Mum divides opinion after school catches her taking kids on holiday during term

A MUM has asked if she was in the wrong to take her kids out of school for a family holiday after she was caught by the school.

The mum said she had never lied about her kids, aged around five and 11, being sick before, but said she risked it this time because “money is tight”.

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She wrote on Mumsnet: “We worked hard to be able to afford the holiday, but still could not afford the holiday in half term, so we decided to take kids out of school for 3 days.

“I reported my children to have sickness. And off we went.”

However, she said the school called the next day, but they said they received an “international ringing tone,” which led to a letter being sent from the school saying she had lied about it.

She continued: “I hate lying and I regret not telling the truth, but has it gone too far now to just admit I lied?

“I can also expect the fine for my children, well tough I suppose.”

However, she said that both her kids are both doing “great academcally and their absence was above 95 per cent”.

She finished by saying: “We has such a great time, it is really priceless.”

Some Mumsnet users were not on the mum’s side, with one person saying: “You have behaved very badly and given your children a very bad example.”

Another wrote: “You should have just admitted it before you went and taken the risk of getting a fine. Instead you lied and that really isn’t good.”

However, others understood her decision and said not to worry about it.

Someone wrote: “Just say you were away with work, it’s not the end of the world to take your kids out for 3 days as complete one off.”

Another woman agreed: “It’s your choice and if you can’t afford a holiday in school hols then this is what you have to do.

“School isn’t the only place that kids learn. I took mine out quite a lot in primary school.”

Parents are reminded that taking young children out of school during term time is an offence that carries with it a £120 fine.

Another mum has explained how she’s saved more than £10,000 in the past nine years by taking her kids on holiday during term time.

Catherine, who works at daysout.com, said she saves as much as £2,000 a time, what with the school term time being much cheaper than the peak season.

And another mum does the same, saying she “doesn’t care what the school thinks”.

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