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?

I’m a teacher (secondary) but I don’t blame people who do this, especially if it’s the last 2 weeks. Wouldn’t recommend if they were older but at primary school it’s fine! I’m just jealous I can’t do the same!!

I take my 10 year old out a couple of times a year. She starts high school this year and I intend to continue. Single parent so IF I get fined which I haven't yet its £60!
I highly recommend Turkey, Atlantique Holiday Club in Kusadasi, on the beach, great water park.

I'd do it and have told family and friends to do so when there children are in primary school.

I can't. I teach so I've only ever had one year where it was possibility - which we took. Saved a fortune on the same holiday we'd have booked regardless by going in June rather than August.

Anything important at primary school will be repeated numerous times and built on.

Due to the whole factory lockdown thing growing up me and my siblings had term time holidays every year outside of exam years. We all grew up still valuing school and education, all got good grades, all went to university and nine of us 'suffered' from 1-2 weeks of missed school. Our attendance records outside of those holidays was perfectly fine too.

Whilst 'beach holidays' aren't essential family time and holidays abroad are nice things to experience where you can. And although 'kids will be happy anywhere' even as a child Dd preferred a sunny hot break to a wet cold one in the U.K. 🤷🏻‍♀️ which is what happened on the one main U.K. holiday we took.

Our Lea doesn't fine until day 5.
It's then £60 per child per parent.
Not per day/week here.

No judgement here.
Can't imagine any of my fellow primary teachers and teaching staff colleagues judging the decision either.
We have children taking term time holidays every year. It doesn't cause us any real issues at all.

Just if it's near the time we are doing a show or whatever, let the staff know so we don't give your child a main part and have the need to replace them last minute.

Oh and we even share photographs from the child's holidays if sent in for show & tell, just like we would do if sent in after a half term, etc. As I said, we don't really judge here.

But don't ask for extra work or expect us to mark extra work.

Please don't lie! We have children telling us they won't be in the following week, we have pictures posted on social media, we even had a mobile phone message saying the call was being routed to the Spanish network, yet parents insist the child is ill. And don't make up excuses why you MUST have a holiday that particular week rather than the next. We know it's because the holiday is half the price, rather than that great aunt Edna explicitly asked in her will that you visit Center Parcs on the second Tuesday in July ( well, not quite, but you get the idea!) And don't argue with the school office staff that you should be exempt from the fine because of " special circumstances " unless you actually have some!
Just go!

Do it, it's not going to affect them academically. Make those memories!

Do it OP. I'm in Ireland and everyone is far more relaxed about this. Half the class is missing at some stage in late May/June. And our primary holidays start the third or fourth week of June.

Yep agree with @SparkyBlue I'm a teacher in Ireland and it's no big deal. Loads of the class head off before the end of term and as a pp said just don't ask us for work and we'll wish you bon voyage.
We are planning a euro Disney trip so I think I'll take unpaid or parental leave and get it cheaper in term time .

@switswoo81 my teacher friend took parental leave to go to Disney last year . DS's teacher took a few days in June to go to a family wedding abroad.

Haven't done it so far but for euro Disney I'm seriously tempted! Need to use my parental leave before it's too late!

Really? Wow, two schools with SLT that will allow that. My last school would allow one day for a funeral if a direct relative if we were lucky!
Never heard of a school giving parental leave for a holiday. And maybe a day for a wedding

I do it every year and I've got 4 kids. Wouldn't afford a holiday if not.

Hold on, do you only get fined if they miss 10 registrations so if we go away for a week during a week with an inset day there no fine?!

I'm in Ireland so it's very different.. Schools themselves don't decide on our leave there is a list of rules regarding absences eg the amount of days paid allowable for a family wedding, your own wedding, childrens illnesses etc . You just inform the school they can't be refused.

Holidays 'anywhere' are expensive in half term/summer holidays. Besides holidays aren't just for the kids!

No, they go to holiday clubs or spend time with grandparents when we are working in the holidays. We only get about 5 weeks off a year….

I can’t forecast illness messages but they didn’t have many days sick last year.
They are doing well academically (both GD across the board), so I think they’d quickly catch up on anything they’ve missed.

I will recheck the prices as someone quoted a holiday village in August for £3500, ours were definitely coming up approx £5000 for the ones we’ve been searching…is it better to book say in January?

At that age it is fine! GCSE years no. Do it while you can. I took mine a few years ago as a one off and didn’t get fined. If you choose your dates carefully and go a week before the end of term you will get cheaper prices and won’t have to feel guilty

We're going to the south of Turkey in the Oct half term for 3k all inclusive, the weather is mid to high 20s. Try May or October half term for better prices and more comfortable weather.

Also Jet2holidays has free child places

https://www.jet2holidays.com/free-child-place-finder

Scotland Gets summer hols 3 weeks before England, and lots of Scots would book holidays from English airports as it was cheaper. Could you look at doing that. Looking at Holidays from Scottish aiirports from mid August. We went back to school last week. Worth a try. (AS long as you don't live in the south.

@UndercoverCop Yes that's how it goes in our area. Worth checking yours before you take it as gospel. If the child is in morning registration on Monday and you get a flight out Monday afternoon for a week you won't be fined.

@UndercoverCop

Same in ours. I've had children register at 8.45 and go on holiday at 9.30! Gives parents an hour child free to check last minute details and packing😂