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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Why do parents let kids off school a few days before the end of term?

62 replies

Coffeenoww · 23/06/2022 09:18

I'm in N. Ireland schools finish next week for the summer (yes 9 weeks long lucky us) but I've had to listen to my 14 year old moaning that absolutely nobody is in school and I am unreasonable to making her go in. Dropped her off this morning on my way to work and it seems she's correct the school looked like a ghost town.
I understand some will be going on holiday etc. And thats sort of OK but this is every term the school breaks up! If schools open I send them always did through primary and now definitely in secondary. I know they aren't doing much but better there than hanging around the house, am I wrong? Is it normal to give your children an extra 2-4 days off when school stops for Halloween, Christmas and summer hols?

OP posts:

Doona · 23/06/2022 10:12

The last day of term is all choral performances, which are super spreader events. I'm tempted to let them skip.

Itsonlyabiscuit · 23/06/2022 10:14

Northern Irish here too. I NEVER went to school on half days the whole way through my school career, primary and secondary. I did enjoy the last week of term when we could get the big TV wheeled out of the AV room and all sit on tables to watch Baz Lurhmann's Romeo+Juliet on video. I'm now a teacher myself and have to show up for the half days unfortunately! And the 8/9 week holiday was never too long for me, a sentiment that hasn't changed with time!

Creambluepink · 23/06/2022 10:18

We really aren’t supposed to show films.

It is difficult though, as that last half term lasts forever, year 11 and 13 have gone, the weather is nice, you’ve exhausted the topic on the curriculum, half the class have filled their books but no point giving out a new exercise book …

RoseLunarPink · 23/06/2022 10:21

They don't do any work for weeks at the end of term at our supposedly great primary school. Pisses me right off that they reserve the right to stop bothering and do nothing, but missing school even if you're ill is seen as an issue, with attendance rewards and all that crap.

I understand going on summer trips, and I remember bringing in games and playing them at school on the very last day of summer term. I don't actually think it's great for there to be a culture of loads of families taking their kids out, but I can totally see how it's happened.

Hell in a handcart etc.

RoseLunarPink · 23/06/2022 10:22

you’ve exhausted the topic on the curriculum

Shouldn't the curriculum be designed to fill up the year?

10HailMarys · 23/06/2022 10:27

I don't have kids so no idea how prevalent this is, but I do know that when I was a teenager I broke my leg about three weeks before the start of the summer holidays and was therefore either in hospital or at home for the last three weeks of term. Teachers were meant to set me work to do at home in line with what my classmates were learning ... it soon became clear from what I was being set to do at home that my classmates were learning basically nothing for the last weeks of term. We'd had our annual school exams just before I had my accident and I think the teachers and the pupils all just kind of downed tools. The work I was set took me, at most, about two hours a week.

Mammma91 · 23/06/2022 10:27

I had this exact thought when I dropped my 3 year old at nursery today - there was 9 kids in! Out of 30 odd!! I was just a bit 😨 but he’ll be home with me the entire summer holidays, it’s his last day with his key worker before he goes to another nursery, half day tomorrow before they finish up for summer. I’m starting to wonder if I’m being unreasonable too!

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 23/06/2022 10:29

@MrsDrSpencerReid

Not relevant to the thread, but why are they striking?

easyday · 23/06/2022 10:30

I don't understand it either. Last week in primary was activity week and lots of fun activities and a day trip to an amusement park. Secondary and there's still lessons going on. The last half day may seem a waste - an ultra long assembly and just saying good bye, cleaning out their lockers etc, but I wouldn't, and my children didn't, ever leave early.

Creambluepink · 23/06/2022 10:30

@RoseLunarPink it should, but I think they just come to a point where they can’t really take any more in, to be honest.

Caspianberg · 23/06/2022 10:33

I remember the last 3 days being made to clean out desks, lockers, cloakrooms, sharpening pencils, watching a film.
Hardly anyone turned up.

lolil · 23/06/2022 10:34

2 of mine are autistic and never coped with the disruption of the last week of term. They always stayed off. It was better for them and better for school. Never a problem.

Snuffy28 · 23/06/2022 10:36

Not much happens during the last week of term. Teachers are busy with stripping the walls, tidying up, and often they'll put a film on or the children will be sent out to play.
They're not missing any critical learning.

weebarra · 23/06/2022 10:46

DS2 is in his last year of primary so there are interesting things going on - and he'll be piped out on the last day so that's exciting. He has asd so does find it quite tough.
DS1 is missing the last morning to see his wee brother get piped out, but he's already moaning that he'll be the only person in school next week (they finish on Thursday)!

PaddleBoardingMomma · 23/06/2022 10:48

I don't understand it either, I'm in NI too and the 9 weeks is more than enough, plus still cheaper if you fly out the first week when the other kids in the UK aren't off yet. She finishes next Thursday and we leave on the Friday, I wouldn't take her out for it!

Icannoteven · 23/06/2022 11:04

My mother used to let us stay home at the end of term. It as because there were no proper lessons, we were just left to watch video's while the teachers got on with planning or marking. The last few days were pointless. It also got us out of participating in sports day or speech day, which to be frank neither us children or our parents were remotely interested in attending.

'Oooh great, I got a prize for English/music/attendance whatever. What do I get? Oh, a chance to sit in an overheated hall listening to people drone on about school values and a sweaty handshake from the headmistress? No thank you. Hard pass'. 😁

MistressIggi · 23/06/2022 11:11

I'm surprised so many are not doing lessons - is this based on what your dc say to you? I plan something a bit more fun for the last lesson, but up to about Wednesday of next week (I'm in Scotland) we are definitely doing normal work! We are doing next year's timetable (everyone has moved up a year) so maybe that helps.

crabbitmaw · 23/06/2022 11:15

Because they don't do anything useful in the last days. They watch movies or play with their phones. Its very clear that with my dc (secondary) school, things started winding down around 3 weeks ago. Last day of term is Tuesday 28 June. So, its basically a month of increasingly pointless classes. If you are aiming for perfect attendance scores, I see the point in sending them in. Particularly as they move higher up the school and it counts towards university applications and the like. Mine are S1 and S2 (Scotland) so I'm completely unbothered about whether they do nothing useful at home or in a classroom. Saves me some ironing!

Titsflyingsouth · 23/06/2022 11:27

Do they?

The only reason people pull their kids out early in our school is for booked holidays. Otherwise, they are in school until the end of term....

Change123today · 23/06/2022 11:28

My parents never let me skip the end of term :)

As we both work I’ve never pulled my children out . Even my eldest who is autistic went to the end - they often found the winding down good as the core routine was still in place (other than the mufti days which they thankfully stopped!) She is now at uni and again stayed till the last date she could in her halls!
They also never wanted to miss the end of year parties at someone house that would happen.

I get that people many for cheaper holidays etc but I find it weird to let them just stay at home …when they then off for the long holidays! Hate to say it but trust me I don’t want to work in the last few days before holiday but still have to go in!

Rosebel · 23/06/2022 11:31

Never done it myself but I know some of DDs friends aren't in the last few days of term. Eldest is finishing today(GCSE s) but I've already seen younger children around and we have another month of school left.
They don't seem to do much in the last week but I still sent them in. I'm quite often seen as being mean when I enforce this but they do get 6 weeks off.

Yodaisawally · 23/06/2022 11:33

Two of my NI cousins have taken their kids on holiday

balalake · 23/06/2022 11:38

I doubt it is as many as your 14 year old claims it to be.

Anothernameforallthis · 23/06/2022 11:43

I always had to go to school till the bitter end : my mum was a teacher.

Here in France, as well as the 8 week holiday, my 11yo is finished at school on the 27th - 9 school days before the end of term ! School is closed for exams, then teachers are marking, then… idk. They will take them back for ‘activities’ on the last day but that’s it and frankly what’s the point? This year he’s been invited to go with a friend to stay with his grandparents down south for the whole of the last week.

It’s very normal here to leave 11+ yrs home alone all day.

SunflowerGardens · 23/06/2022 11:47

Itsonlyabiscuit · 23/06/2022 10:14

NI here too and I was the same, now when I send my kid in for the last day and it's like a 2 hour day I wonder if the teachers are judging me like I should be keeping him at home

My sons school is quieter this week too but still plenty in. They've got a party and various things next week to keep kids coming in for. I don't get why you'd want the kids at home when they could be in school playing with their friends and generally not getting under your feet!

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