Would you take your child out?

[JC17fj74]

So I'm in a right dilemma.
DS will be 4 in June and starts school in September.
The idea was we would take him to Winter wonderland at Centre Parcs Christmas 2020 to fit it in before he starts school this year but it got cancelled so the only time we could re book for was November this year. That means I will have to take him out of school for 5 days as a one off.
BUT we also have a summer holiday booked abroad for April with the same idea of getting it in before he starts school, but I cannot see it happening, we are going to hold off until nearer the time but I'm looking at re scheduling it and I'm having a nightmare with dates and availability to fit in with school holidays. I have found a week in October half term but it would fly a few days into the half term and means he would miss 3 days of the start of the new term after they get back from half term.
So I would be taking him out of school for 3 days in October and 5 days in November would you do this?

[Lifeinaonesie]

I would. If this year has taught me anything it's that missing school is seen to be completely acceptable and the school will have a hard time saying missing 3 days is an issue when they've been out for months on end.

[DenisetheMenace]

At 4, probably. He doesn’t legally have to be there yet.

[user1493413286]

I wouldn’t do both; even if he is only 4 it’s a lot to miss almost 2 weeks in the first term

[user1493413286]

Just to add as well I think by October we’ll still be in a situation where you have to isolate if you come into contact with a positive case and possibly quarantine after going certain places abroad so you may be adding in 2 weeks on top of that off school

[Hoppinggreen]

I have done this previously but the one thing I always stuck to was no missing the beginning of term/half term.
So leaving a bit early was ok but coming back late wasnt. That’s just how I decided to do it though and still do on occasion

[DenisetheMenace]

user1493413286

“I wouldn’t do both; even if he is only 4 it’s a lot to miss almost 2 weeks in the first term“

I really wouldn’t worry. Our youngest only did half days to start because we felt full time was too much.
Years on and he’s weighing up his university offers.

[HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime]

In my experience October and November are classes are rife with colds and general illness and the younger children are exhausted by the end of the first half term so I wouldn't book anything for that reason.

[Dogsandbabies]

Absolutely. I took my DD out for two weeks in reception and flew to the US for a road trip. She is now in YR 4. Didn't affect her negatively at all, socialising or learning. And we still talk about the road trip.

[JC17fj74]

@Dogsandbabies

Absolutely. I took my DD out for two weeks in reception and flew to the US for a road trip. She is now in YR 4. Didn't affect her negatively at all, socialising or learning. And we still talk about the road trip.

Thank you! How soon into her starting did you take her out?
I'm hoping the school will be understanding with everything that's gone on but I'm worried what they will say/think 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Glenorma]

It’s very optimistic to think you’ll be allowed to go abroad in April.

[blahblahmeh]

My daughter started in Sept, we were due to go New Zealand in Nov for 3 weeks but cancelled due to Covid, to be honest i'm glad we didn't go, they did so much work in those 3 weeks she'd have missed loads! It's amazing how quickly their phonics comes on starting school!
If i were you i'd only pull him out for 1 holiday ideally

[Dogsandbabies]

I took her out in December. The school were fine and I did some work with her on phonics (fun game stuff) when we were away. He will be fine.

[Dogsandbabies]

Also, if it's any consolation I asked for advice here. People told me I was making a mistake and that she would miss out too much and she would be too tired. I am glad I followed my instinct. As I said, she is top set in her class and we still talk about the holiday which she loved.

[SJaneS49]

Truthfully I wouldn’t do both. In Reception taking them out isn’t so much of an issue but I wouldn’t stretch that to two time outs.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

If he is only going to be 4 in June, you could choose to defer starting by a term and start in the January instead. Then you can take all the holidays you want Sept-Dec.

I think it is a bit unfair on the teachers / classmates / your DS to be in and out.

[Tier10]

Could you do a long weekend instead so your DC is missing 2 days and not 5?

[mumto2teenagers]

I think as he is only 4 it is fine.

I would think it's unlikely you will be going abroad in April.

[SkylightAndChandelier]

Absolutely do it. I'm taking mine to Lapland come December, all being well, before the eldest is too old to care about it (on the cusp of tween-hood).

The UK obsession with Box-ticking punishes everyone in the hopes of constraining the few, but in reality, the ones who go to far are going to do that anyway, and it's only the obedient that get punished (much like entire class punishments in school itself)