Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take my kids out of school for three weeks

182 replies

scratchingheads · 30/12/2025 15:09

We have an incredible opportunity for a once in a lifetime trip with family next year. It would mean taking my kids out of school for three weeks. They are 4 (reception) and 5 (year one).

It would be one week at end of term and two weeks at beginning of the next term.

Has anyone done this, what are the chances of the school going for it, and what else do I need to consider?

OP posts:
Isometimeswonder · 30/12/2025 16:43

Be interested to know this once in a lifetime trip.
Probably not as educational as , let me think... school.

PatriciaRocks · 30/12/2025 16:44

Can I ask why you can't fit this into the school holidays? Genuine question.

Litlit · 30/12/2025 16:48

It's a national attendance policy for England now, schools have no discretion it's automatic and managed by local authorities. I've taken my primary aged children out for holidays a couple of times but won't do it again. The thread linked by pp demonstrates how quickly the policy jumps to prosecution, which is important if you have a professional or regulated role. I would check with your school and local authority how they would count your planned absence before making a final decision.

Remember that even if you only get the first two stages of fine this time it's another 3 years until the clock resets and you go back to a stage 1 fine meaning you will need to be careful about future absences. You say it's a once in a lifetime but think carefully about the timing as you will only get to do such a long trip once or twice during their entire school time.

Hoppinggreen · 30/12/2025 16:48

Alexandrine · 30/12/2025 16:41

YANBU - 4 and 5 year olds having to be in school full time is ridiculous imo, when plenty of the rest of the world doesn’t start full time education until age 6 or 7 and their kids do as well (if not better). Taking your kids out for 3 weeks at such a young age is not going to do them any harm at all imo. My only hesitancy might be if the weeks they were missing were at the beginning of September when it can be important settling in/making friendships time in the new term. Otherwise no issue (apart from paying the stupid fine!).

OP could get more than a fine, she could get a court appearance and a criminal record.
Whatever anyone thinks the fact is that thinghs have now changed and its not just always a case of pay the fine, there can be more serious consequences and OP neds to be fully aware of all of them before making a decision

CautiousLurker2 · 30/12/2025 16:49

Alexandrine · 30/12/2025 16:41

YANBU - 4 and 5 year olds having to be in school full time is ridiculous imo, when plenty of the rest of the world doesn’t start full time education until age 6 or 7 and their kids do as well (if not better). Taking your kids out for 3 weeks at such a young age is not going to do them any harm at all imo. My only hesitancy might be if the weeks they were missing were at the beginning of September when it can be important settling in/making friendships time in the new term. Otherwise no issue (apart from paying the stupid fine!).

5 days absence requires the school to notify the LA - they will then investigate whether the children are ‘missing’ or being educated elsewhere. In this case they will know that the children are overseas on holiday. The LA will then, having confirmed that the children are neither missing nor receiving an education elsewhere, will deregister them (and initiate court proceedings).

So no, it’s not just a fine - the OP risks returning from her lifetime trip and her children having no school places. She will have to home school and apply via the LA to local schools, and may not get a place at the same school or any school she would be happy for her children to attend. Having homeschooled myself, I know that getting another school place at an equivalent quality state school within catchment area is often impossible in the short-term. We had to go private.

She needs to weigh up if she is willing to risk that.

Jamesblonde2 · 30/12/2025 16:51

As long as you don’t inconvenience the teacher who will have carefully planned lessons for the 5 year old then crack on.

Caspianberg · 30/12/2025 16:51

Yes I 100% would

I know they learn at school, but they are 5. They will be fine. My 5 year old is growing up in a different country, he doesn’t even start school until next year when he’s 6. He can already do basic reading and maths and hasn’t ever been to school, just from day to day life. He’s at nursery part time but in a completely different language and they don’t teach them to read, so he definitely didn’t learn to read in English there.

Im taking him for 6 weeks this spring to Asia and he will have a blast ( we can’t travel summer and Xmas due to it being our busiest season work wise)

I will carry on taking him out when he’s school age on occasion if needed

PatriciaRocks · 30/12/2025 16:52

Yes, she was very anxious because she needed to be DBS checked for a job, and the court case would mean a criminal record.

CautiousLurker2 · 30/12/2025 16:53

Caspianberg · 30/12/2025 16:51

Yes I 100% would

I know they learn at school, but they are 5. They will be fine. My 5 year old is growing up in a different country, he doesn’t even start school until next year when he’s 6. He can already do basic reading and maths and hasn’t ever been to school, just from day to day life. He’s at nursery part time but in a completely different language and they don’t teach them to read, so he definitely didn’t learn to read in English there.

Im taking him for 6 weeks this spring to Asia and he will have a blast ( we can’t travel summer and Xmas due to it being our busiest season work wise)

I will carry on taking him out when he’s school age on occasion if needed

It’s illegal in the UK, meaning court summons, fine and loss of school place. A criminal record in my DH’s case would have made him unemployable in his profession, by the way. So it would also have led to loss of job.

You may not agree with it, but you follow the laws of the country in which you raise your children.

100% would NOT advise OP to do this without deregistering her children at the outset and deciding to homeschool them upon return.

tinyspiny · 30/12/2025 16:54

ReallyAVitamin · 30/12/2025 16:33

How awfully snobby… 5 weeks in Florida for many, many families would be an incredible, and oftentimes, once in a lifetime opportunity.

Personally, I consider anytime a child can spend with their family, away from the daily grind, experiencing new things and making memories an incredible opportunity.

What opportunity would you consider ‘worthy enough’ to take children out of school for?

Edited
Show quote history

Not snobby at all , I’ve been to Florida plenty of times

Notthehill · 30/12/2025 16:58

Do it.

Don't give it a second thought: do it. You will not regret it and any naysayers are barking mad.
Up to you to decide whether to be honest about it to the school or not, that its a harder question.
During covid children missed months of school, on end, and had no enriching travel experience to compensate. And the government thought that was just grand.
A five year old and a four year old will miss NOTHING of significance by missing a few weeks of school. I'd say the same for any child up to age 13 or 14.

DO IT!

Aplstrudl · 30/12/2025 17:00

Go for it!!!

PatriciaRocks · 30/12/2025 17:00

CautiousLurker2 · 30/12/2025 16:53

It’s illegal in the UK, meaning court summons, fine and loss of school place. A criminal record in my DH’s case would have made him unemployable in his profession, by the way. So it would also have led to loss of job.

You may not agree with it, but you follow the laws of the country in which you raise your children.

100% would NOT advise OP to do this without deregistering her children at the outset and deciding to homeschool them upon return.

Edited
Show quote history

Absolutely this ⬆️

PatriciaRocks · 30/12/2025 17:03

Hoppinggreen · 30/12/2025 16:48

OP could get more than a fine, she could get a court appearance and a criminal record.
Whatever anyone thinks the fact is that thinghs have now changed and its not just always a case of pay the fine, there can be more serious consequences and OP neds to be fully aware of all of them before making a decision

Show quote history

Yes, I think this is the point. People are giving the OP advice, without being fully cognisant of the situation.

Fupoffyagrasshole · 30/12/2025 17:03

I’d de register them from the school and hope that you can get back in on return

ComewithmeIntotheseaofLove · 30/12/2025 17:05

There was a person on here who did the same and it went straight to court - she was panicking about having a criminal record - she assumed it would just be fines

I’m always against this but they are so young can’t see it making a difference

TeenLifeMum · 30/12/2025 17:05

We did similar although it was 2 weeks either side of Easter and dc were in infants. Our family is in North America so we were visiting multiple relatives. Head teacher couldn’t approve it but was openly supportive. I’m hard line on this at secondary but at primary sometimes on balance the trip makes sense.

Hollyleaves · 30/12/2025 17:06

Freshstartyear25 · 30/12/2025 15:11

I can’t see why the school will agree to it. It’ll be unauthorised, you’ll need to consider the fine as well. However if you’ll do it, just do and accept responsibility for the fine and any other thing that comes with it.

This

PatriciaRocks · 30/12/2025 17:06

ComewithmeIntotheseaofLove · 30/12/2025 17:05

There was a person on here who did the same and it went straight to court - she was panicking about having a criminal record - she assumed it would just be fines

I’m always against this but they are so young can’t see it making a difference

Edited

Yes, that was who we were talking about upthread. She was worried because it would mean a criminal record, and she had to be DBS checked for a job.

Timbukpoo · 30/12/2025 17:06

I regularly took my kids out for family holidays/events, but we were in a Private school and the kids went on to have music and academic scholarships - so clearly not missed out on their education, so i would go for it and be honest with the school. You will just get haters on this thread - but interesting the votes are in your favour!

PatriciaRocks · 30/12/2025 17:07

Timbukpoo · 30/12/2025 17:06

I regularly took my kids out for family holidays/events, but we were in a Private school and the kids went on to have music and academic scholarships - so clearly not missed out on their education, so i would go for it and be honest with the school. You will just get haters on this thread - but interesting the votes are in your favour!

What do you mean "haters"? I've not seen anyone spewing hate.

SelfRaisingFlour · 30/12/2025 17:08

The kids will barely remember the trip. This trip is really for you.

Buscobel · 30/12/2025 17:11

Will the 4 year old be 5 when you go?

You will have to consider the financial implication and whether the children will be deregistered because of the length of time. If they are, are you likely to get a place at the same school on your return? Are there under subscribed schools you would be happy for them to go to, if they don’t have a place at your current school?

Canonlythinkofthisone · 30/12/2025 17:12

My parents ALWAYS took me out of school the 1st 2 weeks of the September term for our holiday (pre fine time obviously).
I hated it. I mean I loved our holidays but by the time I went back, everyone had settled into their friendship groups and were ahead in their work.
Obviously your kids are young. But I've vowed I will never to it to my DC just because I always felt weirdly like the new kid every year 🤣🤣

AgnesMcDoo · 30/12/2025 17:14

Absolutely go for it.

just factor the fines into the cost.

We’ve always taken our kids out for holidays (Scotland. No fines)

we stopped in the exam years.