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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I feel terrible, taken out of school for Lapland UK

305 replies

MummaHud · 02/12/2025 07:15

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? 😭

OP posts:
Fiftyandme · 02/12/2025 08:36

Enjoy it!

shhblackbag · 02/12/2025 08:37

Why would you think you're a bad parent for this?

SJM1988 · 02/12/2025 08:37

I'm usually pretty against taking children out of school for these reasons but as a one off, just do it. You won it and if you wouldn't usually be able to do it I'd take advantage of that.

The fines and rules around attendance are aimed at those parents who take their children out a Friday every month to go away or have days out. Fine's don't kick in until 10 missed sessions so the 2 (AM and PM for one day) is nothing really. You probably won't even get a letter from school.

GumFossil · 02/12/2025 08:38

If you ‘feel terrible’, why did you do it?

Fwiw, I took mine out of primary for a week after every May half term until the eldest was in year 5. They had excellent attendance otherwise. Nobody cared.

Headyhead · 02/12/2025 08:38

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tinytemper66 · 02/12/2025 08:38

As a teacher here, I’d say enjoy the day.

Lemonysnickety · 02/12/2025 08:38

Aww how fab. Have a lovey day you sound like an amazing Mum, very caring and conscientious and you are so right to give your DD this opportunity after the very difficult year you experienced. Have an amazing time.

RachelFanshawe · 02/12/2025 08:38

Well if she fails her GCSEs it’ll be your fault. Let’s hope she forgives you.

No. Of course you’re not a bad mum. Have a wonderful time 💐

ElBandito · 02/12/2025 08:38

I'd do it like a shot for a single day for a 5 year old at Lapland UK and I am one of the most pearl clutchy, uptight mums you've ever met who never took their child out of school for anything except sickness.

Have an awesome day.

herbalteabag · 02/12/2025 08:39

No, it will be a lovely experience for her and it's quite common for young children to miss school for holidays.

MaloryJones · 02/12/2025 08:39

Nope
Have a wonderful, fun Day

Blizzardofleaves · 02/12/2025 08:40

She is 5!! She won’t be missing anything but glittering cards. Enjoy this time and don’t give school another thought op!

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 02/12/2025 08:40

This reply has been deleted

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ok...well done, you can use a search function....

LadyKenya · 02/12/2025 08:41

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Oh well, maybe she overthinks things!

Headyhead · 02/12/2025 08:42

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 02/12/2025 08:40

ok...well done, you can use a search function....

Show quote history

You don’t think relevant?

given my daughter has 100% attendance

and yes the child was taken out for the honeymoon

Oneborneverydecade · 02/12/2025 08:47

It'll be busy when you get there and nearly every other school age child will be missing school that day.
We've done it (as did 3 friends that year), it was 100% worth it

FenceBooksCycle · 02/12/2025 08:47

You're fairly unlikely to get a fine. If you do just pay it and regard at as part of the cost of a splendid day out. You'll get a letter telling you that you were naughty. Don't let it worry you. The target for all these policies are the families where the parents don't value education and don't care about maximising attendance. Just don't be one of them, and this one little lapse won't be important.

LostittoBostik · 02/12/2025 08:49

They won’t do anything, honestly. If it was a fortnight you might get a charge. But given that they don’t have to legally start until the term after they turn 5 and half her class will still be 4 they won’t do anything! Enjoy your brilliant day with your DD x

Jane143 · 02/12/2025 08:49

No. She’s only 5. You’re a good mum. The schoool will respect that you didn’t lie to them. Just have a great day x

ClairDeLaLune · 02/12/2025 08:51

Not at all a bad mum! Totally justifiable day off. You go and have an amazing time, and don’t think about school. She won’t miss much anyway.

Hope you were honest with them, lying to the school is not a good idea, especially as your DD will be so excited she’ll probably spill the beans!

ClairDeLaLune · 02/12/2025 08:51

Not at all a bad mum! Totally justifiable day off. You go and have an amazing time, and don’t think about school. She won’t miss much anyway.

Hope you were honest with them, lying to the school is not a good idea, especially as your DD will be so excited she’ll probably spill the beans!

OriginalSkang · 02/12/2025 08:51

I'm not sure why you feel the need to justify this to mumsnet 😆

Spookygoose · 02/12/2025 08:53

I’m very much of the opinion that parents should be allowed to take primary kids out of school whenever they want (up to a certain number of days per term). So that they can have experiences like this. Knowledge and life experience come from plenty of places other than school. In fact, I heard somewhere that the Government was considering doing something similar, so that families can take holidays without paying ridiculous amounts in school summer hols

Headyhead · 02/12/2025 08:54

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Travellingatthespeedoflight · 02/12/2025 08:57

We did the same last week, also with 5 year olds. I haven’t given it a second thought! Don’t stress, one day of missed phonics will not matter and the memories from your family day matter more.