AIBU at feeling so guilt ridden? Missing first day of school

[Juicymango1]

So, I booked our summer holiday back in December. We are coming back on the 4th of September, as one of my DD is in secondary school and she comes back on the 8th. My second DD is in primary and didn't have dates published but I thought they'd be the same or maybe 1 or 2 days earlier, if that. Well, dates for primary have been sent out today, she comes back on the 4th, it will be into Year 5. I feel so guilty!! How important is to miss her first day of school? I looked into changing flights but I'd had to pay £351 pounds. Extortionate, as prices weren't cheap to start with. What would you do?

Not what you want to hear but I wouldn't have her miss the first day. Y5 is quite a big jump up expectations wise and she might feel.a bit unnerved missing all that info. Can just a couple of you come home early, if another adult is going?

I really wouldn't worry about it. It's not as though she's starting a new school.

Realistically she could be ill on that day and still won't miss much

It's just me travelling with my 2 DD...

I thought you were going to say she was missing the first day of either primary or secondary school. I think she'll be absolutely fine.

I honestly wouldn’t worry. I missed first 2 weeks of year 4 and 6 and it wasn’t an issue. She’ll know her class mates.

How is she usually with transitions? If she might struggle with moving between year groups, then it's more important to go. If she's quite confident and comfortable, I'd probably not worry too much.

Do not think another thing about it. She knows the school, the classroom, the children and the teachers! It’s just another school day in a different room. If it was her first day of secondary I’d think differently.

Go on holiday, have a blast, do not pay a fortune to change the flights.

But is that date an Inset day?

It would be totally different if she were starting Reception or Year 7 and was risking the first day of bonding with new friends. For Year 5, I think she’ll be fine, and I doubt she’ll be the only one missing.

It's fine. Other kids will miss it through Illness or a similar situation!

I only ask as our term starts on day X but in reality it is X plus 2, as school has put 2 inset days on start of Sept.

Not ideal.
Not end of world.

Not worth changing a holiday over.

I wouldn't worry if she is in Y5. Y7 would be an issue for me.

I wouldn’t worry too much, it’s done now. But have they really only just released term dates for next year? Did you ask before booking? You won’t be the only one to have already booked your summer holiday.

When I read the title I assumed you meant first ever day at school....

First day of year five? Honestly wouldn't even occur to me that it's a big thing that I shouldn't miss

Edited to add...oh I see she will miss it, I thought you meant just you dropping her off. Anyway, one day isn't the end of the world

It's not an inset day, already checked and it's the day children are back. Thanks for all the answers, still feeling guilty but less so. She's absolutely fine with transitions, it's the fact that year 5 feels more grown up somehow...