Missing school for a holiday

Let him go MissA. Time spent with his big brother and a change of scene will do them both a power of good and will give you some much needed time for yourself too.
You havnt been well, you have had the most terrible time. Some don’t know that here, but as you say you want a balanced view.
I would explain the very particular circumstances to the school and I hope they see the sense in your request and I hope have a wonderful time. If they still don’t agree you may have to pay a fine, which you have said you will.
Years gone by we always took the children out of school fir a week attached to the start or end of the school holidays and a 2 week absence was fully accepted by the school and education authority. Not only that, it was seen as a learning experience, which it was.X

I think your only fined if you miss ten ten sessions consecutively ( so an Am and PM is two sessions ) and mental health well being far out ways 3 days of school if absense is not usually an issue.
I would explain you would like to explain face to face to the head of year why and how it benefits the said individual/s .

I don't think I lied but I took DS out of school for a day when he was 6. We had friends staying from England and Scottish schools return in August so it was a perfect day for a seaside picnic.
The school however, soon knew all about it because he wrote about it in his news the following day!.
I may still have his news jotter.

*mucked

LauraNorder

Education doesn’t always take place in the classroom.
Travel is educational.

⬆️ exactly.

When my older two DDs were at primary school in Oxfordshire, we used to take them up to the Scottish Highlands, stopping off at Dundee to 'pick up' their grandparents. I used to write to the headteacher and say that they would be absent. We climbed munros and lucked around in lochs and the sea and mountain streams.

Later, when DD1 went on a school field trip to The Gower in south Wales, she discovered that she was the only kid (a mix of 12-13 yos) who had ever walked on anything wilder than a pavement.

He should go, grab the opportunity, if nothing else we’ve all learnt that in the last 18 months. I hope they thoroughly enjoy themselves.

Take them on holiday!

Please dont tell children to lie, it's really unpleasant for them. If you want to go on holiday go, and take the consequences, at 13 it will usually to complete the work missed, it will usually be the responsibility of the child to find that out.

Schools can be looked on unfavourably by Ofsted Inspectors if there are unauthorised absences. Some head teachers will look compassionately at individual cases but fines can be imposed if holidays are taken without permission. Like the teacher training days referred to earlier, it’s out of the control of the schools, sadly.

Yes let him go on the holiday. Look on it as therapeutic for him. He’d have to take time off if he was sick or tested positive for COVID, he’ll easily catch up. The school are doing a “computer says no” response as they have to say no to holidays for everyone. Tell them he is having essential family therapy and can’t attend school on those days, just don’t use the word “holiday”.

MerylStreep

HurdyGurdy
Teachers don’t worry when parents have to loose a days pay or scrabble around for child care when they have their ^teachers training day^

Do you think teachers have any say in these ?? Honestly ?

Do you know what? The MH of all children has been affected so much during the pandemic - DD2 works in CAMHS and they are very seriously overwhelmed just now - inpatients full with massive WL (very very seriously ill young people), outpatients services inundated with long waiting lists. DD1 teaches P1 (5) youngest class - most barely been to nursery in last 1 ½ years before starting school, they have no idea how to sit and listen, take coats off, go to toilet, react to each other without hitting out, follow any instructions! F... the school. Tell them he has been pinged and self isolating, tell them he has D&V - 48 hours off after last bout of it! Don't pay a fine! Your grandson will benefit from this so much more than being in school for 3 days more! 3 DAYS - how many months did he miss due to Covid! Good for you Miss Adventure!!!

I can remember from my own children's schooldays the furore over taking them out of school for hospital or dental appointments (can't you rearrange out of school hours "rolls eyes") but the total acceptance of finishing early and starting late the next day when it was time to "advertise" the school to potential new pupil's parents for the following September. Somehow those lost teaching hours didn't matter ?‍♂️

I'm with the let the child have the holiday crew, and I know nothing of the back story. Over the last 18 months education has been disrupted to an unprecedented degree. I'm quite sure a bright 13 year old can make up 3 missed days. As said earlier, what if he was ill for 3 days, would that have an everlasting effect on his eduction?

I think you're right. Honesty doesn't seem to have been the best policy for me.
So my mum must have been fibbing!

Your mistake was asking. If you ask they have to stick to the rules and refuse.
I took DD out of school for 3 weeks once for a very important trip but I just informed the school, giving the reason and no-one bothered.
It wasn't like it happened all the time.

I hope your DGS has his 3 days.

Definitely let him go.

Totally unreasonable of the school, especially given the circumstances.

We took our daughter out of school for the first 3 days after the summer holidays.

She's got a PhD now. No need to worry abut missing 3 days .

MerylStreep

HurdyGurdy
Teachers don’t worry when parents have to loose a days pay or scrabble around for child care when they have their ^teachers training day^

Teacher training days are mandatory for teachers. NONE of us want to be there. They are always boring and mostly a waste of time that we could be using to set up for the year.

It is time built into the school year so it is NEVER an off-the-cuff day that shocks parents. For students it is part of the holiday.

It's as if you think teachers have some kind of control over this. It's government mandated training.

I missed three days of school at the start every year. It didn't hurt my education or achievement at all. I'd support taking the time off (as long as, for an older child, it doesn't occur at a critical time like exams, or labs, a crucial field trip. Chances are he'll learn more on the trip anyway.

I posted because I wanted different opinions, so I don't mind the perpetually outraged putting the boot in.
It gives me a more rounded perspective on what to do, so all opinions are welcome.

Three days is such a tiny amount of lost schooling.
In your position I would definitely let him go.

Take no notice missA you know it the right thing for the boys who ve had a difficult time
I m presuming some people answering don’t realise the back story

He is way ahead anyway, bu a country mile, but I haven't been well, and I think spending time with me moaning isn't doing him many favours.

I speak as a teacher but also as the parent of a son who messed about something shocking and had to repeat exams etc etc but has turned out just fine in the end

I was chatting the other day about people I know who were written off at school but have excellent qualifications and good jobs now. Late developers? Or just bloomed after they left that environment..

3 days off school? He should be able to catch up.

HurdyGurdy
Teachers don’t worry when parents have to loose a days pay or scrabble around for child care when they have their teachers training day