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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:
MaryMow22 · 29/04/2021 07:01

Don't lie! Just tell the truth and pay the fine if you get it.

MirandaMarple · 29/04/2021 07:02

I was never going to ask them to lie so please calm down on that front, I wouldn't put my children in that position.

What would they say if the teacher asked them though?

Bluntness100 · 29/04/2021 07:04

@Summerdayshaze

I’m a school governor. We always, always know. We might not be able to prove it, but we know. And the teachers and staff always think less of parents who lie and make their children lie.
When did govenors start getting involved in the day to day running of the school and individual child absences. They don’t. At any school. What a silly post.
LEMtheoriginal · 29/04/2021 07:15

I took my primary age dd out of school in yr2. A week, she is in year 11 now and it means she has slipped a grade on her GCSEs. Hmm

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 29/04/2021 07:16

Go on holiday. Enjoy it .
Tell the school and whatever happens ,happens.

TBH, where I am it would be very unusual for a family to be fined for one week holiday if the children have an otherwise exemplary attendance record.

5zeds · 29/04/2021 07:20

@Summerdayshaze how exactly do you know you always know? That’s just a ridiculous statement. I can honestly say I have never had the slightest interest in what the school governors at my children’s school thought of me. Grin why on earth do you think anyone would?

Bumpsadaisie · 29/04/2021 07:22

Will you be asking your kids to lie at school if someone says hope you're better? Or poor you you must have been really ill if you were off for a week?

Puts your kids in a difficult position.

Bumpsadaisie · 29/04/2021 07:23

I know you weren't going to ask them to lie but what are they to do if someone refers to their "illness"?

bert3400 · 29/04/2021 07:24

Just be honest & take the fine . As others have said, if you lie you are teaching your children to lie as well Confused

Bumpsadaisie · 29/04/2021 07:26

If I were you I would do it and email the head setting out what you're doing and why.

Ie there's been covid. You're in desperate need of a holiday that you can afford. The kids are doing well and a week off but the end of the world. If that means a fine you understand that but you ask for understanding in the circumstances and you're not proposing to do this regularly.

clto2021 · 29/04/2021 07:26

Working in a school I can tell you that someone always ends up spilling the beans! I would just be honest about it and risk the fine.

Roselilly36 · 29/04/2021 07:26

Honesty is the best policy, your kids will let it slip, you can be sure of it.

Temp023 · 29/04/2021 07:34

I would say that you have just been given the chance at a holiday and are going to take it as it is unlikely you will get another one this year. Then just take whatever results.

MrsMiddleMother · 29/04/2021 07:43

I say go for it. We've booked center parcs for the week before they break up in July and plan on calling in sick. It was a bug difference in price and by the time they go back in Sept, all will be forgotten.

SavingsQuestions · 29/04/2021 07:46

Gosh see I would definitely tell school if it was going to be the last week in July!!! It gives them a chance to hand back work and the child's things (pe kit... other tresasures) before term finishes and gives the child a chance to say goodbye!

butmumineedit · 29/04/2021 07:48

I work in a school office and would rather you told me the truth. If your child's attendance is normally excellent then we wouldn't fine - in fact we have never fined anyone at our school for holidays - but that is probably because we have an excellent attendance rate .

nether · 29/04/2021 07:49

All this achieves is a harder level fe for families whose DC are really ill (ever increasing levels of suspicion, demands for proof etc) plus it sees a poor example of what is an acceptable level of integrity to your DC.

Just pay the fine

Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 29/04/2021 07:53

If your own kids don't slip, someone else will say " they've gone to Wales"

I had a kid once come back after a two week absence with a deep tan and a holiday hair do...all braids and beads . Said to her " did you have a lovely holiday?" And she kept to the lie and said " I've had chickenpox"Grin
So funny.

daisypond · 29/04/2021 07:53

Just be honest. But don’t say you “deserve” a break.

Lesemeraudes · 29/04/2021 07:56

@MirandaMarple

I was never going to ask them to lie so please calm down on that front, I wouldn't put my children in that position.

What would they say if the teacher asked them though?

I don't see how you could lie and then not put them in that position.
mogsrus · 29/04/2021 08:04

the times I've heard parents say, there children don't lie,but is ok if you do? double standards here

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 29/04/2021 08:12

You would be massively unreasonable to lie about it. It will inevitably involve your children in the deception. That is so wrong. You will get caught out. Your children and their teachers will lose respect for you.

SavingsQuestions · 29/04/2021 08:47

Wpw @butmumineedit . Our school fines every single instance!!! Then claims they have no choice.... which I know isnt the case. But they chose that policy for the trust.

I would still tell them. We are contemplating a "leave monday lunchtime" plan.

It does hit lower incomes harder. 120 will be a drop in the ocean for those flying to Disneyworld. But could be half the price of a midweek caravan holiday

caringcarer · 29/04/2021 17:47

Not a good example to set. We have all had a crap year and need a break but kids have missed so much education. Don't you care that you are adding to how much they are missing? The chances are they will miss some more next year too.

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 29/04/2021 17:54

@caringcarer

Not a good example to set. We have all had a crap year and need a break but kids have missed so much education. Don't you care that you are adding to how much they are missing? The chances are they will miss some more next year too.
Not all children missed as much or in the same way. Some children did better and more at home than they used to do in school.Some children missed their parents in a fun,relaxing setting more.

OP will know better than us how lockdown has affected her kids academically or otherwise.

My DD would be fine missing a week of school too with absolutely no impact.

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