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!

Go for it op! I don't know why people are being so dramatic about it on here! We went away in term time every year when i was younger and it didn't affect my education one bit 🤷‍♀️! I did we in my GCSEs and have a degree! Your dc is still very young and it will be a fantastic memory for them!

*well

I wouldn't ask the teacher for work but i would buy some age appropriate workbooks which would help, like these, they try and follow the curriculum.
Tell the school the truth.

Christ. The kid is FOUR. They don’t need to be doing workbooks on holiday.

The Op mentioned about asking for work, not saying she should do it but this was just an option instead of asking the teacher.
My daughter has been doing these workbooks weekly since reception both in Maths and English and she enjoys doing them.

Sorry, no you wouldn't.

At all.

They end up with supply teachers when the teachers burns out and leaves. I'd rather they went on holiday occasionally tbh.

Yes if only there were 12 weeks in the year teachers have available to do this...

YANBU. I would, providing her attendance for the rest of the year was good. My parents took me out of school for holidays for at least 2 weeks every year until I was about 12. And never took any school work with me. I remember those holidays well, I learned different languages and cultures and food. I learned how to navigate an airport and how to work out the value of different currencies. I turned out fine, I have all the qualifications you would want and am objectively a high earner. Travel broadens the mind, children included.

Why not, the children will still be learning, just with a supply teacher instead of a regular one. Big deal. It's not as if they will be sitting in a classroom alone for a week while the tacher is on holiday!

And yet recruitment and retention is in the shitter...

Boo hoo!!

I’m a teacher, I say just do it. IMO travelling and experiences new places is an education in and of itself. Make memories with your daughter. The school won’t approve it though x

Yep.

Growing up in my home country, all we had to do was let the teacher know when we would be gone and the teacher would let us know what pages to read and go over for school, what the homework was and it had to be turned in by a certain date. That was it. Teachers didn’t care as long as you finished it. It was easy to do when your trip is 10-12 hours long travelling in a car.

Nope If shes not even 5 till end of May she's not even compulsory school age. Go and enjoy the holiday. When my eldest 2 were at school we were allowed 10 days off. It didn't make the slightest difference to their education or careers

Everyone in our school does it regularly. One is a longstanding member of the PTA and she does it every school holiday, skiing, maddie's, you name it! We've never done it as we only have one holiday a year in the summer usually, but we are planning to do it in October as we have an opportunity for a dream holiday only paying for flights with free accommodation (family celebration and they have lots of time share points.) And due to length of flights we need two weeks. I feel zero guilt! My eldest is top of her class and four days will make no difference. And my youngest is too young for it to make a difference. But it will make a big a difference to us.

Maldives!

I took my DD out of school for trips when in Primary and school was fine about it. She's now in Secondary and I wouldn't do it now.

But never any teachers!

I would do it if that's the only way you can afford a holiday. We recently had our first holiday in 5 years and the children absolutely loved it. It was only a week to a sunny resort but they got so much from it. We do lots of UK camping weekends etc but going abroad really made an impression. My elder child is also a 4 year old in reception. We went in half term but it was expensive. The only reason I wouldn't take my child out during term time is she loves school and doesn't want to miss any. If she was more ambivalent I wouldn't hesitate to do it once a week each year of primary.

It's a position of privilege to be able to afford a holiday in school holidays. I wouldn't think much of a parent who deprived their child of a holiday during childhood just because they didn't want to ever break this rule.

Out if interest, how much is the fine?

My first core memories are actually from going abroad when I was around this age!

Yes...a week in Devon costs the same as a week in Spain more or less

At the moment, here it is £60 per parent per holiday (per child)
This is due to rise in September iirr.

So school staff who 'deprive' their kids of a holiday are bad parents?