Term time holidays…

Hey Ladies, have any of you taken your kids out of school recently? I’ve booked a very last minute holiday for next week, my boys are 7 and 4 - year 3 and reception, and it was very important to me to have a last holiday as a 4 before number 3 comes along in a couple of months (waiting for Easter hols would have been too late, I wouldn’t have been allowed to fly). But I don’t know how to go about it with school, do I just say that? Do I ring in sick? I’m not bothered about the fine just don’t wanna look like I don’t care to the school… any suggestions? Thank you x

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You can also ask the school, I'm taking my lg out ( she's yr 1) in may and they said cus her attendance is over 98% we wouldn't get fined but it's up to the school to decide whether they fine or not. But I would rather pay the fine then go during the holidays

As a teacher by background, it is always better to tell the school and get permission. If you request learning to take with you and can link the trip to something educational, eg: each child will bring back what they have learnt about the place you visit, etc. Then, you are more likely to have school support your decision.

The school may have a form that you can fill out either on their website or at reception. I wouldn’t fake Illness as that backfired with my daughter’s friend as she told everyone she was going on holiday, fell out with my daughter over it as told her to not tell people she was going. Plus I’ve known a school to bring attendance officers round for one day off sick although that was secondary school. Your youngest will be fine it’s just your 7 year old.

Our school doesn’t approve any holidays… it might look dodgy saying both are sick at the time, so just be honest… it’ll likely be unauthorised but they have to do that to discourage people. You’ll only get a fine for Y3, you don’t get fined for reception as not complusary school until 5

As a deputy headteacher, just be honest and say it as you’ve said here. You are very unlikely to get it approved by the head teacher, and you already know there’s a risk of a fixed penalty notice for taking the holiday, so just be upfront and tell them you’re going on holiday. Offering to take work with you, in my experience, doesn’t make a difference as to whether it gets approved (I have only ever seen term time holiday granted for quite exceptional circumstances and bereavement) and I’m sure you won’t want to enforce that whilst you’re away anyway. If your children have otherwise good attendance, it’s really not an issue- as a parent, I absolutely understand why parents choose to do it, and I know it’s not because they don’t care or don’t value school. Trips with family, new experiences, getting to travel to foreign places and experience different cultures etc is a very positive thing for children, you have nothing to feel bad about.

Thank you everyone 🩷… I’ll get my big girl pants on and send the head an email 🤣

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