2 weeks off school every other year

[LippidyLoo]

I’ll try to keep it brief but, AIBU to think that keeping a child off school (primary age) for 2 weeks at the start of term, to visit family in Australia, go on a cruise (while child is babysat) then attend a few days of a sporting event before returning home, every other year is crazy and really really not in the best interest of the child ?!!

I don't think it's going to matter tbh. Why are you concerned?

Well the start of term is not really the best time (end of term much better) and doesn’t sound like child is benefitting a lot from the trip. That being said, I wouldn’t say it’s too detrimental to their education whilst in primary and if child was benefitting from the trip, the general consensus on here would usually be that it’s fine.

It will make no difference to their education. Having a total of 6 weeks off school in 6 years (ages 5 to 11) is nothing in the long term. Or even short term tbh

I don't think it would have a detrimental effect on their education.

What's the relevance of being baby sat? Or actually what they're doing for the two weeks?

Two weeks is two weeks, no matter what they're doing?

I don't think it's a big deal or particularly uncommon.

Ask their teacher! It's a big deal.

I tend to take my children out for 3-5 school days a year, I pay the fine without argument. No problems here. I don’t ask permission.

I took mine out every year for a week through primary and secondary. At 25 he has a 1st in computing, a graduate job and ears a fortune. So he survived the experience.

Its the time in the school year that would bother me most.

I missed school most years to see family overseas - I can't say it did me any harm.

The beginning of term isn't ideal but other than that, I really can't get too worked up about it.

I would do it unless they had exams or were changing school. I wouldn’t down play primary as being easier to miss than secondary though.

Whose child is it and why is it your business?

Depends how often they see the family I guess, and who is doing the babysitting. Every parent has to make what they think is the best decision for their child at the time.

If it's detrimental for the child to miss the first two weeks of term every two years then it's detrimental, regardless of whether the chid is attending nuclear physics camp during that time or watching Teletubbies reruns. It sounds like they're being taken along on a periodic family vacation, though - of course it would be better if this happened during school holidays, but there may be very legitimate reasons why that's not possible - prices, just for a start.

Sounds fab. Australia is a huge deal and hardly just an AI in Tenerife. It's actually great the dc are spending alone time with family too. I work in a s hook and while the official line is this is an unauthorised absence, it's recognised on a personal level that it's beneficial and the slt/teachers don't mind at all. My dd has just had an entire week off with suspected covid. It's not going to affect her long term but she's gained no benefit, unlike these dc

I guess the sporting event is driving the timings, but end of term is much easier to miss than start of term.
It's not how I would organize my life (we fit in trips to family half way to Australia in school holidays) but others make a different decision.

That’s assuming they’re not poorly. You often find that then if they’re also poorly during the year, the two weeks added onto the illnesses adds up into a number of weeks.
In those two weeks, if at the beginning of term, place value is covered. This underpins maths understanding.
Their child, their choice, but sadly it’s the school that will be challenged for attendance and progress.

Also agree the start of term isn't ideal but a they might actually miss less work in that time as it's more down to establishing routines. The dc will cope though I'm sure. We get many new starts in to the term each year as numbers are shuffled and out of catchment places identified and filled. It's much easier for a child already known to the school to settle too

I wouldn't be too keen on the fact that it seems to be primarily to facilitate the parents' cruise and a babysitting arrangement, so that it's purely for the parents' benefit and doesn't realistically offer the child any opportunities. If the child were travelling and being educated by seeing the world, it would be a different matter.

Might be better to fit it in holidays, but missing 6-8 weeks of their primary schooling to gain a firm relationship with family on the other side of the world? I’d judge that absolutely in the child’s best interests.

I would. The experiences and family time are definitely worth it at that age.

Incidentally- babysat by whom?

Missing so much school also gives the child the message that school is not that important. Parents need to be supportive of education if they want their children to work hard at school.

Does this relate to an ex?

I’d be more inclined towards the end of the year than the start.