Do you take your kids out of school to go DRP?

[Ware Bears]

I voted for Haven't but might because we haven't taken our DDs out of school for DLRP but have for WDW.

We've always gone to DLRP in the school holidays, mainly the summer one, so the issue hasn't arisen there.

However, we have taken our DDs out of school to go to WDW twice. It's been for a few days before the start of the Easter holidays each time, once four years ago when they were in years 7, 4 and 2, and last year when they were in years 10, 7 and 5. Both times their schools (secondary and junior) gave permission and last year my youngest DD was set the task of writing a diary of "Her Adventures in USA" by her teacher, a task she diligently wrote up every night!

We had a bit of a scare last year when my eldest DD was set her 10 hour mock art exam for her last day at school before her leave started ~ previous years it had always been at the beginning of March and for some reason last year it was set for two weeks later! It was enough of a scare to make me think twice about taking the younger two out of secondary school as they progress through years 10 and 11! We're planning on returning to WDW in either 2009 or 2010 and will probably go for Christmas so if we do decide to take them out of school for a few days it will be in the run-up to the Christmas holidays.

I don't think there are any "set in stone" wrongs or rights about it ~ ultimately, the decision for your child can only be made by you with your child's school.

 

[mulan1]

Well said Elaine!
Again thanks for all your replies, it's been very interesting to read!

 

[kiafrika]

I took DS out of school in Sep 2007 for 2 weeks to go to Orlando, the school agreeed to 10 ten days, but I had to have 1 day unauthorised. He is in year 3 and had caught up by half term.

We have booked a 5 day trip to DLRP in Sep 2008, the school haven't authorised yet, they won't until July. I will still take him even if they don't authorise it, he had longer off for chicken pox in reception!

 

[Rachie B]

I voted for Haven't but might because we haven't taken our DDs out of school for DLRP but have for WDW.

We've always gone to DLRP in the school holidays, mainly the summer one, so the issue hasn't arisen there.

However, we have taken our DDs out of school to go to WDW twice. It's been for a few days before the start of the Easter holidays each time, once four years ago when they were in years 7, 4 and 2, and last year when they were in years 10, 7 and 5. Both times their schools (secondary and junior) gave permission and last year my youngest DD was set the task of writing a diary of "Her Adventures in USA" by her teacher, a task she diligently wrote up every night!

We had a bit of a scare last year when my eldest DD was set her 10 hour mock art exam for her last day at school before her leave started ~ previous years it had always been at the beginning of March and for some reason last year it was set for two weeks later! It was enough of a scare to make me think twice about taking the younger two out of secondary school as they progress through years 10 and 11! We're planning on returning to WDW in either 2009 or 2010 and will probably go for Christmas so if we do decide to take them out of school for a few days it will be in the run-up to the Christmas holidays.

I don't think there are any "set in stone" wrongs or rights about it ~ ultimately, the decision for your child can only be made by you with your child's school.

this is a problem we will face / be facing

i would LOVE to take the boys to WDW (2 weeks), but dont really want to take them out of school. 2010 probably when they will be 14 and 8

which only leaves easter, or summer holidays when its really busy ? hot ? & hurricanes?!

 

[Iain Chapman]

Yes - we've taken the kids out of school in order to visit DLRP. This has been done with the 'blessing' of the school (ie the relevant paperwork was submitted and the school head authorised and didn't raise any objections). Likewise for a previous holiday.

I should add - probably like most others in this thread - our kids have a very good attendance level for the rest of the schooling year - with very little sickness etc.

The LEA 'allows' for 10 days a year (perhaps that should be tolerants thru gritted teeth rather than 'allows').

We like to visit during the Christmas Season - and the time-outs from school for DLRP have mainly been due to the availablity of other adults whom work in Retail or similar where contracts restrict time-off during busy seasons (ie December / Bank Holidays etc etc). In the case of anoter holiday the above has been also true but also pricing was a factor.

Having said all of that - my oldest will this year (September) start secondary school - so in my mind at the moment I'm unlike to look to take him out of school for DLRP - but that may change when I see how he settles to the new school / other circumstances.

Rightly or Wrongly - I see no harm from removing the kids from school PROVIDING the attendance level todate has been good (ie if they have missed loads due to sickness then a rethink is in order), that generally they are doing well (based on reports / parents evening feedback) and there isn't anything 'critical' that will be missed (ie they aren't missing an important test etc). I also believe that time-out as a family can be a good experience from them / everyone when away from the home environment. It's rare for everyone to be available at the same time normally in life due to different working hours etc (for example, my partners eldest son works as a chef so although he lives with us, we rarely see him).

Agree also with Rosie about the Adam Sandlers DVD style last week of school. Our local school also has Friday afternoons as 'Golden Time'. The kids end up just playing - taking with them Gameboys etc. What's that all about - why don't they spend that time doing the homework that's been set during the week, so when they are at home they can relax etc (perhaps by playing with the above mentioned Gameboy)..... (Am I just missing or point or am I just the misery that I suspect I really am...!).

My thoughts only....

 

[NULAH]

We have never taken our DD out of school for any hols but would not rule it out. We try to make sure that any trips we book, fits around in-service days or local holidays but are looking at returning to DLRP in september and as our DD's school only have 1 day (a monday) off then, we will have to take her out on the tue and wed too as pricewise, we would go sun - wed. I have approached her school in the past to broach the subject and was told to put a letter in well in advance. Our local council will then send out a standard letter about 'irregular absences' to the parents but the school told us not to worry about that as our DD has a wonderful attendance record and is in the top set of all her lessons. Our DS does not start school until 2009 and I think we may be less keen to take two children out of school but with the draw of Disney - never say never.

 

[sleepysox]

I personally would take a child out of school at certain times of the year, these being the week before Christmas and the last week of the summer term. I'm a teacher (primary) and quite a few parents take their children out at these times. When mine are older and if I'm still a sahm I would give them the choice- miss all the fun things at Christmas/ before the summer hols with their friends or beat the queues at Disney. Not much teaching goes on at these times imo, but the children would really miss out on the social side of things, so i guess it'd be up to them. I would always ask the headteacher's permission, and if he/she said no, then I wouldn't take my children out of school.

Sleepy

 

[britchic4]

Just realised I forgot to vote (doh!) but I have taken DS out of school last year when he was in Reception to go to Italy. Our school in line with Warwickshire local authority allows 10 days if authorised. I would only take my child out at certain times of the year and not at all in a SATS year, but otherwise I don't have a problem with it. DD is only 2 at the moment so not at school.
My Dad is a Headteacher and my Mum a reception teacher and they both agree that time out of school can be very fulfilling for a child since education is not just about sitting in a classroom being taught things but about experiences. This does mean giving your child experiences though. A particular bugbear for my Dad is if a child has been on holiday and they don't even know which country they went to, just that they ran around on a beach for 2 weeks. This happens!

 

[tttessa]

Hiya,

I must admit it makes me giggle when people describe DLRP as "educational" to justify truancy. IASWAA may have French lyrics, but my kids didn't come home knowing much more than they went away with....

Our school just "tolerates" the 10 day policy, but makes sure parents know they are not happy for term time absences unless parents have severely restricted times they can take leave from work.

Tessa

 

[jillrobinson]

Can I just say how lovely and refreshing it was to read through this thread and find that everyone posted their opinions and personal experiences without any flaming or cross words.

Well said Elaine
especially having just this minute found a similar thread, recently closed by mods on another board for that reason

 

[Sinead]

I have/would take mine away - without the school's "permission" - she is my child, not theirs!

 

[dizzzy]

I would take my children out of school. They are allowed to have 10 days authorised as long as it's not during tests.

The reason I would take my children out of school are because of work commitments. I can't have time off at Christmas or Easter apart from the bank holidays. We are also limited to the amount of staff we can have off at any one time, so of course its always a fight to get the school holidays off.

Also my dd (7) collapsed last August, the hospital think it was due to the heat (the only hot weekend we had last year) so this makes me not want to go abroad in the middle of the summer. I know I'm being overcautious but it was so scarey .

 

[newdisneyfan]

My two are at primary school; DD is 4 and in the foundation/nursery. DS is nearly 7 and in a specialist autistic unit. We have previously taken them out of school for the last week of the spring term near easter, and will do so again in March 08; school is fine; we just tell them. We have also taken them out for a week in July for a family holiday and for 2 days for a long weekend in September.
Whilst my situation is perhaps a little different, we felt that at this young age,a couple of weeks per year is no more than some kids have off sick and holidays of any kind are very benefical to our son and to our family.
The difference in going to DLP the week before Easter, and the week after, on a 4night 5 day break was £400.

 

[Cyrano]

Can I just say how lovely and refreshing it was to read through this thread and find that everyone posted their opinions and personal experiences without any flaming or cross words.

I'd echo these comments as well
Good to hear all perspectives in what is often a difficult balancing act