I lied to school about children sickness and went on holiday

[kgabe]

So before anyone decides to go hard on me, I have never ever lied about kids sickness before. I don't know why I did it this time, I guess money is tight, we worked hard to be able to afford the holiday, but still could not afford the holiday in half term, so we decided to take kids out of school for 3 days. I reported my children to have sickness. And off we went.
But unsure why, probably based on their hunch, school called me the next day. I did not answer, just sent them a message instead. But they replied they got an international ringing tone....ooops... i did not even reply to that. When we got back I got a letter suggesting I lied, that kids were on holiday instead of home poorly, etc. I don't know what to do, I hate lying and I regret not telling the truth, but has it gone too far now to just admit I lied? I can also expect the fine for my children, well tough I suppose. But I feel like a criminal, like I did something unspeakable. But I only allowed for my family to have a wonderful time together, we has such a great time, it is really priceless. My kids are both doing great academically and their abscence was above 95%. What is everyone's take on it? Should I own up now? Or deny it still.... And are they allowed to question my children without my permission about it?
Thank you

@Idontwanna that is indeed a good deal! Turkey is lovely. I suppose the difference IS going in term time and hence the price being so much cheaper. Mind you, I have been to Turkey first week in June and the weather wasn’t great the first day and hadn’t been the two weeks before. I’m not so bothered on the weather front in the UK - I know not to expect sun. I think with holidays abroad the cost can creep up though with airport parking, food on the journey, passports etc.

that's fine. Do what you want to do rosenotred. Do you think I'm talking to you personally? Because I'm not.
This is a public forum, as a previous poster has said, we all come on here with our personal viewpoints. This is mine. I don't care what you do.

Yes because you keep engaging and you have tagged me. If someone wasn't addressing me personally I wouldn't continue to respond despite someone telling me not to with them imparticular......

I teach in Year 2 and the week before half term we had a parent ring and say both her children had covid.

I was all set to send them school work via email to do, until someone (not sure who but we're a small rural school) found a photo of the 'sick' children posing in front of a plane, all excited to go on holiday.

If you're going to take your kids out of school (& I can't say I blame you) please don't post photos on social media.

I'm a teacher and have no issues with a child with 95% attendance having 3 days off - as long as it's not just before sats etc. I have issues with parents that keep their child off with the tiniest sniffle leaving their attendance around 75%.
I wish teachers were given a little flexibility to go on holiday a couple of days early as the savings are huge. The whole school holiday price thing is ridiculous.

@Rosenotred *in particular
Did you have a lot of schooltime holidays?

I've done it twice this year. I've booked one for next year and once Summer deals for 2024 deals have released I will also be booking again all being well.

I'm sorry but life is too short. There's only me and DS I already pay a lot as we already get a the short straw as there's just 1 child and 1 adult so no child free place for us.

I don't get worked up about this. It doesn't make you or the next person a better parent I participate in things like homework and so on. My child isn't behind with school work either. Nobody's perfect but judge away if you want to.

@Rosenotred how do you get a short straw? A family of 4 have to pay for 2 adults and a child so how are they better off? I sincerely hope you don't carry this on once your DS gets to secondary school as 2 weeks a year WILL make a difference whether you think it does or not

@Tessabelle74 have you actually searched and checked prices before shooting your mouth off? There's 2 adults paying for each of the children firstly and secondly I speak to people on holiday and they have paid similar to me as there is more people. I don't always go on holiday twice a year but to be Frank you need to mind your own business. I know I can't have DS missing exams but for your info he is in year 3! I booked my hols in the pandemic and I work in a hospital. You don't know me to be making wild assumptions get off your high horse. I could not give a toss what you think!

What will it make a difference to???? The kids were off in covid how are YOUR own kids doing? That's what you should be worrying about. Plenty of kids are not behind after covid and caught up. I don't know why you are so wound up over 1 weeks holiday or 3 for that matter.

@Rosenotred I'm a mum of 4, trust me, I get a short straw, get 1 free child yes, but have to pay under occupancy for 2 rooms so how about you calm down sweety? I'd suggest you don't post on PUBLIC forums if you don't want comments being made 🤣🤣

Well you choose to have 4 kids you fund them. Cut your cloth accordingly sweetie. Even a day at the seaside will be expensive with 4 kids never mind a holiday.

Who do you expect to fund your 4 kids. You should of thought about that before continuing to have more kids ...... 4 kids is expensive.

@Rosenotred the irony 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 you chose to have your son did you not? We knew exactly what we were doing, our kids were all planned and we both work to pay for them, bet you get more benefits than we do sweety, use them to fund your holidays. Night night now, go and moan to your lonely old sour self 🤣

There's no irony. I have one child to pay for. Furthermore you started it..... so if you don't want judgement don't go around poking your nose in others business. Glass houses and all that.....

You started it first and I gave you it BACK. Benefits? Your doing a lot of assuming and you sound very judgemental that speaks more about you than me as a person.

Don't dish it if you don't want the same back. I hope my comme t left a bitter taste in your mouth

@Rosenotred the only bitter thing in this conversation is you sweety. Do you always get this irate at strangers on the internet? Maybe you need a holiday? Now, I have 4 beautiful children to get to bed so I wish you well and adiós

Oh whatever keep your abusive slurs to yourself. Irate and YOUR the one posting about your "raging husband" and kids! On MN not me. Like I said glass houses and all that sweetie.

Even posted your kitchen on MN looking a shit tip!

@Rosenotred I'm really encamped in your headspace aren't I? You really need to relax. Try chamomile tea

I hate the fact that the state tries to tell you when you can and can’t take your own children away. Most people are sensible and don’t take them out in the run up to SATs, GCSEs or A levels.

I’ve been lucky that both the primary and secondary that my kids attended were fine for them to go away in term time so long as their attendance was generally good. This is a much more sensible approach than fining every kids family indiscriminately. But obviously because I’m not an idiot, I haven’t actually taken my kids out of school for a holiday since y7. Before that age it’s totally fine imo.

When they were young we simply couldn’t have afforded to take them in the holidays and having life experiences is more valuable to my mind than what they’ll have missed in a week of school.

glad you had a lovely time OP. The school are being unreasonable.

Just keep with the line. Crazy behaviour by school! I understand they have the rules to follow but they have no responsibility to ensure you've told the truth unless the childrens absence was horrendous. Just keep bluffing. And if they question young children then surely the children just got confused with the holiday they went on in half term? They're too young to understand the passage of time and when they were ill! Honestly life is too short to worry about taking kids out of primary school for a few days. Hope you had an amazing holiday!

Admit it and say that if the rules weren't so stupid you wouldn't have been put in the situation in the first place.

As this is in all of the gutter rags and tabloids now I don't think you can continue to lie. Just admit it and admit you posted about the school on the internet.

School always knows, trust me. It causes so much work for the already under pressure staff . They have to find out why every child is not in school, so much more respectful to be up front. It's your decision at the end of the day and if there is a fine then that comes out of your saving. And it's recently reduced to fines for 3 days now in some areas
Also you are teaching your kids to lie, so that's not great.

Op what did you do?

Theyre your kids. The school dont own them. You told them they wouldnt be in. Its not something you do lots. I would just forget it now. You havent commited a crime.
I took mine out a couple of days before half term for a holiday and phoned the kids in sick and ignored any calls. Apparently my son had already told his teacher he was going on holiday, so thats embarrasing 😄. Ive heard no more about it though

I took mine out a couple of days before half term for a holiday and phoned the kids in sick and ignored any calls. Apparently my son had already told his teacher he was going on holiday, so thats embarrasing 😄. Ive heard no more about it though

You’ve heard no more about it @Branleuse but I’d be surprised if it hasn’t been marked as unauthorised holiday. We had a “Sarah won’t be in as she is ill” call but Dad didn’t realise that the international number showed on our call record AND his DD had already told us they were going stay with her Aunt in France. She then proceeded to tell the head all about her the great time she’d had! The rules require correct attendance codes be recorded….. Her parents WILL hear further if her attendance figure drops below the required percentage in the future….