would you take your children out of school for a hol?

[temmy99]

It has always been the case that holiday prices tend to rocket during school holidays that i am contemplating taking the dc out for a couple of days to save about 40% on the Alton towers deal. It is not something I would usually do so i just want to know how I could put it to the school without it backfiring on me. We r not doing anything for xmas or new year but I am looking at the april hol. Do I put in my request now or nearer to the time?

Milkybars - it does not offend me, as that is your choice, but if you do not request and obtain permission, it is recorded as unauthorised absence, or Truancy.
Pupils' records and attendance rates are passed on to future schools or colleges.
I would be wary of doing anything that could jeopardise a future college or 6th form place.

Thanks Figgy - hope I can pull it off (with permission of course, although one-day sickies are generally easy to get away with!)
milkybar - I love your bold attitude though it would get me into serious trouble at our 'best ofsted rated state primary' (which has turned out to be pretty rubbish so far (though that is another story...). I am having to sit through a humiliating meeting next week because the DCs were late a few times this term.. By 'late' I mean arriving just after the teacher locked the classroom door for registration, so not really late at all by former standards.

In addition, DD had the vomiting bug so she was off for three days rather than only two - I called to update every day (I am sure not all parents do that). I have been threatened with an EWO visit would you believe - what a waste of resources and loss of love!

While I am in ranting mode I would also add that I HATE the 100% attendance culture - it encourages children to come in at the contagious stage only to be sent home a few hours later (having spread their germs around though secured that all important tick in the register) - their parents have admitted as much. Of course, when your child becomes ill as a result, you become the demon parent for daring to keep them home until they are in a fit state to return.