I feel terrible, taken out of school for Lapland UK

[MummaHud]

I’ve taken my daughter out of school today she’s 5 for Lapland UK. We don’t have a lot of money and her brother was born extremely premature last year and she missed out on a lot of things because of it.

she’s the kindest soul, she’s really clever and she’s just amazing.

im not justifying anything as id never take my child out of school, but we won VIP at Lapland UK.

an experience I’d never ever consider looking at usually and its not an experience I can turn down.

my daughter has 100% attendance, I’m worried what the school will do? I’ve been honest and she will be back tomorrow.

am I a bad mum? 😭

Oh my god so dramatic! She’s FIVE! It’s no big deal. Have fun.

No, you are a wonderful, caring mum! She deserves it. I'm so tired of the suggestion that very young children and their parents should be penalised for missing a few days of school. At this age it really doesn't matter. I hope you had a wonderful time!!

I work in a school and loads of kids with SEN needs are getting tickets and missing school. You are a fantastic mum and she deserves to go. Worry when she is in secondary school getting ready for gcses but not at five!

You’re an amazing mum. Never doubt yourself x

Based on this situation I'd go as far as to say you're actually a fantastic mum! Experiences are just as important as education and its important to find the right balance!

No, enjoy every minute. They dont really do much in December anyway, just build up to christmas. This experience will just add to it. Enjoy it, guilt free.

Gosh, no. They don't care. Enjoy it!

Of course not! They don't learn much in December anyway. You've given the little one the memory that'll carry he through all difficult times in the future - it's something beautiful to hold onto. Lapland is magical. ❤️

Enjoy the trip - she is 5! She's not revising for GCSEs

You are the best mum. Congratulations for putting your precious childs needs before the overly strict school rules. Your DDs joy will be worth more and last longer than any school reprimand.

Congratulations on your win; have a fabulous time

I won a holiday when DC1 was 6 (almost 7). My parent had died that year and I'd also given birth to DC2. It was a UK holiday but 9-10 hours public transport (didn't drive). We were skint so we decided I'd take just DC1 to try and give him some much needed love and attention away from grief and screaming babies!

It was term time only. I requested time off from school, no reply. They tried to call me on day 2 of being away, leaving a voicemail. I rang back and left a message that I was on the break I'd requested permission for, that I'd not heard back about. Never heard anything further from the school, nor a fine. I was lucky I think.

It did us the world of good. And DH adored his time with DC2.

Absolutely prioritise your child when it comes to experiences like this.

I told school the reason mine were missing and they were fine!! It's an amazing day!! Have the best time!!

Retired teacher here.
If this child was in my class I'd be happy that she was getting a special day out with her family at such an iconic venue for this time of year and in all honesty it's just a day.
Don't slap me down for saying this but it's my honest opinion.

When does she turn 6? If she's not CSA yet (compulsory school age is the term after they turn 5) they can't do anything anyway.
Even if she is CSA, my advice would be - make the memories and feel no guilt. My daughter has left school now and my biggest regret is not taking her out of school to create memories as much as possible. Education is important but so are life experiences.

Oh come on, wise up 🙄

You are most certainly not! Pls try not to be so hard on yourself

My daughter did exactly the same for her 5 year old daughter last month. No repercussions from school. For most people you only do it once. It’s a magical place and at 5 they’re immersed into believing it all! Don’t give it another thought.

I wouldn’t feel bad in the slightest, we have very rarely taken our children out of school during term time and struggled to try and afford a modest uk caravan holiday during the school holidays. However we weren’t able to afford a holiday this year and with the rapidly rising cost of living, huge rise in our mortgage interest rate and high marginal tax rates that make any extra earnings quite minimal there wasn’t going to be any holiday this year either. However managed to book a uk holiday where we used to go for a fifth of the price in June next year during term time and we’re going for it!

As a teacher who went to Lapland (during the school holidays) I say go and have a fabulous time and don’t think about it.

If you get a fine, pay it and move on.

Sometimes rules need to be broken!

Of course you’re not a bad mum. She’s 5, missing one day, you’ll have a lovely time and she’s at the perfect age to really get something out of this trip on top of some lovely bonding time with her mum.

Literally THOUSANDS of kids miss the odd day at school every year for a Christmas experience. Including us! They will not fail to get a job in life from missing one day! But those childhood memories are absolutely priceless. I'm sure your day out will still included more education than you realise too - maths counting jingles, writing practice doing letters to Santa, pe having a go ice skating, lessons on being kind and trying your best... Go and enjoy it 100% and take lots of photos to remember how special and important the day was.

You are doing the absolute best thing- putting your daughter first!

When I retired from teaching I used my lump sum to take my husband, 3 daughters, 3 sons in law and 4 grandchildren 8, 8,6 and 6 to Lapland for 3 nights. It was a treat for myself and a free holiday for the rest of them. ( My husband bought a new car with his lump sum!!)
It was the best time ever and no one felt guilty about the 4 children missing school.

The funny thing was that I turned around in the hotel to a voice saying ,
"Hello Mrs .......!". The voice was that of a child that I had taught a few months earlier!!!

We shall be going again in a few years time when the youngest of our grandchildren is old enough as we now have 3 more grandchildren who have never experienced Lapland. Just need to save up😁

No it's fine. Your a great mum. My son has not been in school for ages. Not my fault. It's just life. Hope you enjoy the visit.

Sorry to hear about the very premature birth.

I’m glad you liked it! We’re going on Sunday!