Do you guys take your kids outa school to go to wdw

[daiseyirl]

My dd starts school nxt sept, were planning on going to florida oct/nov time. If we go in oct she will miss only 1 day but if we go in nov she will miss 7 days. I feel so guilty about taking her out even doe she will only be 5!! Id be saving over 400euro if i did. what would you do

 

[scottish mum]

I have done in the past and if my oldest wasn't in secondary school I would do it again. By Nov she will have settled in well and made her friends so apart from school work she won't miss much. What i have done in the past is spoken with the teacher beforehand and for about 3 weeks or so before we go I get extra work for my kids, this way they don't have work to do while on holiday and also have no catching up when they get back. I found that the kids were happier doing the extra work beforehand as they were keen to get it done so that they could go and see mickey. I know some people don't like taking the kids out of school but as long as i know that my kids have good attendance otherwise i have no issues with it.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

I am a teacher and I wouldn't hesitate to take DD out of school especially if she was only 5. I think they might miss me though ... or maybe not!!

Anyway - regardless of the money, she will be learning so many things on a disney trip which I will not even begin to list here. The school curriculum for a five year old child is all about learning through play, social interaction and turn taking. Sounds a lot like a WDW trip ... ... no?

Have a great time and enjoy her! They are only young once.

 

[T16GEM]

Our DD is 4 and in nursery now, we fly on the day before they are due back after Christmas holidays, so she will be missing 14 days of nursery - which I know is not a legal requirement for them to attend nursery but I still was worrying about her being out for so long.

The headmistress has however authorised her absense based upon her attendance (100%) and other factors like the time of year etc etc.

I wouldn't take them out if they are missing important times like the first weeks in September or May for example.

We will also be taking her out of school for subsequent trips in the future as DH and I run our own business and January is the only time that we can take the time off. I have spoken to DD's teachers and they have given us some ideas of how to educate her while we are away, but they also said that they were not worried as her progress had been great at school up until now.

I know a lot of people will disagree with me when I say that I think they learn a lot while they are away anyway and my parents took us out of school when we were kids as they just couldn't afford to holiday at peak times and I guess it never hurt us!

Should I step into my flam suit now??

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

No possibility of flames on such a polite and peaceful forum as this!

 

[T16GEM]

No possibility of flames on such a polite and peaceful forum as this!

Yes I forgot that we play nice over here!

 

[wayneg]

IMO There is no blanket rule if it is right or wrong. Every child has to be assessed as an individual.
Do they get on well at school?
Can they catch up easy?
Will they gain by travelling instead of being in a classroom?
Do they have a lot of time of sick?
Just a few questions you need to ask yourself. End of the day do what you believe is right and not what anyone else tells you is right, only you know your child.

Personally we took DS out for 2 weeks every Oct at Junior school and 2 weeks in his 1st year at high school. This was in addition to other holidays within school holidays. Now he is 15 years old and been abroad 53 times (list here) I believe 100% he would not be Head boy and aiming for about 14 GSCE's A-C grade if we had done things differently.
Travel to me is just as important as being in a classroom but there are many things to take into account. Thankfully we had full backing by head teachers, not as easy if you are at odds with the schools.

 

[alibeau]

Hi!

We are taking our two DD's out of school for two weeks in Feb We are also using the half term week and so we'll be away for 18 nights

DD1 is 6 and full time, DD2 is 4 and so only part time at the moment. Both girls are doing well with reading and writing etc and I try to ensure that they have a good attendance record the rest of the year.

I do still worry about what 'people' might think but we also run our own business and are limited to what time we can take off at certain times of the year.

Last year I asked DD1's teacher for some extra reading which DD1 happily did whilst we were away and she also happily practices her writing and spelling as we usually buy her a nice Mickey note book and she thinks it is fun

When we get back we print off photos and DD1 writes a description underneath, like a little 'project' which she takes in to 'discuss' with her class. Her teacher did not ask for this but all the children love to see the photos etc

I feel at the moment, with the girls progress and them being so young that I am not effecting their education but as they get older I am really not sure what we will do Also knowing that her teacher is happy with the situation means a lot to me.

Life is very short and our family time in Florida is out of this world and so for now I am happy with our decision.

Ali

 

[T16GEM]

Hi!



When we get back we print off photos and DD1 writes a description underneath, like a little 'project' which she takes in to 'discuss' with her class. Her teacher did not ask for this but all the children love to see the photos etc

What a lovely idea, I'm sure my DD would love this!

 

[daiseyirl]

Thanks everyone for your replys,

wayne your right every child is diffrent and only i know what is best for my dd, for that reason i think im just going to go in mid-term break, i just feel really guilty about taking her out of school, its something i always said i wouldnt do. I know i wouldnt enjoy the holiday 100% because id be thinking what she would be missing out on at school ect. Also think it would be great to be there during halloween. I agree with you about traveling my dd is only 4 and she has been abroad 11 times and counting!

alibeau, love the idea of the project think we will do that anyway

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I took my Dn out of school when she was 6 and 7, she stayed with us 50% of the time, as she got older she was more at her Mums, she was off school a lot then, with this and that,if she coughed the wrong way she was off for a week etc. I stopped taking her out of school as I was afraid I was giving her a bad example, and also if she was never off school except those 2 weeks of the year it would be fine, but they have totally wasted it fo her as now she is missing out on some spectaluar hols because they cant be bothered to get her to school everyday. So yes, i did take her out of school,but not now.

 

[Cyrano]

IMO There is no blanket rule if it is right or wrong. Every child has to be assessed as an individual.
Do they get on well at school?
Can they catch up easy?
Will they gain by travelling instead of being in a classroom?
Do they have a lot of time of sick?
Just a few questions you need to ask yourself. End of the day do what you believe is right and not what anyone else tells you is right, only you know your child.

Personally we took DS out for 2 weeks every Oct at Junior school and 2 weeks in his 1st year at high school. This was in addition to other holidays within school holidays. Now he is 15 years old and been abroad 53 times (list here) I believe 100% he would not be Head boy and aiming for about 14 GSCE's A-C grade if we had done things differently.
Travel to me is just as important as being in a classroom but there are many things to take into account. Thankfully we had full backing by head teachers, not as easy if you are at odds with the schools.

Good, sound advice

 

[Dimplenose]

Totally personal choice although lots of things to take into account. (Age, other absences, timing during term, exams when older etc., etc.)

I could never bring myself to take my kids out of school (my parents didn't for me either) but I don't condem those that do.

 

[joolz1910]

I am a teacher, so I am tied to the school holidays (unfortunately) but I would not hesitate to take my kids out of school if it was an option for me! Like Wayne said, each family needs to decide for themselves, but personally, I don't have a problem with kids going on holiday during term-time.

As someone else has said, life is too short.

 

[disneyholic family]

yes, we took the kids out of school to go to the states...
it was fine and they're now 25 and 22, with no long-term effects

 

[Pinklepurr361]

My dd starts school nxt sept, were planning on going to florida oct/nov time. If we go in oct she will miss only 1 day but if we go in nov she will miss 7 days. I feel so guilty about taking her out even doe she will only be 5!! Id be saving over 400euro if i did. what would you do

This type of question always provokes very different opinions!

I am a TA in Reception (so this is my opinion as a professional - rather than a Mum)!.

The curriculum in Reception is delivered quite fast with new letter sounds being learnt every day. By November they will be learning to segment and blend simple words and learning to form letters correctly and this is reinforced in many ways on a daily basis. All this, alongside the social skills of sharing, learning classroom and school rules, making friends and learning through play. This may seem trivial to some in the grand scheme of things but learning the basics is so important.

If your school was to authorise leave (remember you'd need to ask permission - it is not a given right) then you may be able to find out from the teacher what will be covered in the curriculum during the time you will be away. Be willing to put in the effort yourself, follow this through and work with your child to cover anything she has missed and reinforce what she has already learnt. Jolly Phonics do some excellent workbooks.

Only you can make the decision as to whether you feel it is right to keep her off school for a week. Does she make friends easily?, is she generally healthy or does she catch every bug going? Is she a fast learner? Would it be better to wait a year or two? I would consider all of these things before I think about whether I can save myself money...

 

[silver apple]

I have and will be doing so again. Like many of the other posters have said, there is far more to education than school. On our last trip to Florida, when my ds was 5, he learned loads about aviation, cloud formation, geography etc just from the the experiences he was having, things that are difficult to bring to life in a classroom.

All that said though, you have to do what you are comfortable with, but I would say go for it

 

[kristieuk]

I agree that it is very much a personal choise dependant upon the child and the considerations that Wayne points out. We have always taken DD10 away in October / November taking a week of half term and about a week and a half of term time. There are lots of reasons for doing this, but ultimately I agree that life is too short and there are lots of benefits too.

You mustn't feel guilty! The fact that you are considering your decision so carefully shows that you are a dedicated and caring parent with your child's wellbeing at the forefront of your mind - no child can ask for more!

Good luck with your choice

 

[FloFlo71]

I am a teacher and I wouldn't hesitate to take DD out of school especially if she was only 5. I think they might miss me though ... or maybe not!!

Anyway - regardless of the money, she will be learning so many things on a disney trip which I will not even begin to list here. The school curriculum for a five year old child is all about learning through play, social interaction and turn taking. Sounds a lot like a WDW trip ... ... no?

Have a great time and enjoy her! They are only young once.

Lol, I took my daughter out of school before I was teaching, it is a huge difference in price. Sadly not an option anymore as I'm teaching.

 

[wicket2005]

I took my sons out over the Feb half term holiday a fewtimes whilst they were in infants and juniors. We stopped once they started senior school.

I honestly don't think in the great scheme of things they will suffer for a week or two weeks absence from school a year. I wouldn't takes kids out when they are starting a new school or actually studying work that is related to exam topics.

My lads did not suffer with the odd out of term holidays, both at uni now 