Taking ds out of school for a holiday

[Lavalamp646]

Ds is in year 1. He has additional needs and his day is spent in a separate classroom with lots of sensory toys etc and a teacher who gives him 1 on 1 support. I mention this because he wouldn't be missing much education wise if we took him out for 2 or 3 days - as he is currently not able to sit in the classroom with his peers and learn what they're teaching (learning disabilities)

We have never been on holiday with him and would like to go in July. The 1st week is coming up a lot cheaper and we wanted to go on the Wednesday or Thursday. Would we definitely get a fine if we took him out for 2/3 days? Would we just write to the school and say we are going on holiday so ds will not be in on x,y,z days?

Some areas its 5 days before a fine.

The holiday is probably significantly cheaper even with the fine though.

I would anyway.

Just factor in the fine to the cost

I am taking my DS in June and will be letting the school know that DUE to his additional needs, I need to go at a quieter time of the year.

I think so long as the attendance overall meets standards, there isnt much they can do about a "fine".

We are in N.I so our schools finish up at the end of June and we are taking him out the last week of school.

I think personally, the teachers will be relieved to get a break 😂

Fuck em I say. I took my daughter out for a week in the middle of December. She had a blast. I came back to two nasty emails. I don't know who they think they are.

@ellie09 I'm also in NI and I think it's a bit different here as we don't have the fines - we took DD out in May last year for a week and the teacher just said to have a great time and she couldn't wait to hear about it.

OP - go for it. Probably still cheaper with the fines!

A few days/a week out of school won't hurt any kid. Do it and have an amazing time with no regrets

Many years ago we took our DC out of school in January/February to go to Florida.DC1s teacher said DC would get more from the holiday than 2 weeks in the classroom and DC2s teacher just told them to keep a diary to share with the class when they returned.
Both were primary school age and we are in Scotland(no fines)
I would do it and just pay the fine if you get one.

Yeah they do seem less bothered about it in NI than other places! Any time we need a day off here and there, its never an issue and they dont even ask the reason why.

A shame its not the same in rest of UK!

Take him on holiday xx.

You can let them know for so-so reasons you are taking him off school so they know. They'll tell you next steps(mostly headmaster reviewing absences to approve or not)

Either way, fine is relatively cheaper than term time holidays.

Make those memories with your child!

Go for it fellow sen mum here we cannot go in busy periods my children would just not cope we go on one to two holidays a year during term times never been fined because I do have permission from both kids schools to do this but tbh if I didn't I'd pay the fines gladly anyway

Thank you everyone! NI seems way more chilled out! Yes we will definitely go then, and will write to the school to let them know. I appreciate all the replies 😀