Taking DC out of school for a holiday - how to tell them?

[BlueberryMeringue]

Slight trepidation about this!

Do I just tell them and prepare for them to tell me that I’ve ruined his education, or do I email them after half term and pretend we were already on holiday and are stuck out there for another week?

TIA.

I don’t fill in the forms either. If it’s not going to be authorised, I don’t see the point.

I would work with the school as it’s not their fault these forms and systems are in place.

There is the wider debate as to whether these things should be in place at all. We’re now in Canada and when I tell them the system for taking kids out of school in the UK, they look at me as if I’ve completely lost it. They can’t imagine a system where you couldn’t do whatever you pleased with your kids. Obviously if the child is struggling it would be addressed but the thought of not being able to freely take your children out of school unthinkable!

Some of these replies are just 🙄

Work with the school not against it.

So odd. We took ds out for a hiday. I popped into office, asked for form, filled it out... took 2 mins. Handed it in and left. Duly received a formal not-authorised email. Away we went.

Doesn't need to be a big deal.

They have covid.

I wouldn't request the time because they can't authorise it and will just fine you anyway. Just say they're sick.

Do you need to give a reason? Don’t you just fill in a holiday form?

And say / do what if child tells everyone hes been away?

I've only taken DS out of school twice, each for one day. At our school, we have to write a letter. I just stated he would be out of school on those days and gave a brief reason. The first was because we were going abroad to celebrate his grandad's birthday and to my surprise they authorised it; I really wasn't expecting that. The second was because our flights were half the price if we came back the day school started rather than the day before. The school simply replied to acknowledge my letter and say it would have to be unauthorised. No recriminations from the school and we weren't fined.

I would always tell the truth as children talk. One of the children in DS's class went on holiday in school time recently and her parents lied and said she was ill. Apparently several of the kids in the class were saying quite loudly "She's not ill, she's gone on holiday!"

I can’t get my head round being too gutless to just tell school I’d booked a holiday, but not being too gutless to lie through my teeth about a fake - and very obviously so - “stuck” extra week 🤣

I had a chat with the Head - said "so we need to have the talk where I ask for taking them on holiday, you tut and tell me it's not authorised and look disapproving and then we both go ahead with it anyway"

He just laughed and nodded and said chuck it in an email cos they've done away with forms - but our head is ridiculously laid back about it all!

Yes at our last school there was a South African mum who had a stand off with the head teacher about how she couldn't dictate if or when she was allowed to take her kids to visit family.
TBF it's not the heads fault, they are following gov guidelines.
FWIW I've never "asked" but I've told them kids won't be at school and why. Done it every year at 3 different schools and only once did we get a letter saying you might get a fine from the LA. We didn't in the end.

Who is them? School or your children? What age group?

In our school you download the form send it into school and then you get a letter saying they wont grant permission and then you go and enjoy your holiday.

You need to tell the truth. I’ve seen when people lie it’s become a safeguarding issue as the location of the child is unknown. In one situation the Mum was found out to be in Spain said child wasn’t in Spain with her but staying with aunty but ill. Aunty didn’t know anything about it. In the end it turned out child was with Mum but Mum hadn’t told work she was in Spain either - unfortunately school dropped in her it with work.

My son will be missing the first 2 days when they go back to school in September.

Im a bit stuck on how to report this as I have never taken him out of school for holidays.
We are going back home due to my grandma having medical issues as wanting to meet my kids before she passes.

I would prefer to be honest and hope that 2 days would not lead to a fine. But I have had people suggesting to just call in sick instead.

Would love to hear other opinions.
Thank you