Taking kids out of school early

[Mybedislisting]

Are any of you thinking about taking your kids out of school early to allow a quarantine period to see relatives at Christmas?

Usually I wouldn’t ever consider this as acceptable but FIL wants to come to us for Christmas and he has stage 4 bowel cancer.

He is just about to have a scan to see how his first lot of chemo has gone. We believe he has 12-18 months if this chemo has worked. It could legitimately be his last Christmas.

What do you think school would say? Would this absence be unauthorised?

DS is 5 so his first year at school.

To be fair though, flowerycurtain, the kids go back to school on 4th Jan, so once you’ve isolated for 2 weeks before seeing FIL, you can only have one day with him. I can see the logic in wanting to maximise the time the kids have off school to spend with relatives without risking their health.

Omg just lie and say you've got symptoms and you can't come in! He's 5!! He will miss card making, nativity, tv watching etc! My daughters school break up on Thursday 10th!

In these circumstances I would.

It's why I think it should be encouraged not to mix unnecessarily at Christmas, but that is to give people like yourselves the opportunity to do so.

We're not planning to do this but in your situation I would. I hope that your school puts your mind at rest and authorises the absence on compassionate grounds.

I definitely would in your circumstances.

I think lots will do this and it’s fine and sensible.

DS is at secondary private school and they’ve just said that instead of closing on 15th Dec it will now be 11th Dec.

I do wonder if state schools may close early too.

I think loads of people will do this in order to isolate so they can see family.

The private schools locally have already moved their holidays forward and break up on the 11th.

Do it.

We lost MIL in sept due to cancer and the last few times the kids saw her while she was still well enough to enjoy her time with them it was through a locked patio door.

We didn't know how quickly she would deteriorate, we just didn't know what that bastard of a disease had in store.

Do it without hesitation.

I wouldn't give a flying fuck about the school, especially at 5 years old. If it is going to cause you stress just phone him in sick or say he needs to isolate. It's a white lie in my book.

Make it an amazing Xmas.

I won’t be taking mine out early - if we have to isolate then we will just have a family Christmas, just us, however, if my MIL had stage 4 bowel cancer it would be different.
It’s 2 weeks off and he might not be around next year sadly. Do it OP abs enjoy and remember that family time at Christmas

Yes I'd do it in your situation. He will not miss much at 5!

I’m not, mine will be at school until the bitter end, but we have already decided Christmas is our household only. The grandparents on both sides will go to “safer” family members and we will see them right at the end of the holidays. Assuming anyone is allowed to meet anybody else anyway of course! It’s not like the usual fun pre Christmas stuff will even be happening (Santa, lights, carols etc) so my kids will be much happier in school than sat at home. I’m normally very against people taking term time holidays etc but in reception class and in your particular circumstances I would probably be tempted to pull them out.

Do it and say you're self isolating due to symptoms. No fines and authorised. As a school we're predicting low attendance that week anyway. (If we're still open...)

I absolutely would in your situation. I lost my husband to bowel cancer, diagnosed when he was already at Stage 4, and those months that chemotherapy bought him were so precious.

I'm a teacher and I'd definitely support any family who wanted to do this.

I just wish school staff could do the same then we could get time to see our vulnerable relatives too!

Oh Christ I really need to learn to RTFT!

I'm sorry OP!!!

In your case I would take them out..

Total rookie Mumsnet error there. I should know better

We’re thinking of doing this so we can spend Christmas with MIL, who is 90. No terminal diagnosis but realistically not v many Christmases left. DD is also in Reception

I think the schools will close early, I think people will be encouraged to avoid mixing prior to Christmas if they must see family at Christmas and to limit numbers.

5 yo isn't going to fail in life because he's had an extra week off school before Christmas.

Couldn't give a FF use the school 'authorise' it or not. My child. My choice. I'm really supportive of teachers (and very unimpressed at what they're having to deal with right now, so unsupported!!) and support the school etc etc etc. But there's a limit and that would be it!!

Take him out, make the most of Christmas with your FIL.

Don't stress about getting work, just read with him & get him to do maths in daily life. Poor little buffers gave had a rough year, enjoy the build up to Christmas (do some colouring/painting/singing) it's more than they'll get done in school and you'll avoid burst bubbles!!!

@Macaroni46

I just wish school staff could do the same then we could get time to see our vulnerable relatives too!

I hope you can too!! I have a sneaky suspicion schools will close early 🤞🏼

I hope schools do finish a week earlier the last thing I want is Covid in my house over Christmas.

Teacher and yes absolutely.
You won’t get that time back.
It’s a week and it’s not like he will be missing his GCSEs. Some things are more important than a few days of school.

We might close early (I mean I doubt it, but it's a possibility) but some of us can't isolate after being in school all day before seeing our relatives with cancer because we live with them.

@flowerycurtain

Nope. I wouldn't. Just see him a two weeks after they break up. Does it really matter if it's the 3rd Jan or the 25th Dec. Nope.

I'm sorry for the diagnosis and the position you're in though.

Completely agree

I'm a teacher and it sounds sensible to me!

Just complete the home learning activities provided by the school.