Have/would/will you take your kids out of school to take them on holiday?

I put the option ‘not from the UK’ as I’m unsure what happens in other countries. Feel free to explain what happens in your country? I’m from England and personally I think the rules are shit, I hate school rules in general but this one sucks arse 🍑

I didn’t see the UK bit until after I voted. At least where I am in the us, we have so many days we can take off.. growing up my parents always took us on vacations for a week during the school year and I’ll likely do the same with my daughter 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think it’s probably as good for them to get a refresh as it is us! I would just say they’re sick if you get penalized

I’m in US it was common to do that here I think you get 5 parent excused and after that they are unexcused and 3 unexcused can be detention and then more is court. Doctors excuses are always excused though. I missed like over 30 days one year. But because it was all doctors excused we never got in trouble (I was a very sick kid in school with surgeries and even fucked my knee up for a month) 🤷‍♀️ so I guess they really aren’t that strict here you know

Also in the us. I never cared if my students went on vacation unless they were majorly behind already and couldn’t academically afford to miss days (they would regress, not pick up on the missed content, etc). It’s not that those children don’t deserve a vacation or anything it’s just school was already so hard for them, why make it worse by missing days?

I will be yes once my daughter is school age. The prices to go in the school holidays are just extortionate! There’s no way we could afford it, so she’ll be off “sick” for a week 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’d rather pay the fine than 1000’s for a holiday

Yes absolutely i will be! Traveling and having new experiences is just as important as school

I have. My sons has always been authorised as he’s Sen. We got a warning in reception however at the end of the year they wanted him part time. Be a bit of a cheek if they did seeing as he had a year out of school. My daughter we didn’t get fined although I did argue that they have different term dates as two different counties. Not sure about now due to the new rules. Maybe next to school holidays.

No I just won’t do it I always take my kids on the holidays. Nothing against those who do I just don’t want mine missing that much school

I wouldn’t but only because I work term time so it would involve me also phoning in sick 😂

My daughter will be coming down with D&V *cough cough* 🤫 the week after the Easter holidays because: 1. Fuck the govt, I am raising my child not them 2. The difference in price for the holiday during school hols was £4k! I have one friend who took her 3 kids out of school for Disneyland a week before school ended in Dec, one who has a holiday planned end of March for her 40th. First friend didn’t receive a fine, just lied and said kids were ill.

We don’t care! I’m a UK teacher and also a parent. We can’t afford to go on holiday because of how much more expensive it costs us. So I never frown upon parents taking kids out. My parents always took me on hols during school time and I did very well all the way through my schooling!

I hate the idea of girly missing school but that has come from me missing lots of school consecutively because of an illness. D&V will be coming into play soon because it was a holiday that was booked last year before we found out what school she was going into so wasn’t sure on the half term dates. I said to my partner I’m more than happy to pay the extra if it means we’re not taking her out of school. I know lots of people who do and that’s fine it doesn’t bother me. I also know a few people who have said they are being taken to court for how much unauthorised time their child has been out for holidays and how many times they’ve paid the fine. Taking that bit with a pinch of salt because I’ve never heard of that happening before z

I’m doing it this year as it’s the last one in primary.

We always have (from the uk) just pay the fine.. saves you thousands lol they have got more strict with it tho since august 2024, I think 3 fines in 3 years and they can take it further (court proceedings) bigger fines etc xx

@Shelley but couldn’t you avoid the charges by saying your child’s off sick?

If the child is not generally absent and they're not behind, then go on the vacation. But if your kid is behind having them miss more days is harder on them academically. Just plan holidays around their breaks. I had a student who was absent at least once a week. In inschool for fighting at least three times a mth. I had to chase him down twice a week for afterschool tutoring (unpaid) to help catch him up & most times i couldn't find him. Then his mom took his to Florida for two weeks AFTER their 2 week xmas break where he also didn't turn in all the assignments I returned to him to make up. He repeated that year.

IV always taken my kids on hols so it's half during hols half school so will go on the Tues/wed ect in half term then they only miss 2/3 days of school so I can say they sick and it's normally a hell of a lot cheaper than going at the beginning of the half term, I'm from uk

How do you explain sun tan when they go back to school 🤣

@Kath That’s why you book your holiday either one week prior to school breaking up, or the week after they’ve ended, so then you can explain the tan by saying you went away during the actual school holidays 🤣🤣