2 week holiday in y1

[RedHotPokers]

Would love to take DD out of school for a 2 week holiday. School will authorise up to 10 days, so in theory it should be fine, and I know plenty of parents who take their DCs on 2 x 1 week holidays each year in term time. School seems okay with this. But I don't know many children who have 2 weeks in a row off.

This year I have some extra annual leave from work, and DS will be starting school in september, so it seems like the ideal time to take a longed for 2 week break. We couldn't afford it in the summer holidays, but could just about stretch to it in term time (have seen a great offer).

DD has excellent attendance (only 1 day off ill since staring YR). Plenty of the other children seem to have lots of time off sick (often because they are feeling a bit under the weather/have had a busy weekend/are feeling tired!), whereas (probably like a lot of children with WOHP who have no childcare!) DD has to be properly ill to have a sick day!

So part of me thinks its fine for DD to take the 2 weeks. Will she really miss much in Y1?? However, I also think that maybe 2 weeks is taking the piss a bit! Gah!

What do you think?

Our HT 'never' gives consent for holidays, but agreed to 2 weeks for one kid who is at after school club every day and holiday club in school every holiday, felt that they needed a break from school. What about going the week before half term, so you have a week plus the bank holidays?

I personally wouldn't unless there was no other option, but we are lucky that school holidays are quiet for dh work and no other parents to compete with. Maybe work out when the last time (if ever) that she had a holiday. Also what the unique selling point of the holiday might be, what would she gain? Also maybe take some appropriate reading books out from library (you can take out for 3 weeks, and put through letterbox). I know it shouldn't come into it from school's perspective but also consider whether she is ahead of her peers, on track or a bit behind.

I know it depends on the holiday (we camp so not much use); but do look at the cost of flying for package holiday. Once you add in cost of petrol etc, we found when we went off peak it was v reasonable.

My son is in y1 and a classmate returned from her 3 week holiday today. She had brought in a scrapbook with lots of photos and looked very tanned and happy.

If possible I'd try and avoid the times where there are fun events at school (school trips, class parties...) but wouldn't hesitate to go for it.

OK, here is another way to look at it. I'm sure your dd will have a great time and come back tanned and happy . She may not even miss much learning, but...

I'd say the worry is more from a 'casual' approach to school. Obviously she hasn't had many sick days because you are WOHP, not because you have an attitude that school is very important and therefore you shouldn't miss it just because of a cold or 'tiredness'. I just think it's really important for school, and later working life, to teach kids that fun is not the priority in life and that other things take a back seat to it! Fun is really important, but within the 'rules' IYSWIM. Perhaps you could have a cheaper holiday in summer hols/ Easter?

Ooh merry marigold you are a bit harsh.
My comment about being a wohp and dds school attendance was a bit tongue in cheek.

I do believe in working hard and knuckling down, and am the total opposite of a rule breaker, but I'm not sure that 5yo is the time to be learning that life isn't about having fun!
Point taken though.

Sorry! Life is about having fun...just within the rules. And I'd even let you off 1 week, but 2 just seems a bit...cavalier. I'd put it in the same camp as gooing out on a Wednesday and getting such a bad hangover you can't go into work the next day so phoning in 'sick'.

Marigold - I don't think you are going to be lying on your death bed thinking I wish I hadnt had so much fun!

I might do if the fun has a negative consequence!

bleeding hec, you poor sod.
I found this whilst looking for advice on whether i should book an 11 night hol (instead of 7 to get the resort i'm after in sharm) or whether i would end up killing self/ husband.
I am stunned by the ernest and virtuous nature of these posts.
Trying to be positive- it's lovely that we have so many dedicated and sincere teachers who care so much about their job- well done ladies!
equally.... holy crap we are talking about 5 years olds. my ds aged 5 would be missing 7 days to muck about in the sun (i havent asked school yet) and surely to God this can't kill them.
I agree end of term is best, and of course missing school to be avoided if poss, but you wouldnt be asking if it was.
Lord knows what conculsion you've come to. I think you should go for it- assuming you've tried ways to minimise missed school, er, duh?
good luck, let us know.

abitlikemollflanders - I work in an infant school and we regularly have children missing 1-2 weeks of school in a year. Honestly, and yes I know I shouldn't really say it, but the truth is for most children it really doesn't matter, esp if a one off. Most children will catch up pretty quickly.

The only real time it is a particular issue for us is if the children spend that two weeks away not speaking any English and not doing anything vaguely education wise at all (in English). And that is just because we sometimes have children come back and they need to remember the English way of writing and reading more than anything.

aaaaaaaaah, sanity.
thanks! may your class be full of angels and your wine be free of hangovers.

As notsomajicpants said - these are 5 year olds we're talking about. We took DS1 out of school for 2 weeks twice (shock horror!) once in YR and then again last year (Y1). Both times I chatted with his class teacher first, both times they were totally fine with it and even said how important and valuable family holidays are and the benefits to children of exposure to other languages and cultures etc (we went to France, so not wildly exotic...). Prices in the summer holidays - even tagging a week on to the beginning to make it cheaper - were 3 times as much and just way way out of our price range. DS wrote a holiday diary, read heaps of books, became more confident socially and generally had a great time. I would be really worried if I thought they were learning so intensively at this young age that 2 weeks out of a whole year would be devastating to their education.
That said, DS's school now have a new headteacher who will not authorise any term time holidays at all, so we won't be going away this year.