To take ds out of school for a holiday

[Lunarmoongown]

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.

Christ @HappyGoDucky - my child has had about 15 days off (maybe more) in one academic year all for genuine illness - covid, chicken pox, severe asthma and loads of sodding PCR waiting days. 5 days sounds great to me

100% do it.

Just check the fines. Ours was £120

Do the fines kick in once the child has been absent for 5 days? If so I would try and send him in on the Monday then go on holiday on the Tuesday (last week of term).

Ridiculous how much learning my primary school child missed in the last two years, when the school couldn’t seem to provide homeschooling of any value apart from some worksheets (no actual teaching). But they can still fine parents for “lost learning”. I mean, that’s just so stupid it beggars belief.

The best bit about this thread is op coming back to reply sarcastically to replies she doesn't like.

If you're gonna do it just do it, don't feel guilty or play for sympathy. Own your decisions.

I'm also a single parent with two dc, I know how expensive it is. You make a choice. I make mine, you make yours.
Whether you're unreasonable or not is a pretty subjective thing tbh.

But don't post on MN asking and then bicker with the replies you don't like.

Yanbu I wouldn't give it a second thought @Lunarmoongown

I'm pulling my son out for 6 days. Building the inevitable fine into the cost of the holiday. He's now year 7 but this holiday has been cancelled 4 different times over the last 2 years, due to covid and trying to match 4 adults work schedules is almost impossible. At 6 I definitely wouldn't hesitate! For some it's only way of affording a holiday .

at that age YANBU

however I wouldn't expect my kids to lie. I would be upfront with the school.

Also, a reason I have not previously done it myself is that I have limited annual leave and if I take time out at term time that creates an extra weeks' worth of headache. Assume you have a plan for that?

Single mum here. Just do it.

I worked out that it's cheaper to do that and pay for the extra "holiday club" stuff so I could work than it is to take the holiday during summer break.

Basically no work and free play. I don't feel like this is 'unmissable'

your second post!

you clearly think this is absolutely not unreasonable so why the heck start a thread on it? Just do it. You were aways going to anyway!

Private school here
i dropped them a line to say mine would be missing last two days of school due to a holiday
their response “Hope you and the children have a lovely time.”

@tomatoandherbs yes ours are the same, Y11 DS is missing tomorrow afternoon (my fault as thought they were on study leave but they actually stay on till May half term) but the school still said have a lovely time and didn't comment on the absence.

My brothers DS when in Y4 was off for a week for holiday after restrictions were lifted, due to their jobs they can't take summer hols off at all. The school said no and fined them £75 each. What is frustrating is that during covid they provided a handful of worksheets that last about 2 days and they had to constantly request work just so their DS wasn't sat around doing nothing, SIL ended up using BBC bitesize etc just so he had a couple of hours a day of work.

I do understand that if everyone is off it is disruptive but a week in infants or juniors is not going to make a difference to a child who generally attends well and is doing well academically.

Do it. When he's 15 it won't mean a thing that he missed a week when he Was 6!

Absolutely do it. Countries with better education standards than ours don't even have children in school at 5. There isn't anything he will learn in that week that he can't catch up on. But you will all always remember the holiday

Surely, that depends on where you go!

I've taken my primary DD out of school a couple of times. I'm planning on going away in October after she has done her 11+. School have been fine with it.

Just to add I'd not take my DD out in the last week as she'd be sad at missing all the fun!

Ironic that isn't it? Those that harp on about missing education is a joke. Your child is not going to fall behind because they have had 2 weeks off of school. If that's the case your DC must of been very behind already! I can't believe after covid people are still pursuing that argument... really.

I take my kids out of school every year for a family holiday.

We are away to Lanzarote next week - making the most of the extra bank holidays.

We do this because I am quite unwilling to pay the exorbitant costs of term time holidays. We will stop when my eldest reaches the exam years.

I am in Scotland so no fines here but I know plenty of English people who just factor the cost of fines into the price of the holiday.

Lets also not forget that we've been told for the last 2 years not to worry about kids missing school because they will catch up. 😜

Enjoy your holiday OP