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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take ds out of school for a holiday

93 replies

Lunarmoongown · 27/04/2022 21:14

Please be kind because this is just a thought! So I want to take ds on holiday this year, single parent with no help so money is tight. Ds is year 1 and has never missed a day off school, apart from a couple due to genuine illness (about 5 days off in 2 years) and is very capable academically (school was awarded NTP funds to give extra lessons to kids who may have fallen behind over the lockdown periods, I enquired whether ds could go as extra learning could only be a benefit but was told he doesn't need it as he is already 'up there'). I've looked at holidays and the price is literally double or more just to go a week later once summer hols start. Aibu to want to allow him to miss the last week of school in july for a holiday? The last week or two of school they don't really do anything anyway just loads of fun stuff/games, the same when I was a kid and ds would definitely prefer to be on holiday

I am aware that I may be fined by school but seems worth it to save quite a large chunk of money.

OP posts:
Ahgoonyegirlye · 27/04/2022 22:54

‘Please don't lie. The children will always tell in you, ‘

show me a5/6 year old who will even remember that after 6 weeks off for summer, or a teacher in the new term who will give a shit!

WhiskeyAndGinger · 27/04/2022 22:56

Just do it. We used to with our DC, and the h

Vikinga · 27/04/2022 22:57

Absolutely take him and enjoy yourselves

Juliet2000 · 27/04/2022 22:58

When my dc were little, partner worked in leisure industry so summer holidays were manic at his job and leaving was not an option. We had no choice but to go away in term time. I spoke to the school and they were understanding, especially as both dc were on target educationally. Obviously this didn't happen when they took exams.

YerAWizardHarry · 27/04/2022 23:01

@Testina you sound goady 🙄I have children in my class who have 5 days off per month sometimes let alone over two years.

Vikinga · 27/04/2022 23:02

I'd also call in sick. With all the time off they've had because of covid and rules changing constantly whilst the pricks who set the rules were partying , no way should you pay a fine.

Noone will care nor remember 6 weeks later.

MangyInseam · 27/04/2022 23:10

It will make no difference educationally. I would go if you want to.

RedMake88 · 27/04/2022 23:17

Ignore all the negative people OP. I would do it!! Don’t worry about it. Most teachers would be happy for you to do it if they could actually say so!

oioimatey · 27/04/2022 23:35

Is the fine £60 for each day DC has an unauthorised absence? Or £60 per period they're off?

I think I'd rather pay half the price for a holiday and pay the fine.

PurpleFlower1983 · 27/04/2022 23:47

oioimatey · 27/04/2022 23:35

Is the fine £60 for each day DC has an unauthorised absence? Or £60 per period they're off?

I think I'd rather pay half the price for a holiday and pay the fine.

Usually £50-60 per week.

Lalliella · 27/04/2022 23:49

Do it! We did it twice, for 2 weeks at a time, and our kids were fine.

Djmaggie · 28/04/2022 00:38

YANBU he’s doing well in school. He won’t miss anything the last week and family holidays are just as important as school IMHO

Sunnytwobridges · 28/04/2022 01:44

Testina · 27/04/2022 21:41

Had to laugh at the “never missed a day” with turns out to be 5 days in 5 terms. Which in my school, is more than average.
I mean, do it, don’t do it - but don’t say he’s never missed school if you have to follow that statement with “apart from” 🤣

😂 I was thinking the same thing.. That’s a lot of missed days in a short period of time. But I guess it isn’t for some.

runnerswimmer · 28/04/2022 01:53

Kids abroad dont start school till 6/7. Have a nice holiday OP!

MrsDrSpencerReid · 28/04/2022 02:45

Absolutely do it!

I’m confused by the people that think 5 sick days in 2 years is a lot 🤔My DD sometimes has more than that in a term and she’s year 10! School have never said a word. We’re not in the UK though and it’s quite common here to take your kids out for a holiday, most people do it. We don’t have fines here either.

I once took mine out to do a big US trip and when we got back my DS6 teacher let him do a slideshow photo presentation once a week for 5 weeks on each city we visited! She told us before we left to make sure he got lots of photos to share when he got back. After he’d finished them all he got an award at assembly for ‘interesting and entertaining presentations’ 😂

Rikitikitardis · 28/04/2022 02:46

I would do it without hesitation!
(child psychologist, ex teacher).

Blarting · 28/04/2022 03:56

I don't think a potential university place will be missed by having a holiday in term time.

Enjoy it OP.

transformandriseup · 28/04/2022 04:28

5 days in 2 years is a lot? That wouldn't be a lot at my workplace let alone a for a 4/5/6 year old.

I am not saying it is right but there have been loads of families on holiday in Cornwall in the weeks leading up to the Easter holidays. I think there will be loads more coming down in the run up to the summer holidays given costs increasing everywhere.

palmplantcirca1980s · 28/04/2022 05:30

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

babbi · 28/04/2022 05:59

definitely do it and have a great time …

Roselilly36 · 28/04/2022 06:08

I would do it, if you are in England (unless it’s changed) a fine kicks in if your child misses ten sessions, so that is five school days. If you take him out for four days, so he misses eight sessions you won’t be fined, but it will make a huge difference to the cost of your holiday. Enjoy.

tuliplover · 28/04/2022 06:19

You've already made up your mind so why ask here?
I don't like the idea of taking kids out of school but at Y1 hardly makes any difference at all.

jellybeansandthings · 28/04/2022 06:35

MrsDrSpencerReid · 28/04/2022 02:45

Absolutely do it!

I’m confused by the people that think 5 sick days in 2 years is a lot 🤔My DD sometimes has more than that in a term and she’s year 10! School have never said a word. We’re not in the UK though and it’s quite common here to take your kids out for a holiday, most people do it. We don’t have fines here either.

I once took mine out to do a big US trip and when we got back my DS6 teacher let him do a slideshow photo presentation once a week for 5 weeks on each city we visited! She told us before we left to make sure he got lots of photos to share when he got back. After he’d finished them all he got an award at assembly for ‘interesting and entertaining presentations’ 😂

I'm always taken aback by this too. We are also abroad and the way absence and time off is approached is so different to the UK.
Either UK children are healthier in general, something that seems unlikely, or it's become the norm to send young children to school when basically they are unwell.
I can't really understand the reasons to be honest but maybe it's to do with how things level out.
In my experience, children are pushed, and academically speaking achieve years ahead of their UK counterparts here where we are living, but schools in the UK do a much better job at keeping the pressure off and giving children a more enjoyable and socially minded education, at least up till the last part of high school( that's how it seems anyway)
Possibly the trade off for the pressure that children are under here is that taking days off is expected and that having holiday days during term time is the norm because there are no realistic school breaks aside from Christmas during the school year and school is more than not 6 days a week.

Dahliasandtea · 28/04/2022 06:43

There isn’t an age I wouldn’t do this at except GCSE or ALEVEL but even then they can work it out. It’s a week. It’s the end of term. Go.
our head teacher is very understanding about it. As long as you don’t lie (which they basicaly suspect with a sudden one week illness perfectly timed with the end of school) which he would just take a dim view of. Tell them you will take a book for him to read and a holiday activity book if you like… but in the last week of term my kids are so tired I doubt anything taught stays in their mind for long. Go, have fun.

PugInTheHouse · 28/04/2022 06:49

In Y1 I would take them out so YANBU. However I do think 5 separate days is a lot in 2 academic years but if its covid related stuff being sent home then it's different. Mine have rarely had odd days off school. Only time off has been chunks of time with stomach bugs, flu or covid and once for a hospitalisation. They are 16 and 14 now.

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