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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

176 replies

Summer2024 · 22/08/2023 09:04

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?

OP posts:
Scarlettpixie · 23/08/2023 09:21

I think it is fine at that age. Just factor the fine into the cost of your holiday.

You may want to look at May half term and booking a few days either side. We did that one easter. We went 3 days into the school hols and came back 3 days after the start of term and saved a fortune. He only missed 3 days of school.

StillWantingADog · 23/08/2023 09:24

Seashor · 23/08/2023 09:18

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.

Woah
you do realise that some of the people that are saying go for it are teachers?

holidays definitely aren’t the be all and end all but for many families the cost difference between term time and holiday time make the latter impossible

get off your high horse

elm26 · 23/08/2023 11:10

Seashor · 23/08/2023 09:18

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.

There is always one.

At that age, yes I would take them out for a family holiday. They are not sitting GCSE's, A Levels etc within the next couple of years.

Seeing the world is up there with one of the most important things to do for my children. You'll never get this time back, go make the happy memories.

PuttingouthefirewithGasoline · 23/08/2023 11:13

Why can't you just take them to a hotel and use public beach?
It seems people are paying astronomical prices for ai and kids clubs?

If I had a 5 grand budget we would have numerous holidays in beautiful accmd throughout the year by forgoing ai and kids clubs?

enchantedsquirrelwood · 23/08/2023 12:16

holidays definitely aren’t the be all and end all but for many families the cost difference between term time and holiday time make the latter impossible

It only applies to package holidays though. If you go away independently the prices might be a bit higher in high season but it's relatively easy to find somewhere that doesn't cost the earth. And as I said above, avoid August (the weather isn't usually that great anyway - when ds was school age we always went in May half term).

MrsSkylerWhite · 23/08/2023 12:19

Seashor · Today 09:18
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”

I used to feel this way. I was so wrong. We couldn’t afford summer holidays so our kids just didn’t get to travel outside of the UK. Looking back, I really, really wish we had taken them out sometimes. Probably my only parenting regret.

BugsyDrakeTableScape · 23/08/2023 12:30

If you've also got limited annual leave don't forget to factor in to the costs that you might still need to cover the Summer holidays with kids clubs etc - which are also not always cheap. Not a reason not to do it, but just another factor to include in the financial calculations.

QforCucumber · 23/08/2023 13:06

Selfish, ignorant, entitled, stupid, arrogant and outrageous are a few of the labels I give you.

and we have hit peak MN again - fabulous

xILikeJamx · 23/08/2023 13:36

I did it this year by accident - looked at last year's term calendar and booked a holiday on the last week of term time when I thought they were already off.

The kids are fine and school never batted an eyelid.

Doone21 · 23/08/2023 16:19

Yes but make it a week only or try to butt up against a bank holiday weekend etc
Junior school really not that big a deal to miss a bit

samuelclemens · 23/08/2023 17:08

QforCucumber · 23/08/2023 13:06

Selfish, ignorant, entitled, stupid, arrogant and outrageous are a few of the labels I give you.

and we have hit peak MN again - fabulous

I genuinely wonder how some people get through life, they must be in a constant of outrage at everything and anything 😂

Pollydarling · 23/08/2023 17:40

As a teacher - 100% go for it. For us the most helpful thing you could do is check when assessment week is and go the week after, not the week before or during. Its very hard on us and the child to fit in a weeks worth of assessments at a later date.

Mynewnameis · 23/08/2023 18:12

Our school doesn't even fine.
I do try and do it to include the half term though so it's less than 5 days unauthorised.

elm26 · 23/08/2023 18:42

QforCucumber · 23/08/2023 13:06

Selfish, ignorant, entitled, stupid, arrogant and outrageous are a few of the labels I give you.

and we have hit peak MN again - fabulous

😂😂😂

MamskiBell · 23/08/2023 19:05

BearKey · 22/08/2023 09:29

I am planning on taking mine out next year for a few days, they are of similar age. I've never done it before but we just can't afford a holiday otherwise next year!

Just checking your calculation though, I thought it was £60 per parent per child. So £120 per day (2 parents) for 5 days x 2 children is £1200. Unless I've got that wrong? (Although I assuming you are both working as it's per working parent I believe).

It's not per day but per absence.

BillyNotQuiteNoMates · 23/08/2023 21:41

I used to add a week onto half term

flowers789 · 23/08/2023 21:54

We do it every year. We often take like a Wednesday to Wednesday off. And haven't received a fine yet. I'm sure we will do this again soon. I think the fines are unreasonable if taking the odd week out and attendance is normal otherwise.

Gosh when I was at school my friend took 6 weeks off, now that (in my opinion) is fine worthy. It's half a term! No fines were issued back in the good ol' days!

Qilin · 24/08/2023 01:18

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.

And yet me and my siblings all went through to 21/22y with our education, all achieving good degrees. All valued our education. Never caused any issues throughout the years of being at school abd university. And I even went in to teach and have done so for the past 25+ years and raised a daughter who has also just graduated as a teacher.

So no, I don't think it holds that missing 1-2 weeks of primary school a year for a family holiday causes any poor attitude towards learning and education.

Qilin · 24/08/2023 01:19

And it's not a great school that only covers key concepts in core subjects only once! I don't know any that do tbh.

debbie97531 · 24/08/2023 03:44

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

1AngelicFruitCake · 24/08/2023 07:28

Just to add, I was the teacher who mentioned about parents sending in photos or sending me photos online. It sounds crazy but it happens! I always wonder what their thought process is ‘I’ve had a great week/few weeks on holiday, you’ve all been at school and here are our photos to show you the great time we’ve had!’
We’re not your Facebook friends, it’s not appropriate!

PuttingouthefirewithGasoline · 24/08/2023 07:57

Mine came on on the very few days we took here and there because I did a tiny bit of 1:1 with them either on times tables or
Reading.

Yellowlegobrick · 25/08/2023 19:23

Clearly I'm the exception based on this thread but i find it strange to have an expectation of an expensive resort holiday abroad.

Millions of children in this country go on normal British holidays in places like gower, bude, muddiford, paignton, st ives, wells next the sea, camber sands. Camping, caravans etc, inexpensive self catering, and have a lovely time.

Most people can't and don't afford foreign resorts.

SoSad44 · 25/08/2023 20:02

@Yellowlegobrick it’s not just about expensive resort holidays! Some of us have family abroad. Taking my DC out a few days earlier can easily save me 400-600£ and more in flights alone. That’s so they can see their grandparents.

apart from that I do think travel is beneficial anyway plus Uk holidays are expensive too. Definitely more expensive than a beach holiday in a lot of places in Europe (not talking massive AI resorts) and you get better weather too.

EverybodyLTB · 25/08/2023 20:44

When my kids were primary age (a few still are) I took them out quite regularly for holidays. No teacher ever had to spend time catching up, they missed that week on Henry VIII or whatever and all of mine are currently ahead in their academic progress.

I’ve never taken them on a package holiday and we always go to galleries and museums as part of our trips. I’ve never been fined either but also my kids never really get sick so attendance has always been high even with the odd Thursday/Friday off before a half term.

As an aside, my kids primary provided close to nothing during Covid lockdowns, and we were constantly having their classes closed even after lockdown when new cases came up. It affected my kids emotionally, but nobody at the school (management) or LA seemed to be bothered about their academic progress then and the academy school was allowed to make the choice to provide my kids with a bundle of dodgy poorly printed Twinkl worksheets and no teacher interaction - not even online. So I will make my own judgements about my kid’s educational needs as I do not trust the LA I’m that regard. They also don’t give a shit about my autistic kids’ needs being overlooked constantly. I’ll do what I think is best and won’t be made to feel guilty about it by my council who don’t give a hoot about us.

If your kids are behind academically or at a crucial stage where missing info might mess up their progress, that’s something else. I would never expect a teacher to catch my kids up.