Mum baffled after school denied her kids leave from school for holiday

"Anyway, whatever. Love school.”

When I was a child, my parents pulled me out of school for a two-week holiday in February.

The back-to-school photos were just snapped, and I barely knew my teacher’s name, when we’d ditch class for the NSW coast.

Craving a beach holiday, my country-based parents saved their money and any disruption of the festive schedule by taking a summer holiday in term.

Every single year.

Mum didn’t ask the principal for permission. A handwritten note was put in my lunch box, with hopes it would reach my teacher. 

Sarah spoke about the holiday on her social media. Picture: Instagram / Sarah's Day

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The 90s were a simpler time. For almost everything, including attitudes towards missing school for holidays.

Just ask Aussie vlogger Sarah Stevenson.

The influencer, known as Sarah’s Day, was at the airport heading off on a Fiji holiday when she received an email from her six-year-old son Fox’s school.

The NSW primary school informed the cookbook author her kindergartener’s five-day absence had not been “approved”.

Sarah took to Instagram and vented to her 1.2 million followers about the school policy – including the need to show the principal proof of flights.

“He’s only missing five days of school. Anyway, day one of the trip I get an email back… it says Fox’s leave hasn’t been approved,” she says in a clip posted by Outspoken the Podcast.

“Yes, I want him to learn how to read and write and be in a classroom, but I haven’t pulled him out of school for a month. "Anyway, whatever. Love school.”

Outspoken the Podcast asked followers if it was OK to take kids out of school for holidays, with most Instagram comments in support of Sarah.

Former MAFS bride Alyssa Barmonde wrote. “Honestly, restricting when kids can and can’t go on a holiday is ridiculous. Travelling and being cultured is a way better life experience than missing a week of ABCs.”

Another mum said, “I’m all for taking your kids out for holidays, real-life experiences AND family time”. A second parent admitted, “we have to apply for approval at our primary school, but I would still go even if it wasn’t approved.”

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So, what are the rules around skipping school for holidays?

State and territories have different ‘exemptions’ for attendance, but the law is the same – parents must send compulsory school-aged children to school every day.

In NSW, both state and independent schools do not consider travel during term time as a ‘justified’ reason for absence.

The NSW Education Department’s ‘justified’ exemptions include health concerns, religious holidays and competing in elite arts and sport. If a principal declines a parent’s reason for an absence, it’s recorded as ‘unjustified’.

Students in Victorian schools need to get principal approval and obtain a Student Learning Absence Plan if they want an extended holiday.

The Catholic Education Office and Education Queensland do consider holidaying a “reasonable” excuse for absence.

Are holidays in school time beneficial?

It’s an open secret at the school gate that many parents purposely book trips outside school holiday periods to beat crowds and inflated accommodation and flight costs.

Dates during the term can also be more convenient to visit loved ones overseas.

Charles Darwin University lecturer and former primary school teacher, Khushi Chauhan, pulled her son out of preschool to visit grandparents and plans to do the same in school.

“I’m all for experiential and incidental learning. Kids gain so much more during their travels,” she said

“Younger children learn more when they’re out and about. The teacher in me never leaves, I’m always trying to make it a learning experience.”

Timing of trips is important, Ms Chauhan explained, as disrupting the start of a school year can unsettle young kids, and older students might not want to miss social and academic events.

The end of the year is a more relaxed time to miss a few days, as “not much learning is going on” once grades are in, and kids can feel Christmas. 

Sarah said her son’s leave was not approved. Picture: Instagram

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Do students suffer by missing school?

There’s a reason schools are vigilant about attendance. Nationally, attendance levels are on a downward trend, and studies show students fall behind when they miss class.

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership reports that lower attendance, even missing one day a fortnight, can negatively affect academic achievement.

In the last five years, the numbers of students attending 90 per cent or more of school days in government, catholic, and independent schools has declined significantly.

According to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), the 2024 attendance levels were 59.8 per cent – a sharp drop from 74.9 per cent in 2019.

President of the Australian Primary Principals Association Angela Falkenberg says attendance “directly improves a child’s future life outcomes”.

“School leaders understand the well-researched benefits of regular attendance,” she said.

“We do not wish to dilute the clear message that every day matters.”

Ms Falkenberg encourages families to take holidays during designated school breaks.

“A holiday is often in addition to time away for illness, family events or even birthdays - further disrupting the continuity of learning,” she said.

If a child is already anxious about school and testing or has school refusal tendencies, a mid-term break could also reinforce behaviour and mental health challenges.

Should we feel bad if we have a holiday in term?

If you’ve planned a trip outside of school holidays - don’t feel bad.

Parenting educator Genevieve Muir acknowledges term time might be the only dates that work for families because of finances, location or work leave.

“Especially in the early primary years, kids get so much out of shared family experiences like travel. It’s not just the break from the norm… it’s the connection, the exposure to different environments, and the chance to slow down together,” she says.

“Don’t feel guilty if you’ve made a thoughtful decision to take your child out of school once in a while, especially in the early years. Just be open to working with your school and recognising that they’re managing a lot too.”

As a mum of four boys, Ms Muir understands why schools must enforce boundaries.

“The scrutiny around holiday absences is less about punishing families and more about trying to support learning and keep things equitable for staff and students,” the author said.

While putting in leave requests for young students might feel tedious, or even nerve- wracking, it’s important to keep an open dialogue with schools.

“The expectation that parents complete an exemption for reasons such as family travel … is part of government or system policy and a requirement for school principals to enact,” Ms Falkenberg assured.

Ms Muir agrees parents need to follow school protocol. “Sometimes schools need to deny a request for leave outside term as part of policy. This is to stop an avalanche of parents taking holidays consistently in term time.

“This doesn't mean you can’t go; it’s just marked as an unapproved absence.”

Originally published as Mum baffled after school denied her kids leave from school for holiday