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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:
MyDcAreMarvel · 29/04/2021 18:28

@caringcarer teaching a child that their well-being is paramount is an excellent example to set.

KizzyMoo · 29/04/2021 20:01

They are unwell and have a nice time. Don't be honest you might beget a stupid fine. Have a nice time. Shame they got a sickness and diorhia bug a week before the hols.

KizzyMoo · 29/04/2021 20:02

Diarrhea

EmeraldShamrock · 29/04/2021 20:10

I understand why the school need to be heavy handed if lots of sporadic days off but fining families is crazy too especially if their attendance is otherwise good.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 29/04/2021 20:25

I wonder just how pleased parents would be if the school had to close for the week before half term because half the support staff, the catering staff, TAs and teachers decided they wanted a cheaper holiday because they've had a long year?

If you can't afford to go on holiday at school holiday prices, you can't afford to go on holiday, in my opinion.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 29/04/2021 20:25

I think it’s up to you, but probably best to be honest.

I wouldn’t take mine out for my own reasons - one is extremely bright and advanced but gets v anxious about missing anything, plus she has health problems so is off sick more than most, the other struggles and is in the “not quite there yet” group (not sure what the current term is!). But I wouldn’t judge you, especially not this year.

Tons od people do it, from the holiday info FB groups I’m on!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 29/04/2021 20:27

I do know the reasons why they say they can’t legislate about holiday prices, but I’d have thought it was possible. Market forces are controlled in any number of ways - anti monopoly rules etc. Not sure why they can’t say “no week of the year can be more or less than the average by a margin of x”.

Sure someone will come along to lecture me!

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 29/04/2021 20:39

@NeverDropYourMoonCup

I wonder just how pleased parents would be if the school had to close for the week before half term because half the support staff, the catering staff, TAs and teachers decided they wanted a cheaper holiday because they've had a long year?

If you can't afford to go on holiday at school holiday prices, you can't afford to go on holiday, in my opinion.

Bullshit.
NeverDropYourMoonCup · 29/04/2021 21:03

Ah yes, a very salient point. Thank you for making such a contribution.

Staff in schools all earn thousands more than everybody else and never, ever feel like they'd like a cheap holiday for a change because they simply live for the opportunity to be lied to and positively enjoy paying the extra cost.

1Morewineplease · 29/04/2021 21:07

Id just like to assure you that children always tell the truth at school when it come to telling you what they've done at home or with their families...it's eye-opening and often jaw-dropping!
I'd just fess up and pay the fine if I were you.

Nsky · 29/04/2021 21:09

Being stupid, and yes I think it’s wrong take kids on hol term time

drspouse · 29/04/2021 21:13

Be honest. It's a mad year and we all need a break. We couldn't get what we wanted over half term so we've booked a long weekend that includes a day of the following week.

LibbyL92 · 29/04/2021 21:23

I work in a school and trust me, your children will blab! I’ve heard all sorts.

I don’t think the school will mind. Providing their attendance is high. They won’t see a problem

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 29/04/2021 21:30

@NeverDropYourMoonCup

Ah yes, a very salient point. Thank you for making such a contribution.

Staff in schools all earn thousands more than everybody else and never, ever feel like they'd like a cheap holiday for a change because they simply live for the opportunity to be lied to and positively enjoy paying the extra cost.

I'm school staff. I don't begrudge the kids a holiday. Especially when the difference can be thousands.

Sometimes, shock horror.. if staffing levels allowed I took 2/3 days off unpaid myself before a half term/school holiday as it still save quite a lot of money.

But my comment was mostly to "if you can't afford a holiday in school holidays,you can't afford a holiday".

drspouse · 29/04/2021 22:33

We wouldn't normally do it except that my job doesn't allow for time off at some points in the year - we did once for skiing because I could only go away for one Jan week and not in half term.
This year is totally unique though. The one day we are taking is in place of two other separate weeks we've had cancelled in the last 12 months

Hesma · 29/04/2021 22:43

That’s not fair on the kids you should have booked for school hols ffs not put them in that situation

EmeraldShamrock · 29/04/2021 23:07

So what is the set up? Dc tells teacher that they went on a trip, teachers report and parents receives fine? Does teacher have to report? Is the money put into school resources or is it a government fine? I'd move to Scotland or Wales it's very invasive.

drspouse · 30/04/2021 20:01

We just got a letter denying permission but saying "have a lovely time" for DD. But it's only a day.

serin · 30/04/2021 20:45

DH is a teacher but his school and the DCs school holidays were always different esp at half terms. Every Oct half term we would sneak them to the Scilly Isles so DH could go birdwatching for a week.
I remember ringing up the school to explain that all 3 had a cold, with gulls screeching in the background. They must have suspected something since we live in a landlocked county!
DS did once say that he had been to "Tesco" (Tresco) on his holidays but I assume the teachers just thought he was a bit mixed up.
It hasn't harmed them, they were never once behind with their work. They are all professionals now and have lovely happy memories of those times.
Shoot me but I don't regret it.

KensingtonKate · 30/04/2021 22:46

You will need to tell sch. If your DC are off sch sick for 3 consecutive days , you will be asked for medical evidence ( such as Dr's appt etc ) . Also will prompt a welfare check at home, to check child is ok and seen.

Just req the holiday, and pay the fine if it is applied.

KensingtonKate · 01/05/2021 17:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bizawit · 01/05/2021 17:45

@RosieLancs

Thankyou to everyone who replied especially to those who used constructive criticism. As I said in a previous update, upon investigation I can get away with a 4 & a half day absence without a fine so I will let the school know and hope for the best. I knew my kids would tell people and I had no intention of asking them to lie - I known enough teachers to know they wouldn't be running off to office to tell tales.

For all the angry folk who made up stuff in their heads... some of you are so funny....
I never said I was going to pretend they have covid.
They are both in year 6 at school, one had 100 % attendance for the entirety of junior school and the other has missed one afternoon which was when she was sent home after banging her head.
As I said in my original post, at a recent parents evening both of their teachers said they were incredibly well adjusted after the lockdowns and both were working at 'Greater Depth' which for those who don't know basically means they're ahead of where they need to be for the end of year 6.
Although I never asked my children to lie I also don't teach them it is always wrong to lie, sometimes it is okay to to spare other people's feelings.
Lord knows I've told enough lies myself in this past year when I've held people's hands and told them everything was going to be okay even though I knew they'd probably would die before the night was out.
I never said I was special or more deserving than anyone else - people can make their own decisions on how to live their lives but personally after a year of juggling homeschooling the twins between me and my 18 year old daughter while we worked opposing shifts, her as a key worker and me as a critical worker I do think I deserve a little holiday without being fined.
Personally I think anyone who has worked in direct contact with covid patients whether that be in care homes or as part of the NHS deserves 2 weeks all inclusive in a resort of their choice fully paid for but as it happens after spending a year risking my life daily for a largely ungrateful country I can barely afford 4 nights at bloody Haven and I would like to do that without bring fined another £120 on top of that.

I bet having to work from home and home school wasn't easy neither was spending all night taking care of dying people and then (depending on which stage of the pandemic we were at) either trying to sleep in a noisy hotel whilst feeling incredibly guilty that my 18 year old was having to homeschool them and missing them so much it hurt OR coming home and grabbing a few hours sleep in naps throughout the day in-between home schooling.
I know I could have sent them into school but that seemed like an unnecessary additional risk.
6 months ago you were clapping for us and now you begrudge me 4 nights in a caravan 🤣

Good lord OP. You had me before this post 🙄.

Take your kids on holiday by all means, we all deserve some fun.

EmeraldShamrock · 01/05/2021 18:02

Also will prompt a welfare check at home, to check child is ok and seen.
Wow have school nothing better to do than harassment of parents for a sneaky break.
Totally understandable if a DC was absent a lot.
I'd hate so much involvement.

KensingtonKate · 01/05/2021 18:29

"@EmeraldShamrock Also will prompt a welfare check at home, to check child is ok and seen".

"Wow have school nothing better to do than harassment of parents for a sneaky break".

No, child welfare is paramount.

"Totally understandable if a DC was absent a lot.
I'd hate so much involvement."

It is a statutory and safe guarding requirement.

Barbie222 · 01/05/2021 18:31

@EvilEdna1

The children always let it slip.
This is always the case I'm afraid - and if not them, their friends.
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