To take my child out of school for a week to go on holiday?

[coffeemonster23]

I have been diagnosed with cancer and started treatment last week. I will have weekly hospital appointments and treatment from mid July onwards which means for the whole of the school summer Holidays I have to be close to home and might be quite sick from the chemotherapy side effects (but hoping not too bad).

We have the chance to go away for a week in the UK for a week in early July before my intense treatment starts. This is during term time. I've never taken my kids out of school before but feel this absolutely would be of huge benefit to us as a family so we can have some much needed fun time before my cancer treatment. I won't be able to go away until after Christmas (best case scenario) if we don't go now.

I don't even know if the school would authorise it but we would be prepared to pay the fine if necessary.

Kids are Year R & Year 1.

YABU - keep the kids in school
YANBU - enjoy your week away

Go! Apparently schools being closed has caused no problems anyway and no one would even flinch if they were off for a week with chicken pox!

Go for it OP

Fwiw my mil is seriously high up in education, think head of multi school trusts and when I asked her ages ago what the ‘extreme/unusual circumstances’ in which heads could authorise term time holidays were she answered ‘usually when a family member is seriously (potentially terminally) unwell, then we authorise it without question’

So I would ask the school I suspect they’ll agree if you explain fully

Absolutely go. I took my kids out for a week in September after my chemo and surgery and before radio. School didn't authorise it (circumstances not exceptional enough!) and we got an automatically generated snotty letter from the local authority, but no fine. All the best for your treatment.

It's classed as exceptional circumstances and the school will likely therefore allow it.

YANBU at all, definitely take them. I’m a teacher and I know all my colleagues would agree you should go.

It might be unauthorised but go anyway!! I can't imagine anyone thinking you shouldn't go. Make memories and enjoy every moment.

I’d think the school would be fine with that. However if you get covid or have to isolate due to contact would it impact on treatment? That would be my main concern.

Do it.

Does it really matter if the school authorise it or not? Go and have a lovely holiday.

Go, and have a wonderful time !

There are lots of exceptional circumstances which allows heads to authorise a leave of absence, and this is one of them.

I take mine out every year and my reason isn’t as pressing as yours and I don’t feel an iota of guilt about it - family holidays are important, particularly in times of stress.

Go for it! And sorry you are going through this

Yanbu please go and enjoy yourselves.

Teacher here. Came on to tell you how irresponsible it is to take your kids out of school for a term time holiday. Read your OP, and like everybody else I wish you good luck with your treatment and a wonderful holiday

F' em! Do what you want, they've had no problem keeping kids away from school for months on end..
Good luck.

At that age yanbu at all. And i’d expect the HT to be entirely understanding.
Hope it goes well.

100% take them, even more so given their ages!

I hope your treatment goes well. You should definitely go-you may get authorisation (my old boss would have agreed it), but if not, who cares? Life is too short xxx

Sorry you have to go through this and I wish you well through this time. Absolutely take them. Speak to school, they would understand I'm sure.

Do it, I took my DS’ out of school for a holiday when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, we didn’t get fined, head teacher wrote to me to say have a lovely time. All the best for your treatment OP

Definitely go! Have a lovely holiday and hope your treatment goes well

Do it

Of course go and have a fantastic holiday, even if school don't authorise it.

Don't even think twice about this OP, you've so much more to be coping with atm. I really wish you well with your treatment

I’m surprised you felt you had to ask but glad you have decided to go 😀

Go on holiday with your children and don't give a second thought about school. Your children are so young that they will not be impacted by missing school time
This most likely would fall under exceptional circumstances and be authorised. If it doesn't please still go and enjoy your family time before your treatment begins. All the best with your upcoming treatment.