Out of term
 

Hi all,

First post so nice to meet you all :)

I’ve basically stumbled upon this amazing site whilst looking for “to do’s in Florida” and general advice as this will be my first time visiting Florida.

The question I have is regarding taking your children out of term time...

For me, we are going as a party of 12, 8 adults and 4 children, three of the children will be spread across year 7, year 5 and year 2 at the time of travel (October 2021)

We are trying to incorporate 14 days across the 1 week half term they have at the end of October so they only miss 5/6 days at most.

Generally I was wondering on your own experience in doing this if you have, we have heard that some head teachers allow 5 days as a “once in a lifetime” experience, we have also heard some head teachers have agreed to the children learning about the culture or country your visiting whilst out there, in the same token we have heard some don’t care and that the rules are the rules, which we totally understand.

Thank you in advance!

Stu

Our school issue letters for every unauthorised absence but no fines these are coming I. Next year.

I would think long and hard about taking children in these years out a year 5 will have 11plus next year and year 7 is secondary school. It’s not about the fine it’s about the effect it will have in the child , what there attendance record is like, their ability to catch up and how bright they are.

I do take my daughter out and will continue to do so as I feel that seeing different cultures and having family holidays is important.

Personally I would not take her out to go to a theme park, suggesting this is to see a culture and a different country is nonsense and you know it putting that in a letter to the school will make you look a fool and serve no purpose. I mean it’s not like you are going to the Great Wall of China or the pyramids and the general culture in Florida is based on being in a tourist destination like going to centre parcs to experience British culture.

If you want your kids to experience different countries and cultures don’t go to Disney go to the West see the Grand Canyon, monument valley, the rockies etc.

In short if I think you need to sum up the effect it will have on the children’s education and not whether you will get fined or not this is way more important.

You also need to accept that if you take kids out for a theme holiday the school has a right to take the decision you have made into account when dealing with you in the future.

It’s up to each parent and I would never judge but you need to think very carefully and again start with the effect on the kids education rather than saving money.

We do this when we visit Florida. Tag on a week to either may or October half term. We have to fill out a holiday form. The holiday will always be unauthorised and sometimes we get a letter from the local authority about absence, but we have not received a fine. We ask for the work they are likely to do beforehand from teachers and make sure this is done. We will not take them out at certain times if Sats etc and I will not take them out at all when ine secondary school (mine are currently in year 5 and year 2).

Welcome to the Dibb :grin: I took mine out every year in junior school for a few days however I wouldn’t take them out of senior . I’d do it again in a heartbeat :wave:

Teachers hate this as it gives them additional work which is not really fair, take them out by all means but don’t expect teachers to do more work for the benefit of a cheaper holiday for you.

Our teachers were fine with it and happy to oblige. I don’t expect them to do it! If they said no, then that’s fine.

Hello and welcome 😊
The first time we went to florida we took our kids out of school, year 6 and year 3.
I do not regret it at all. I didn’t get fined because i think on a whole my kids had great attendance.

It boils down to a personal decision, top and bottom you will save more than any fine. whether or not you want to go down that route is up to you. The only time we've done it was in the final year of primary, post sats.

Hi, I never took my kids out of school but now they have grown up I wish I had. You are only a child for a very short time and need to enjoy it memories are worth a lot.

OP I would speak to your school and see what they say