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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To despair at holiday prices! Do your take your DCs out of school??

91 replies

Yesiminsane · 03/01/2023 22:44

Have you done it if so how long and did you pay a fine?

DC is in reception and one of oldest in the year so wondering about taking him out for a week in summer...

OP posts:
MilkyYay · 03/01/2023 22:46

We have changed the sort of holiday we do to manage the cost. We will be camping in the UK in summer holiday.

MilkyYay · 03/01/2023 22:50

Ps lots took reception DC out. The school/teachers don't like it though.

If you do it though, make sure you catch up what your DC miss in your own time, don't ask the teacher to or complain if they are behind on anything.

Randomness12 · 03/01/2023 22:50

Yes, I took mine out in June and will do again otherwise we won’t go. My dd is engaged in learning, has excellent attendance, does her homework and is doing well. Im comfortable a week out won’t ruin her education. I’d only really not do it if it was a GCSE year.

Sarah061991 · 03/01/2023 22:52

I take mine out during term for holidays, never would have dreamed of years ago, however, life is too short and learning happens everywhere, memories made means a lot more than a week in school imo. No fines as we are Scotland, unsure if fines are an English thing

oblada · 03/01/2023 22:54

Yes I do take mine outside of school holidays occasionally.
You just need to know the rules for your LA. For us it's only a fine after 10 days missed over 10weeks.... My kids are generally doing very well at school so not causing any issue to miss a week here and there (not more than a week per academic year ideally).

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 03/01/2023 22:57

Yes we do but only 3 or 4 days early as then we stay under threshold for fines which usually are 10 sessions/5 days. Tbf if we had to pay fine it would still be cheaper and we hate holidays during school holidays as too many kids!

JJJSchmidt · 03/01/2023 22:58

We take dd out for up to a week per year. Before covid i was completely against it but now i know how much she kearna from experieneces as well as the classroom. I am lucky that dd finds catching up very easy.

For us it's not only the price difference, but also busyness levels which can make a real difference to enjoyment.

We allow 5 days oer academic year. Last year 3 of those were for a short UK break and one day to go to London so it wasn't rammed. We also utilise different European holidays to take advantage of breaks in northen europe.

Whee · 03/01/2023 22:59

I'm a teacher and I'd do it. A week off school in primary is fine if they have otherwise good attendance.

Edwardwilliamnancy · 03/01/2023 23:00

No but this year and last year we booked going away on an inset day meaning its slightly cheaper we also go easter holidays as its cheaper than may/summer time.
Going away a day earlier has saved £550 for 4 of us. Also choosing different flights saved us a bit and gives us extra day in resort.

Coasterfan · 03/01/2023 23:00

We used to take them out in June for a couple of weeks, sometimes we d fly the back end of half term so they d miss maybe a week and a half? This was when they were in primary. We never got fined but even if we did it was still cheaper than going away in the summer holidays. We would then camp for 2-3 weeks in august. I won’t do it now they are in secondary though, we haven’t been abroad in 4 years now!

SEND2022 · 03/01/2023 23:00

I did in October for 5 days and the school authorised it, I was shocked.

I wouldn't once past primary school age but they also did so much learning on holiday it was more productive than the last week of term in school.

KitchenDiscos · 03/01/2023 23:01

I’ve taken DC out for two days so far (long weekend away in Dec) and will be booking to take them away for a week in May (4 days as it’ll coincide with a bank holiday Monday).

The difference in cost is thousands, and DC are in Reception and Y2, doing really well academically, and a few days will not make a difference.

As a former primary school teacher, I did feel a bit “naughty”, having to fill out a holiday form, but my DC’s lovely teachers wished us a happy holiday!

MonkeyPuddle · 03/01/2023 23:01

I don’t take mine out of school. I don’t think a week on a random pool side in Tenerife or wherever trumps being at school, personal choice though isn’t it.
We usually go to a caravan park in Easter (much cheaper than summer) and we’re looking at getting camping equipment to be able to go away in the summer hols.
As a family our budget is worked out pretty tightly but we have Easter booked, a week in a caravan for £325 plus food and spends and I think that’s a bargain. We will spend time on the beach, whatever the weather, in the pool and just being together.
For us a holiday is time spent together, not necessarily where you are, but I appreciate that is different for others.

Busybody2022 · 03/01/2023 23:02

MonkeyPuddle · 03/01/2023 23:01

I don’t take mine out of school. I don’t think a week on a random pool side in Tenerife or wherever trumps being at school, personal choice though isn’t it.
We usually go to a caravan park in Easter (much cheaper than summer) and we’re looking at getting camping equipment to be able to go away in the summer hols.
As a family our budget is worked out pretty tightly but we have Easter booked, a week in a caravan for £325 plus food and spends and I think that’s a bargain. We will spend time on the beach, whatever the weather, in the pool and just being together.
For us a holiday is time spent together, not necessarily where you are, but I appreciate that is different for others.

Lots of us don't go and sit pool side for a week when we go. My two did loads.

PhilCollinsFanGirl · 03/01/2023 23:04

I do but only on the basis that my children are performing adequately in school and I'm making my best effort for them to each have decent attendance/complete their homework and after school clubs etc

We all know this rule has only been introduced because of a certain type of parent who cba to actually get their kid into school. If you're not that type of parent then I'd do it without a shade of guilt if it is the difference between being able to afford it and not.

TheDietStartsTomorrowOrMaybeTheDayAfter · 03/01/2023 23:04

Luckily our kids are adults now but when they weren’t it was awful. £3k for five of us in Turkey. That was half board for 7 days so we spent about another £1k on eating out/drinks/souvenirs/day trips/tips for staff. This was just a modest 3 start hotel too 😢 It was a great holiday though and the staff were fab. We accidentally took the kids on a booze cruise complete with a foam party but they loved it. I thought it was family friendly but it wasn’t. All
good fun!

quietnightmare · 03/01/2023 23:05

Just do it.
If the headteacher is reasonable then ask permission

If they are not a reasonable headteacher then take them out and you can argue the case if you get fined which is something like £60 per child per parent. Show the headteacher pictures of educational things on holiday and that will suffice in sure

MonkeyPuddle · 03/01/2023 23:06

@Busybody2022 yeah that’s grand, it’s why I said it’s personal preference.
Lots of people I know, family, friends etc go away and it is usually a resort holiday, nothing against that, I’d love a week laid in the sun, but most people aren’t going away for a deep dive into Greco Roman history.

quietnightmare · 03/01/2023 23:07

I'm or tell a little fib that all your family will be meeting at said destination and it will be the only chance all the family have been together for years thanks to Covid and will be for some time as all the family live in different places in the world

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 03/01/2023 23:09

I've taken mine out three times so far. Once for centre parcs in reception, spring term, she was still 4 so not compulsory school age anyway (so no fine applies). Once for a week to the lakes in June, year 2, my parents organised it and wouldn't entertain doing it during school holidays for price plus busyness - she'd had so much home school at that point I didn't give a shit about a week away. Ten days in year 4 for first ever foreign holiday. Won't be able to afford to go away for the next year or so, and then she'll be in year 6 so I probably won't. I would consider taking out in yr7 and yr8, but not yr9, 10 or 11.

I used to be a teacher, now that I'm not there's no way I'm sticking to school holidays!

DappledThings · 03/01/2023 23:28

I accidentally did in June when we got caught up in the Eastjet chaos and came home after half-term 3 days late. Felt really guilty and that we'd been disrespectful to the school. I wouldn't do it intentionally.

BellaCiao1 · 03/01/2023 23:43

I'n a teacher and I would take mine out if I was able to.

One week isn't going to make or break or break an education. 5 single days over few weeks IMO is more disruptive.

Honper · 03/01/2023 23:48

I did yeah when they were younger. School were fine - adopted a sensible approach - and lots of people did it. The only thing to bear in mind is if you need to pay for extra weeks of holiday club because you don't have enough annual leave.

AmazonianAvatar · 03/01/2023 23:51

Absolutely! Did it with all 4 of mine. The fine was irrelevant compared to the saving on the cost of the holiday, £2-4k on average and we’re only talking Turkey, Italy, Greece, France. Also places were not rammed with people so more enjoyable which was a massive bonus!

DC1 has 1st degree and now a good job and DC2 is currently at Uni so no effect on their education. They’ve seen more of the world and different cultures that they would have.

Just make sure no assessments or exams taking place.

Baublesandtinsel · 03/01/2023 23:56

Yes take mine out once a year normally fly out Friday evening then bk home late Saturday evening so they have 5 days off, never had a fine and if i did it would still be cheaper than going in the school holidays.