

CarrieBlue · 28/04/2021 10:12

@Sunshineandflipflops

Also, when we re-booked the holiday schools were shut and I had no idea if they would even be back by then (if they weren't then the kids could have done their home schooling on holiday).
Because tourism was always going to be open and allowed before kids could go back to school of course Hmm
SavingsQuestions · 28/04/2021 10:15

I absolutely would tell the achool in advance. They can plan not to cast your child in annactivity that week and hand back to you anything your child has made/done etc.

Its much easier for them to plan for your child being away.

Its 5 days and we're low income so we are going to go sat-thu...

Anonmousse · 28/04/2021 10:15

I know someone who said their DD was ill. a friend put pics on fb of their holiday and someone else must have reported them to the school. No idea if they were fined.
I've taken my DC out for a long weekend and was not fined but I filled in the form and knew it wouldnt be authorised.

SavingsQuestions · 28/04/2021 10:16

Those saying they lie for 2 or 3 days really are making it worse as they won't be fined for that and it's always best to be honest.

cherryblossom999 · 28/04/2021 10:16

Where I am it is 5 days in a rolling 12 month period could generate a fine. However, it isn't up to the school, they just send their attendance figures off and it is up to the LEA or whoever to decide whether to fine. If your kids have good attendance otherwise it is unlikely to be a problem.

5zeds · 28/04/2021 10:17

Tell the truth, but do what you think is best for your family.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 28/04/2021 10:19

I say do it.

If the kids let slip everyone will just assume they went in the holidays. You don't have to get them to lie. It's been a shit year for kids, and if is the best chance of them having a holiday is to take a few days off then go for it

ilovemydogandMrObama · 28/04/2021 10:24

I'd email the head and, 'ask' for permission and explain the circumstances.

We went on holiday once in term, but the head signed it off and was fine with it - think the circumstances were that DH wasn't able to take holiday when he wanted and only had week in the middle of June, and nothing else for the rest of the year.

starfish4 · 28/04/2021 10:26

Can your children keep quiet about the fact they are going away and the lie about why they were off? Also, you'll have to phone in early 2/3 times that week - I know it'll only take a few minutes but it's doing it with a quiet background and having to think about it when you should be relaxing.

Interested2021 · 28/04/2021 10:31

The system is the issue, especially for kids with good attendance the rest of the year. Nothing wrong with an affordable break in term time- should be parents' choice. As the kids go back after HT you have plausible deniability about when you went.

Food poisoning can hit hard...

SavingsQuestions · 28/04/2021 10:35

I completely think the system is in the wrong here. My australian friends think its completely crazy as they've been encouraged with broader travelling and coming back with diaries to show the classe etc!

But I still think honesty works far better for the child. Don't make them carry a lie and its much easier when staff know in advamce they will be off as they can plan for your child around that.

Maggiesfarm · 28/04/2021 10:36

I don't blame you for taking the children out of school for a holiday but if you lie to the school, the onus is on your children to lie too. That is not fair to them and they would find it difficult to keep it to themselves.

I'm trying to be inventive here so please forgive me if I get carried away but you and your children could be 'unwell' for a couple of days (be creative with a thermometer), following which you could take them away for a few days to recuperate. Howzat?

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