Would you take your 6 year old out of school for 7 days

[KirstyJ2025]

Hi all, we really want to do a once in a lifetime holiday to Disney Florida. We plan on booking 11 nights, some of the days go in to a half term break. We do however have to take our little one out of school for 7 days. She’s in year 1. We know we will go over the unauthorised 10 occasions and will be charge £80 per parent, but we will save over £1,500.00. We have been told to ring in sick for a few days to avoid the fine, but I don’t think schools a silly and they will just work it out haha, so we are thinking honestly is the best policy? Would you agree?

Only thing I’m worried about it that if you have any other unauthorised absences within a 3 year period, I believe we can be prosecuted. Tbh, we aren’t planning on doing it again. We also don’t want our school giving us a hard time over it. It’s actually our honeymoon trip too.

just wondering what others have done in this situation.

:-)

@Kirbert2 3 year old DD excitement at meeting Donald Duck was off the charts she practically hyperventilated

it has stuck with her though because she is meeting him next time we go

It doesn’t matter if the school work it out or not… you have called in sick, so it is down as a sick day. Do it. Have fun x

They can and do change attendance codes it isn’t hard to change it from authorised to unauthorised!

School is probably a very different place. The curriculum is much more packed.

also please share the evidence where teachers and TAs are dictating rules that the government have put in place.

if you don’t like the rules then please vote at the next election and find out what the current MP opinion is or candidates.

Just because you were ok doesn’t mean everyone else will be.

Yeah that’s fair enough but there isn’t going to be a next time for the OPs daughter. If she could go at 6 and at 10 then fair enough but as it’s a once in a lifetime trip for them she might get more benefit if they wait a few years

Teacher here. We don’t mind. Head doesn’t mind (in our school) but the head can’t authorise it and the attendance officer is too busy concentrating on people having the holidays as well as every Friday and Monday off.

Theres a lot on social media blaming the schools but honestly, some people’s attendance is awful and it’ll be because they can to drop their kid in. Sadly that means it’s affected the majority because you can say 2 weeks off per year for you but not for you.

Definitely tell them, your little one will drop you in it and then it just leaves a bad taste that you’re encouraging your child to lie. Not that you’ve had a lovely holiday.

if my kids didn’t go to my school and I didn’t work in a school, I’d do it too! Many, many teachers have to too if they work in different counties to their kids’ schools and they don’t coincide.

book it, enjoy it. Pay the fine.