Want to take DS off school for a week

[goldenochre]

DS(4) is in reception and we want to take his last week off in december to see our family m(another country). DD(20months) was born just when the first lockdown began and she hasn't seen her DGPs both sides and her cousins, no one 😑. I am also due to go back to work in Jab so thought good idea to take 3 weeks holiday.

The restrictions recently been lifted where we are going and its a window we can go so she can have some DGP time. DS is not 5 yet so we won't be fined I hope.

But I wonder how frowned upon is it? Is it common people do it? Some say I should call DS sick and not send him but I feel the truth is much better. What do you think?

Be honest. It’s always funny when parents lie and the kids- or their friends- give the game away….

@CallmeHendricks

As a teacher, it really does piss me off the number of people who attempt to justify term time holidays by saying, "they do very little work at the end of term." That may have been true decades ago, but it certainly isn't nowadays.

I agree!

However OP I think you should do it and hopefully have a wonderful time! Not seeing your family who live abroad it will mean so much to see them.

Oh no sorry to hear the plans have been cancelled.

I think it sounded like a fabulous trip for your ds.

Would your older child be able to join lessons online? That’s what we would do in this situation, but I know not all schools are set up for that.

I'm so sorry, that sucks. It isn't the same but my brother lives about 10 hours away and we haven't seen him for 2 years either. He's been trying to come since summer last year and has just rebooked his flights for summer next year.

It's so hard when families are sepArated by long distances & video calls just aren't the same are they. hopefully you get there next year

@CallmeHendricks

As a teacher, it really does piss me off the number of people who attempt to justify term time holidays by saying, "they do very little work at the end of term." That may have been true decades ago, but it certainly isn't nowadays.

It depends entirely on the school. I’ve taught at schools where two weeks before half term teachers are doing ‘fun’ lessons/ watching movies, two weekly timetable meant it would have been the last lesson before the holiday. However, my friends school there are no holiday lessons at all with teachers being told off for even spinning a lesson up with a Christmas theme.

DS school in the past the whole last week is fun, arts or films.

OP, I really hope you can make something work in a few months' time. I absolutely understand where you're coming from with the idea of 3 weeks minimum for this kind of trip; that's been my rule of thumb for trips to Australia (and ideally more). Quite a while ago now, I took my children out of school for 7 weeks over Christmas age 4 and 7, both schools were able to be very positive about it as they were independent ... And in fact my youngest made great progress with early reading and writing while we were away.

I hope you can discuss with your work about having more time off when it is again possible for you to travel "home".

I'm so sorry your trip has been cancelled. I have always been very very hot on my kids attendance but last academic year I took them out for 3 days when dd was yr6 and dts yr4. I was very honest with school and they were lovely. I knew it could not be authorised as it was for a fun activity, but school were really supportive. Generally they are pretty understanding if you don't do it usually, are sensible and not taking the piss ! In our case DT have ASD and can't do theme parks in holidays /weekends as far too overwhelming and we needed to stay over to be able to pace them and give them a bolt hole. I wanted them to have the opportunity to do it at least once while they were kids and wouldn't take DD out of secondary. So totally indulgent and unnecessary but a one off opportunity. School were brilliant, and even helped prep my boys for it to help them cope and enjoy it.