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!

I used to do this when my DC were young, but a week later, so going away on the Tuesday of the half term week. That way they only missed two days out of school, but you still got the benefit of the much cheaper flights.

Will she? I don't remember anything from when I was 5.

I do, including going abroad to be a bridesmaid. I also remember lots about school that year, though mostly bad memories.

You can ‘make memories’ just fine out side of school time without going on expensive holidays so don’t use that excuse. Just take her out of school and accept it’s unauthorised absence. Don’t ask the teacher for work to take, not their problem if you choose to miss some of the learning.

Take them on holiday, do remember though that they’ll never remember the holiday given their age.

As for missed work, can’t believe it’ll be much but please don’t expect the teacher to provide any catch up work. They’ve done their planning for the lesson already.

It’s the GCSE years where it becomes a significant issue, especially with science. Miss a week or atomic structure, photosynthesis or bonding and that’s potentially 1/3rd of content a child cannot access without a lot of catchup work.

As a reception teacher, if you’re going to do it - make sure it’s before half term and not after. The Early Learning Goals data is usually expected to be in mid June (to the local authority). Whilst your child’s teacher will most probably be able to answer whether they’ve met them for most - there are some where assessment needs to do be done. This is statutory assessment that your child can’t be excluded from. It will have a negative impact on the teachers workload and stress if your child was missing in June!!

I've never taken my dcs on holiday in term time and I have no plans to. We really value education and think all the activities they do contribute to school life are important. If we couldn't afford an expensive holiday in school holidays we'd just stick to cheaper breaks or days out.

As long as your child generally has good attendance (above 95%), a week in the sun is not going to disrupt their education.
Be honest with the school. Their policy probably binds them to issue a fine, but this is £60 per parent and probably a drop in the ocean compared to how much you'll save.
Leave the phonics books at home and have a lovely time. Don't ask the school for work while you're away - this is annoying and unnecessary.
I'm a school attendance officer (!) and a huge proportion of parents do much, much worse than this - predominantly allowing their child to have single days off left, right and centre. You clearly care about your child's education but you getting a break is important too - so go for it. X

Generally speaking, if you have family abroad where you can only travel long haul or it’s a real trip of a lifetime and cultural experience, then fair enough.

If you’re just wanting to get your package holiday a bit cheaper and spend the week lying by the pool while the kids are shoved in a kids club, then it’s pretty shit and you just need to suck it up.

Easy to say as you can afford it. Imagine years in row having to camp in Devon instead of going to Greece or Spain.

Having a holiday abroad isn't a right.
I had many happy childhood holidays in this country as my parents couldn't afford to take me abroad.

Meh I can’t get worked up about this. I value education too and DH is an academic but we have family abroad and love going abroad. Our kids haven’t suffered by missing odd days here or there or even a week. I do think it’s important for children to go abroad too, with or without family abroad.

from what I can tell they waste a lot of time in primary school too. Not every day is a massive learning experience.

Have you seen UK prices? Some people can’t afford a week in Devon these days.

Just do it. If a child misses few weeks of school due to illness no one is catastrophising that they won't be able to catch up, so I don't know why people do if a child misses school due to holiday. Have fun!

A holiday is a luxury. Whether it is in Devon for a week or the Maldives.
A holiday is what you make of it.

Take them on holiday, do remember though that they’ll never remember the holiday given their age.

I don’t understand people saying the child will never remember. I’m 52 and have very clear memories of family holidays at that age - talking about a week in a caravan so nowhere near as exciting as a holiday abroad.

@Mademetoxic what’s your point? 😂 your random statements don’t make sense.

"A holiday is what you make of it"?
Then why can't you make it through a plane journey without whining about children? Its a luxury you know, just don't go if you don't like it.

Just tell the school you are going on holiday. No need to take work, particularly if it means the teacher has to provide it.

I used to take my DC in the week you mentioned every year whilst in primary and neither have been impacted in terms of school grades.

This rule is very much an England thing, in other countries kids are allowed to miss school to go on holiday, and guess what, those kids still grow up to go to uni, become doctors etc.

Let's not delude ourselves that every single week of school so densely packed with essential information that missing out on one week means they'll never catch up, especially when the child is 4 like in this case!

Exactly.

We are taking mine out this year, one week in June one Yr 3 child one Yr 7. Both academically fine excellent attendance my ur 7 hasn't had a day off at all. Many of her friends have had large absences due to colds, family pets dying, leg strain etc etc

I have had ill health for large part of this year and yes education is important but so are experiences and family time.

We have saved 2.5k going a week after half term and we will continue to take odd days if it means holidays are cheaper,

"Imagine years in row having to camp in Devon instead of going to Greece or Spain."

Imagine! What suffering they must endure! How do people cope without holidays to Greece and Spain??!!

Agreed. It was brought in to try to stop feckless parents not bothering to get up to take their kids into school or making any real effort to ensure their children get a continuing education.

Invested parents taking one week out of a year won’t damage their child’s education and prospects.

Wish the travel companies could be fined for price gouging instead.