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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

97 replies

coffeemonster23 · 07/06/2021 18:31

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

OP posts:

Aquagirl19 · 07/06/2021 20:06

Go!

Hoppinggreen · 07/06/2021 20:14

It may not be authorised as The Head may not be able to but I imagine they will be supportive anyway
Go for it and good luck !

maddiemookins16mum · 07/06/2021 20:16

Take your kids and go and have the most lovely time.

Amelia666 · 07/06/2021 20:17

Yanbu!

Thisisus909 · 07/06/2021 20:17

Headteacher won’t be able to authorise but do it anyway. Absolutely.

Winecheesesleep · 07/06/2021 20:23

100% YANBU and sending you my best wishes

As PPs mentioned I don't think the head will technically be able to approve it but do it anyway.

Hallyup6 · 07/06/2021 20:23

Go and enjoy. It's the end of term and the kids are only young. Don't give it a second thought. I took my 13 year old out of school a couple of weeks ago, having never done it before, but I've got to the point in my life where I feel less guilty about that sort of thing.
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis and I hope your treatment goes well.

oblada · 07/06/2021 20:27

Surely it's a no brainer - enjoy!
In terms of school allowing - assuming school doesn't / cannot allow check the threshold for your local authority. For mine it's 10 days unauthorised in a 12 weeks period that 'can' lead to a fine. In other areas it's stricter. I don't have any qualms taking my kids on holidays during term time as long as they're young enough not to suffer any detriment for it (I don't do it all the time of course).

bumbledeedum · 07/06/2021 20:30

100% take them out. All the best of luck with your treatment, hope it goes as well as it possible can for you and have a lovely holiday.

FortniteBoysMum · 07/06/2021 20:42

Take them. They will be winding down at school shortly. Their young enough to make it up. After this year one week won't make a lot of difference considering the disruption to education that occurred. I'm sure giving circumstances school would authorise it. If not I still doubt they issue a fine.

coastergirl · 07/06/2021 20:50

I was given permission to take my year 1 child out of school for a week before the recent half term holiday. We haven't been away for years, it's the only opportunity we were going to get (family member took us and it could only be that week). My child has additional needs and has been closing his world out a lot, wanting to stay at home playing on his Nintendo. I felt getting away would be beneficial and school agreed, authorised it straight away. Your circumstances are FAR more exceptional. I hope you go and have a wonderful time.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 07/06/2021 20:53

YANBU. Enjoy and good luck!

canary1 · 07/06/2021 20:53

Go and enjoy it, no brainer that the holiday is needed now! Wishing you well with your treatment.

Hurr8cane84 · 07/06/2021 22:14

YANBU. If they were older/ critical GCSE years etc I would have said YABU but they're so young, they won't be doing much in the last week of school anyway.

OldTinHat · 08/06/2021 08:50

Absolutely go on holiday! Have a wonderful time and sending you best wishes for your treatment.

ZarkingBell · 08/06/2021 12:28

Take them. I'm sure the school will agree it's the right thing to do.

Totallyrandomname · 08/06/2021 12:31

YANBU , even without the obviously significant issue of your health, I don’t thinks it’s unreasonable for a family to have one holiday in term time when their children have a decent attendance level.

I hope you all enjoy your holiday.
I also hope the school authorise it. If they don’t I’d put up an absolute stink.

Stockholmvillage · 08/06/2021 12:34

Go!
Second the poster who is an ex teacher. I too am an ex teacher and I don't see the issue with kids being out of school for a week....unless significant exams are looming

OneMamaAndHerGirl · 08/06/2021 12:45

Take them! & enjoy every minute. I’m sorry to hear about your diagnoses, have fun with your babies and forget about everything x

Clymene · 08/06/2021 12:47

Good luck with the treatment and hope you have a lovely holiday

Notworking123 · 10/06/2021 00:51

I'm in a very similar situation and we've already decided we're taking ours out of school early next summer. They're similar ages to yours. Even if school don't officially authorise it I'm sure they'll be understanding. I hope all goes well with your treatment.

kittie01 · 10/06/2021 01:02

Take them out. They don’t do a whole lot and you’ll never get this age back with them. Good luck with your treatment

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