AIBU to take my Year 3 child out for a day?

[Shoopshawady]

Have you taken your child out of school for say a holiday or something? Last year we took our year 1 child out for one day for Chessington. Last week we took him out for half a day for an event at the O2. I now want to take him out for one day before they break up for summer to go to Thorpe park to avoid queues. Would you do this? I feel bad but my DH says it’s fine. He’s in year 3 and won’t be missing much. Plus it’s creating memories for him!

Seeing as half the schools in England seem to be able to close at the drop of a hat because it's hot, wouldn't concern me at all.

Wouldn't even think twice. Technically, you have 4.5 days to play with every couple of terms without causing too much fuss so don't take the piss but use them! Make memories, live your life with your child while they are little.

Just to say OP, Thorpe Park is always busy at this time of year with Y11 and Y13 teenagers who have just finished their exams, so you won't avoid crowds!

I've taken my Y3 out in Y2 for a wedding abroad but that is it. We don't for days out or just a holiday - this is my rule but everyone is different. Plenty of people in DS year do do it. Like you I feel bad about the thought of doing it so we don't. I make use of training days for trips to theme parks etc.

Wouldn’t even worry about this. Just do it.

How do you know he won’t be missing much? There are no end of term wind downs these days. The curriculum is extensive and taught daily. He could miss a transition to Y4 session.
I’d say it’s teaching him that education isn’t important.
Would you be expecting him to lie and say he’s ill?
You could also encounter school trips.
Unless your child has difficulty waiting I wouldn’t. I know it’s expensive and can be busy.
Expect there will be mixed views.

I didn’t know this! That makes me feel better!

In the future, when your child says they're not going to school today because they don't want to, what are you going to say? You can't say 'because you have to' or 'because it's important' or 'because you need an education' or 'because it's the law' because you have already taught your child that they don't have to go to school every day.

I take mine out for 1, maybe 2 days a year

As long as they aren’t missing something pivotal it’ll be fine. this time of year they have move up days so I would make sure you aren’t missing that but otherwise totally fine.

Make the most of it, my y6 at school next week has 2 performances to do, 1 transition morning at secondary school, 1 meet the tutor evening at secondary school, and a school fete!

Some people take theirs out for 2+ weeks I wouldn’t stress about 1 day.

It’s fine. I lied to my sons school today that he was poorly and took him to see Toy Story 5…. Ah sweet air con. 😂

One day every so often is ok. But it sounds like your starting to make a habit of it

Personally no I wouldn’t do this. But I think being in school is really important and I wouldn’t want my children thinking it was okay to miss days for no real reason. But I wouldn’t judge people for thinking differently.

I always used to miss a few days to go on holiday and I never, ever thought this.

It’s fine. Your DC isn’t going to become a school refuser because you missed 1 Friday to get a head start on a long weekend away, it’s a lot more complex than that!

I absolutely would and here they do sweet fa the last few weeks of term just trips, sports day, world bloody cup colouring sheets and extra play and the minimum the school can get away with. As long as my child is fully achieving a consistent high standard of work I am happy for them to miss days for outings or to spend time with relatives they rarely see due to distance. Who have come to visit. You are the parent so it’s your choice what’s best for your kid and you can ensure they do t fall behind.

I think there’s little concern right at the end of term. So ok.

Funny enough, my ds got a really bad illness two weeks before end of term so he was off sick for a few days. Ds had been going on and on about our summer vacation to the US (in August), so when we got back to school after the sickness, class teacher said “oh you’re back! we just assumed you’d gone on vacation already and reported in sick.”

I explained that no, he really had been ill and she looked astonished.

I am also very much in the camp that my child’s health and emotional well being are the most important thing more so than a schools tick box register so have also allowed the odd duvet day. Missing the odd day does not turn them o to delinquents or adults that can’t hold down a job. It teaches them that they and their needs matter and makes them into more resilient well rounded adults not sad, stressed litttle clones

I have worked in many schools and yet to encounter this mythical school who do nothing.

We may have a movie afternoon in the last week to give some time to get organised but other than that even in reception it’s business as usual

Yes, but I would check your YR3 child is tall enough for the rides at Thorpe Park as from memory most are minimum 140cm

I’ve done this occasionally, took dd to legoland once and another time to see a musical.

Probably did this less than once a year though.

I take mine out 2-3 times a year for holidays, she normally misses 1-4 days each time (this year it was 1 Friday for a long weekend in Paris and then it will be 4 days during last week of term for out longer summer holiday, then probs another day for a Xmas market break in December).

I will stop doing this when she gets to Y7 or Y8 though.

I didn't make a habit of it but I did it occasionally.

I didn't lie to the school, I just handed a letter to the office to say DS would be absent on whatever day and I understood it would be unauthorised.

Schools do not do sweet FA on the run up to summer
you obviously don’t understand how crammed the curriculum is

I wouldn’t take kids out of school now (July). The independent schools have broken up, it won’t be that quiet. Better to do it when they’re in school too.

Personally I didn’t, but then I teach in primary school. I am still teaching the curriculum and will do until the last day or two. We did watch a film when the heatwave struck last week, but it was linked into their history and literacy lessons.
I also see the impact lost learning has on individuals when the rest of the class is in. The child that doesn’t attend has gaps in their knowledge and for some they can cope and catch up, others can’t.
Obviously, I value education so even before I became a teacher (it’s not my first career) I did not take my kids out of school. I wanted them to know they had a right to be educated and things like Chessington could happen other days.