To take daughter on holiday in term time?

[ELW12]

Exactly what the title says basically.
We were looking at going on holiday during the May half term, but the prices are just so out of reach for us. Daughter is in Reception so this has been the first year of having the issue of school holiday prices, and the problem we face is having to decide on either not going on holiday at all, or taking her out for the week before May half term.
I obviously appreciate education is very important, but surely it is important to make memories as a family as well? If we could afford to take her in half term then of course we would. Is it THAT bad for us to do it during school? I was thinking of asking her teacher if we could take some work with us so she doesn’t massively miss out.
Also, is it best to be honest with the school and just accept the fine? I feel like daughter will be far to excited to not let it slip, and also don’t like the idea of asking her to lie so we can pretend she is ill!

Yeah, sorry. I know it's expensive but you know this before you have children. Imagine the disruption for the teacher if every child took a week out of term time.

We’re doing it.

Take her out Tuesday 21st May so she gets the Monday in. You will then only miss 8 sessions (AM/PM) rather than 10 which is where the fine trigger is. We did this last year too.

Please be honest with the school - it’s not fair to lie on your daughter and the school will know that you’ve lied. Also don’t ask for work - this causes more work for the class teacher.
Ultimately it’s up to you. Many parents do do it.

I don’t think they miss out on much if they are only in reception. Is your dd 4 or 5 yo? If she not yet 5 they can’t fine you. As long as she getting on ok with school, she will be fine to miss a week. Just take some reading books.

As a teacher, please don't ask for work to be set for her because you're choosing to take her out of school for a holiday, it is so annoying.

I think these questions always depend on age. In reception she really won’t be missing a huge amount and I think children hugely benefit from travelling and meeting people from different places - we took my DSS to Greece for the first time last year (he was 4) and he got to see and experience so many things he wouldn’t in England.

Honestly at her age I’d absolutely do it - the only time I get a bit nervy is when people do it around the time of big exams.

But yes I’d be honest about it - teachers always know when a kid has been away I think and it’s wrong (in my opinion) to ask a 5 year old to try and lie.

If you are going to do it, be up front with school, and don't ask for work.

Tell the truth, take the fine. It’s all good.

As a former primary school teacher, I would go. Just don't expect the teacher to provide worksheets etc.

I would also just tell the school, in the past when kids have been "ill" for a week then come back talking about their holiday it really makes me laugh, but some other colleagues get cross.

Don’t ask the teacher for any work, it isn’t fair to increase their work load for your choices. I wouldn’t take my child out. Your DD will miss out on a week’s worth of phonics where it is highly likely a new sound will be covered. What are you going to do in future years? I suggest you save up and have an overseas holiday once every two years. I’ve just been during Easter holidays, much cheaper than May half term and July / August.

School is not optional.

However, I can see that it would have been a big shock to you that holidays are expensive in term time...

When I was a kid we went on holiday every 4 years or so, because that's all my family could afford in termtime

Just do it but don't lie. There are tons of threads about this.

What is her attendance like usually and how is she getting on in school? You're obviously going to do it but don't expect the school to like it, support you or set work. Just be honest because it's not fair on your daughter and take the fine / follow up. Take some books and read with her and find something to do on the trip that supports her to learn - visit somewhere with history, or go to a local market and find out about differences between home and the place you are visiting.

Oh and don't ask for work from the teacher, they've got enough to do, it's your choice so you can provide some work if you want.

You need to adjust the type of holiday you take to one that's affordable.

We've always taken ours out during term time to go skiing - when they were in primary school. It's never been a problem, but they had very good attendance and didn't struggle.
Just be honest with the school and pay the fine.

In reception? I’d do it, particularly if her attendance is otherwise good. We’ve found in the past just missing the last day or two before may half term has made a big difference to price, although as it’s quite short notice (assuming you’re looking at this year), it might not be the case.

Be honest with the school. You’re likely to get a letter saying it’s unauthorised, but as someone else said, if you only take her out for 4 days you shouldn’t get fined.

5 years ago I'd have frowned upon this.. now post Covid I say do as you please. Treat it as an educational experience or wellbeing break. I'm that parent who did all the homeschooling whilst juggling her job, only to be told when the children returned when I questioned why they were going over the same work we'd done in lockdown - not everyone had your standards 😬 well fuck me sideways and stick your rules about attendance up your arse. I have since taken two one week holidays in term time and called them wellbeing breaks. Not questioned, not fined.

If she is only 4 then you can take her no problem as legally children only need to go to school at 5. She won’t miss much - you could say she’s sick and if she goes back talking and excited just say she has an over active imagination. 😁enjoy your holiday

We've done it on occasion throughout primary school because I can't just take annual leave whenever I want, so sometimes I'm off during term time and working in the school holidays. The school has never had an issue with it. We don't do it a lot, and not every school year.
Your child is very young, her education won't suffer for missing a week of reception.

Those saying don't are being ridiculous with their reasons why. The 'impact' is the same as a few days missed due to illness. No one thinks that affects the whole class or the teacher's ability to teach them.

Thank you everyone for your replies. Definitely happy to take our own phonic books we have at home rather then ask the teacher as like you have all said, I wouldn’t want to make life difficult for her.
I know holidays are expensive but honestly, you never know what is round the corner in life and so I do think making memories is just as important as education. A family friend of ours sister and her son died in a car crash two years ago, leaving behind her husband and other son..life is bloomin scary and I don’t want to spend my whole life worrying about the system and to actually enjoy my children growing up, if that means taking 1 week off of school when her attendance is 98% and her teacher has repeatedly told me that she is ready for year 1, then I will do so! Will definitely not lie about it though and accept the fine.

As long as you aren't expecting the teacher to do even one minute of extra work helping your daughter catch up because of your choices.

In reception I would say it’s ok. But then start saving for the future as later years it becomes more of an issue. I think from year 3 onwards you really need to think carefully about taking them out - although last few days before Christmas or summer tend to not be much real work covered, although that does mean your dc miss out on the “making memories” of fun things at school, so a balance is needed.

when was your DD 5?

This. You shouldn’t be inconvenient teacher by asking for work to be given for you to take away just because you want to take her on holiday during term time. That isn’t fair.