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Original poster

Holidays in school term

14 replies

Blossomkitty40 · 11/05/2023 09:18

Hello. I am planning a family holiday in the next couple of years, probably not next year but the year after due to finances. I am planning to take the kids in term time, I know that some people might not approve but being able to afford to take them in the holidays is out of the question due to the cost of it. My query is, what do I do when it comes to the school? I've never done it before, so do I just tell the schools I'm taking them out for a holiday? Or do I Fib and say they are sick? TIA

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PuttingDownRoots · 11/05/2023 09:21

I've just had to fill out a form. School said at least three weeks in advance. We got the authorised/unauthorised decision the same day, which I thought was very efficient (authorised as our reason was counted as education offsite)

If its unauthorised you still go but may got a fine.

Original poster
Blossomkitty40 · 11/05/2023 09:25

I think it will probably just be the Wednesday/Thursday/Friday that I would take them out but just unsure of how it all works. I know that the school has said that they can not authorize term time holidays, but do I still just email them saying basically "I know that you are unable to authorize it but I'm just emailing to let you know that I will be taking *** out of school on these dates for a family holiday"?

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LolaSmiles · 11/05/2023 09:28

I'd just be honest and ask your school how they want it doing.
I'd not lie about it or put your children in a position to lie.

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TheChosenTwo · 11/05/2023 09:28

We have holiday forms at our school.
It will go as unauthorised but our LA didn’t seem to issue fines unless for 10 or more consecutive sessions (so 5 days) were missed (I used to work in the school so this wasn’t me requesting holiday, just going on what happened in this school!).
So see if there’s a holiday form and I’d recommend just being honest in any case.

Mindyourfingers · 11/05/2023 09:29

I’d fib, but I am in a minority on here!

Original poster
Blossomkitty40 · 11/05/2023 09:31

@PuttingDownRoots thanks for your reply. Yeah I'm not sure that our school would even provide a form as they have already said they will not authorize leave for holidays. I'm not comfortable lying about it, but I'm also not comfortable with the whole unauthorized thing. I should probably just be honest and see what happens.

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Original poster
Blossomkitty40 · 11/05/2023 09:34

Sorry, Ive just seen everyone else's replies. I imagine when I do tell them, they will email me back and say they can't authorize it. So what happens then? Do I say "well I'm taking them out anyway" and just see if I get a fine?

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gertrudemortimer · 11/05/2023 09:50

@Blossomkitty40 I'm in this position now with my ds 6 who's in year 2. I've just booked a Tuesday-Tuesday holiday in June. I wanted to go weekend to weekend so he wasn't in and out but the free child places changed. I'm taking reading books and some maths board games he enjoys that we can all play. It's really not ideal but I've never been able to take him abroad due to the price and I feel like he's at an ideal age where he will have an enjoyable time and it will be worth the money. I'm going to be honest with the school and pay any fines for me and his dad.

Houseupdate · 11/05/2023 09:53

Tell them. Unless it’s the last week before the summer term you won’t be able to keep it secret. When I was teaching I have seen parent dig themselves into a deep hole lying and the police ended up being involved as the school could not confirm the child’s location or that they were safe.

LegOfTable · 11/05/2023 10:09

They put you in stocks and everyone hurls rotten veg at you. This is done in the playground whilst people shout, "shame, shame!" at you. Grin

Unauthorised means nothing to the child or the parent, school obviously don't like it as they have unauthorised absences on their system and you will not be the only one. Some people do it every year a few odd days at the end of term. Re the fine at my son's primary it was 4 1/2 days and no fine, 5 days a fine. The school notify the local authority, they are the ones that issue the fine, not the school.

I took mine out for 6 whole days, but it was the week after year 6 SATs, I volunteered in the school so knew they did fuck all that week as it was the week before half term, they let them play on the field, they bring an ice cream van there too, they start the school play stuff. Still it was unauthorised but we had the time of our lives on that holiday. No he didn't bomb his GCSEs because he missed a few days of primary, neither did Ds2 who was in year 3 at the time.

Don't lie, you just notify the school that the children will not be in attendance on X days and when they will return. Acknowledge that it is for a holiday and that you know it will be unauthorised. They will email back confirming they cannot authorise holidays within school time. That should be the end of it. Oh and have a wonderful holiday.

Original poster
Blossomkitty40 · 11/05/2023 12:43

Ok thanks everyone 😌

OP posts:
Cluelessfirstimer · 12/05/2023 17:03

Mindyourfingers · 11/05/2023 09:29

I’d fib, but I am in a minority on here!

I'd fib too...

Oblomov23 · 12/05/2023 17:57

I did it for 3 days last month. 1st time in 13 years of schooling. Just said ds2 wouldn't be in, unauthorised.

ScarletWitchM · 12/05/2023 18:37

I’ve always phoned them in sick

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