To think about taking kids on summer holiday in term time?

[Summer2024]

Kids are 8 and 6. They haven’t been on a ‘beach holiday’ outside the U.K. except once when DC1 was a toddler.

We would love to take them on one of those all-inclusive Holiday Village or similar resorts with slides, kid’s entertainment, close to beach etc. we’ve been looking to book in summer 24 but unfortunately we just cannot justify the (Minimum) £5k this would cost in the summer holidays. It’s about half price in term time, so thinking next June.

my parents would also love to join us (and provide some free-babysitting when we are there!) but are unable/unwilling to pay the August prices. They do go on a European holiday every year and are used to term time prices.

the LA (if they enforce a fine) would charge us £240 (£60 per child per parent for the entire absence). Which is a drop in the ocean compared to some of the cost savings.

their attendance is pretty good, they don’t get sick often. So haven’t missed much school when it’s been open. WIBU to take them out for a holiday?

Going in term time to visit an elderly relative who cannot travel, or for a once in a long time event such as one that is a part of your heritage, I would agree with.

This is not one of them.

I'm a teacher and currently in Y2. Remember that your child may miss a whole topic in maths for example so may need your help catching up. For example, the units on measures or time take about 2 weeks so it could be that they miss all of it. As PP said, don't ask the teacher to give you work for them or expect them to catch up in school time. I'd happily tell you what they were missing while you were away though.

I can be quite black and white in my thinking. I am of the opinion that if you can't afford it within the terms of the contract you have with your schools education provider, then you can't afford it. For the vast majority of people it's not a choice between no holiday at all or take them out in term-time for 3 nights at Pontins. You are choosing a particular type of holiday.

You have to just take it on the chin that it's a choice that's against the rules and you'll get fined. And judged a bit, by boring old busybodies like me 😅But I do hope you'll have a lovely time (sincerely!)

I did it every year, there was absolutely no way i was paying the higher prices.

May is not possible because of my job. Its our busiest month and annual leave would not be approved. DH's parents visit us every October / November (they live abroad and it's the best time for them to travel), and look after DC's during the October half term. So it only really leaves the 6 week summer holidays, unless we go term time.

Honestly, life is too short, I have had friends die unexpectedly before the age of 40, just book the holiday and go. Lots of people do it. Be prepared to catch up any topics but do not ask school to provide any extra work, just keep back a set of whatever they cover in that week.

Dh could not dictate his holidays due to his job and that included aligning with summer holidays so we took both children out of primary once for a week because it was then or possibly never.

Thanks for the tips too! we will be honest with the school.

Hoping they won't miss much. Someone mentioned time and unit measurements being taught in a week - but these are vital skills, which I guess kids must continue to learn and grasp both in and outside of school throughout primary.

I'm going to Holiday Village Benalmadena this week. My dcs are the same age. One week all inclusive has cost us just under £3,500 once you add on the cost for being seated together on the plane. Still not cheap but not as expensive as what you're quoting. We booked in January. Tui often offer 'free child place'. It's the least swish of holiday villages hence the cheaper price.

But otherwise, I don't think a week off school at that age is the end of the world especially if attendance is good the rest of the year.

It’s not unusual at all at my DCs primary.

I believe where I live you won’t get fined if it’s less than 5 days missed.

Ive not done it before but we are strongly considering doing it next year. If the kids have good attendance otherwise and willing to put in a bit of extra work for catching up then I don’t see the issue.

I totally agree with PP that life is short so just go for it.

I’ve taken my DC out in term time for a holiday during primary school.
You can catch them up on what they missed in school yourself. If you can’t afford a holiday in the school holidays you won’t be able to teach them a fake memory of a holiday if you don’t go IYSWIM. Life is too short. Like others say be honest that you are taking them out for a holiday though.

@Ionapussy you say cheaper price, but to book that same place in 3 weeks time (I've just run it, Newcastle airport - 21st Sept) for 2 adults and 2 kids is a total of £2100, that's a £1300 difference. More than 2 months worth of mortgage payments for us.

Do you have enough annual leave to cover the holidays and take time off term time?

I know it will be cheaper in term time but OP seems to think she has to spend a minimum of £5k for a holiday and I'm just demonstrating that isn't the case. If she hadn't mentioned holiday village (where I have coincidentally booked) I wouldn't have said anything.

yeah sorry @Ionapussy I totally misread your post (it's been one of those Mondays even though it's Tuesday hah)

I have no children. The organisation I worked for before retirement mainly did its business in term time and it was frowned upon to take holidays then (odd day or two of AL fine). And my DH worked in HE so it was awkward for him too.

@Summer2024 I mentioned time and measurement - they were just examples as different schools will teach units at slightly different times. I just meant that some whole units could be taught in the time you are off so it is worth checking what they will miss.

Yes time and measurement will be revisited. But for example, we focus on telling the time to the nearest 15 minutes in Y2. If a child misses that, they will do time again in Y3 but to the nearest 5 minutes. So if you don't cover it with them at home then they won't have that foundation. Obviously your child may already know how to tell the time - this was just an example.

I’ve done this and paid the fine but it was a UK holiday.

It worked out cheaper to pay the fine than it was to go out of term time.

Would happily do it again

I am a teacher and have taken DS out when our holidays haven't aligned.

As others have said - please don't ask for work to take away and then ask us to help catch up what they have missed. Also not from Year 9 onwards.

I also don't know any secondary school where it's DBDs all week! Too scared of getting the OFSTED call!

DVDs

Don’t be honest - say they’re ill and you won’t get fined. You have to brazen it out but it will save you a lot of money!

I took mine out last year, it was the best holiday we ever had! You know the fine will come so just incorporate it into the cost of the holiday. Have an amazing time!!

My parents did it every single year of my childhood. Wouldn't have gone otherwise. Both my sibling and I are high achieving professionals. I'd do it unless my kids were struggling with school.

I would take them out of school.

The only time I wouldn't is if they were in key years for school and/or they were struggling academically and already had poor attendance through sickness or something. Then I would reconsider.

I wonder how much is raised from fines, and how many are only levied once compared to those who do this every year. I also wonder how many come about because of separated/divorced parents each wanting to take their child on holiday.

This is what I would love LOVE to do ( we can't really afford the £120 fine to be honest as it will cost more than we will be paying for the UK seaside break itself) but I know DC age 6 will blab even though were going away the week before they break up for Christmas so maybe they will assume we went during the Christmas break 😂

I'm far FAR too much of a goody two shoes though and afraid of all perceived authority figures (I would literally be looking over my shoulder constantly) and scared people on my fb would blab or ill be dragged to prison LOL
I've had to steel myself to even make the initial decision to take the holiday during term time, lying about it though would be even more anxiety inducing! At the moment not sure if I will tell the truth or just phone him in sick.... DH says just lie and he's happy to phone in but I keep flip-flopping (what if they knock on our door etc lol!)