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 and at that age I'd do it. Just try to avoid doing it in September when they're getting used to new classes. But don't lie to the school and then come back with suntans!

I would, at that age and especially into summer term they don’t learn much. It’s ridiculous how strict the system is.

It's teaching them a rubbish lesson about the value of education etc so I wouldn't. Lots do. Assume you won't mind if they are behind in core subjects for the rest of the year as not teacher's job to catch them up.

I'm a teacher and say go for it. One week off is fine. Don't expect me to provide work though.

One week off is far less disruptive to education than the kids who have every Friday off.

@mycoffeecup a week in infants isn't going to make a difference. I haven't taken DS out but I would consider it

We went away for two weeks in June, same age kids. We're doing the same next year.

They cover quite a lot in a week at age 8.
We stuck to UK holidays til senior school - it's not the end of the world not to go abroad.
Teaches the kids a really bad attitude towards education.

I used to in primary and early secondary. Not passed y8 though. Next year will be the first year not having to stick to school holidays in years.

go and enjoy the cheaper prices.

@mycoffeecup they're not in infants at 8, they're in juniors.
A 5 year old won't know/remember if you taken them out on the Wednesday before a half term to get a cheaper holiday.

I would at that age. With the rate of school closures for covid, strikes, catch up days, whatever in the last couple of years I will not feel guilty for remoing my kids from school for something that will really benefit them. Clearly all the people who think attendance is so essential only really think so when it's not them calling the shots.

@mycoffeecup I also don't think it teaches a bar lesson about education, you work really hard, get good grades, don't complain about going in, be in your best behaviour and if that's the case we can consider taking a holiday at a time when it causes heat disruption.
Surely that's what we expect from employees? Hard work, commitment and then take annual leave when you want to as long as it's not too disruptive to the business.

It doesn’t teach them a bad attitude towards education at all. It barley registers with little kids.

A week of missed primary school really isn’t the end of the world and they’re not going to fall behind because of it. Even my dds primary teachers would encourage us to take them out saying they’d do it themselves if they could.

100% do it. As well as the price difference it will be quieter and not as hot. A week or 2 relaxing and playing in the sun will do them absolutely no harm.

Do it, June is fine. September/ October is much worse, although I'm an ex teacher and I usually do October half term with a day or 2 off school on either side. It's irritating for teachers but won't do any damage

Her oldest is 8, I never said they were in infants

Teachers can't take AL when they want to.

That's interesting, I didn't know that and am in Hampshire. However, ds only ever took one day at a time, so wouldn't have come up on their radar.

@NameChangeEmbarressed Why should hard working families be priced out of the market due to greed?

Someone once tried to tell me in all seriousness that the price didn't go up in the school holidays, it went down in term-time. Yeah, that's why, when the travel companies don't clock that some counties have different half term weeks off, that the other half term week they didn't notice is a lot cheaper...usually happens in February.

Ours was films all week. But not a state school an independent. Plus speech night and sports day and random enrichment exercises one of which was weeding the garden at the next door retirement village. I agree that community service is important (which was the argument) but I know several parents who took their kids out and went away. No fines though as that is the LA who do that. (The posts about hampshire have shocked me).

I wouldn't think twice. Go for it.

I mentioned the HV. Looking at prices for next year, it's just under £4k for 7 days flying from Gatwick (but I didn't look at flight times, better flights = more ££). It's more than I paid but I booked in January when free child places were being offered plus there was a discount code (usually are for large tour operators) which gave us another £250 off. I think we would have also used topcashback so made some money back there too (DP booked so can't quite remember now). Tui tends to have deals around xmas/new year.

@Summer2024 other HVs are much more expensive than the costa one.

Absolutely do it! It's a one off, and the kids (and adults!) learn so much from holidays! And use the rest of the money to treat yourself to something super nice!

How so? I went out of school for two weeks every year (bar major exam years when we went afterwards) and I never stopped enjoying learning but then... I was the kid who used to do extra maths homework for fun so... maybe I'm not the greatest example 😂

I always do it! IMO they Learn more on holiday seeing and experiencing new cultures and landmarks as to sat in a classroom playing with their friends doing the odd peice of work at that age !

I can never understand the low value that parents place on education. I find it incredulous. If you want to take term time holidays then home educate. You are all trying to justify yourselves.
I honestly wish ALL parents who did this had to pay for their children’s missed school education by working for free in their child’s school to realise exactly what their children had missed and the impact it has on the teacher, classroom assistant and the other children. And yes it does have an impact on all of those people. Curriculum’s are planned and two weeks is a lot of learning to miss.
Selfish, ignorant, entitled, stupid, arrogant and outrageous are a few of the labels I give you.