Would you take 5 year old out of school?

[Savador]

family are saying I am being unreasonable because I will not take DD out of school for a family holiday, I don’t want a fine and education is important to me. Please tell me I’m not the only one who feels this way?

🙄

End of term definitely. We went away and missed the first few days of term when ds was 5 and he really struggled with settling back into a new class when he returned. He was a sensitive soul and I really regretted that.

I'm a teacher. ...I definitely would

I’m not against it, my 5YO missed 2 days for a wedding so I guess I’ve done but generally the school summer holidays are too bloody long without a holiday to break it up! I just wouldn’t want my main holiday to be during term time. Not to mention the juggling of annual leave if you both work.

She's 5.

At some point in the next 11 years of her education an illness could take her a week out of education.

I'd go on holiday during term time with an infant child.

Probably would with a junior but wouldn't with a senior because at that point illness affecting attendance and a holiday would have greater effect.

With summer and Christmas generally the last week of term is off timetable, no new learning, no assessments so I would take them out if the pros of the holiday outweighed the fun activities going on in school.
Other terms I'd try and avoid it because it would get in the way of new learning and assessment.
I oncw had a boy go off in the middle.of year two sats to watch the women's world cup. Whilst it was a pain rerunning the assessments for him, the value added to the class when he came back and talked about his experience was great. Inspired lots of girls into football club.
I

We’ve had a similar ‘discussion’ with my inlaws. We will not be taking DD out of school for holidays. We are both teachers but grandparents want to take her away for a long weekend. We’ve said no, but have said if it’s that important to them we will drive her down on the Friday night and pick her up on the Sunday. Not popular but a battle im quite willing to fight with them.

YANBU.

Its irrelevant how old a child is, they can be ‘behind’ their peers in reception just as easily as they can be in Y6 or Y10. Some children can miss two weeks of school with no problem whatsoever, but some children need every day at school they can get, even when they’re young.

We can’t have different attendance rules for the high ability children who pick everything up easily and those who need to go over everything 20 times before it sticks, nor can we have different rules for the parents who engage with their children’s education and read every day and those who never even bother to open the book bag. All these things make a difference as to whether a term time holiday will have a negative impact on education or not, but unfortunately some parents care more about saving a few hundred pounds than they do their child’s education and school experiences.

Yes I have done it and would do it now even with my older (but not in crucial year group) dc. We don't get fined in Scotland though although I know often the holiday saving off sets the fine anyway for many

I take mine out of school every year for holidays. They are now aged 13 and 9. We will stop when eldest reaches the exam years.

No fines where I live. Even if there were I would factor that in to the price of the holiday and it would still be worth it.

My children both manage fine educationally and I think the benefits of the holiday are important.

I took my 9yo out of school 2 days before they broke up for Easter this year because of flight times. The headteacher was a little awkward at first and had me send proof of the holiday being cancelled 3 times due to Thomas Cook and Covid. She told me we would be fined £60 per day. He missed a school trip to a Roman museum. Instead we went to a real amphitheater in Turkey and had a picnic on the steps, he got to walk around and learn all about what the different ruins were and a guide let him take a piece of mosaic and a small piece of roof tile. He bought Roman coins. We went in a mosque and learnt about Muslim practices, he got given a Qur'an. When he went back to school he was asked to stand up in assembly and show his artefacts! We never got a fine. I think it depends on attendance and the local council and if over so many days.
I took my eldest out when he was 5 and he cooked a steak on a volcano! There are things you can do on holiday that just can't be done over here/at school.
Offer to take some work with you on holiday if it isn't too much extra for the teacher to do. My son did doodle English and maths on his tablet everyday on holiday (not through school).

Offer to take some work with you on holiday if it isn't too much extra for the teacher to do.

Don't do this. It is too much to expect of the teacher and they aren't legally bound to provide sick or holidaying children with any catch up.
Your choice to take them out. Teacher has enough to do planning for when they come back without faffing about making idiot proof worksheets.

Quite right. Children should be in school - terms are very short and there is plenty of time remaining for holidays.

If its for 2 weeks right in the middle of term then no I wouldn't, if its to miss a day or two before or after a half term holiday, or miss the last week of summer term then absolutely yes.

Ive taken my son out the last week of summer term a good few times, they are never doing any work then. And he has missed a day just before or after easter holidays before due to flight times. I dont feel bad about that, he has perfect attendance otherwise and some kids are off sick all the time.

Offer to take some work with you on holiday if it isn't too much extra for the teacher to do.
Err no! You want to take your kid away during term time, that's up to you but don't expect me to prepare separate work for you. Cos, you know, teaching isn't just about printing off worksheets. We actually teach the children using practical resources and examples which your child will be missing.
In my experience, the end of term is ok but a big chunk missed during term time is very disruptive.
And here's a thought: how would you feel if teachers just fucked off on holiday during term time 🤷‍♀️😂

Yanbu.

We are planning to this year because our big family holiday was postponed with covid. We will only do it once.

My understanding is that local authorities can prosecute over any number of unauthorised absence but often choose to do a penalty notice fine instead.

So I have no intention to do it again.

generally I dont think most kids lose out much from 1 week a year as long as parents are actively engaged in their childs learning. I'd like to see a system whereby schools can set their own school holidays to make it cheaper for holidays and/or 1 week is reserved for parents to get an affordable break or take kids out for odd days if they need a day to catch up. Unless the gov were able to cap the price increases at half term which isn't really possible but it means that some kids never get a holiday

We often miss one or two days after half term because we have to work around DH rota. The timing of when they are issued prevents booking any significant time in the summer holiday.

I would and regularly have, my dd1 is going into Yr 6 next year though so that's the end of it for us

Wow how clever are you. Maybe you should become a teacher. Then again sarcasm isn’t part of the present curriculum.

Time together with parents at five is far more valuable than time at school. One week? Take her out!

Effect = noun Affect = verb

@Silverfinch Both effect and affect can be nouns and verbs. You can effect a change, as well as have an effect on something. Your actions can affect the outcome of something, and you can conduct yourself with a certain affect.

So...

I have no clue on stuff like this, I think my mum must have pulled me out of school to go on holiday the day it was covered

So...knock on effect is a compound noun. Knock on affect makes no sense and you'd really expect a teacher to understand the difference.

I’m an ex teacher. Currently on holiday with my 6 year old which we started during term time. I know how much holiday we can take without the LEA fining us.

I wasn't being sarcastic. And I highly doubt you're that familiar with the curriculum yourself