Ways to take a Family Gap Year of travel
We took our son out of school, between primary and secondary, to take a year off to travel. We have had so many questions from our followers about how we were able to do this. While we may be less of the norm when it comes to being able to take a family gap year, there are plenty of other ways in which families can take one. This can be through maternity leave, shorter trips with allowed time off work and of course, world schooling. We take a look at each option below.
How were we able to take a Gap Year with our son?
For us, our gap year came about for several reasons. The first one was that we inherited some money. My husband suggested that we could travel for a year before our son got too old to want to travel with us, and I leapt at the chance. For us personally, we had two options. Take our son out of school for a year and homeschool him while we travel, or save up some additional money and send him to a private school after the gap year.
We are both self-employed, so we didn’t have to ask anyone for permission to take a year off work. My husband worked for a few months over Christmas while my son and I still travelled, but he took most of the year off. Our son was 11 when he finished primary school, and he finished in year 6 at a regular state school. He would have then been starting secondary school (year 7). As he is a summer-born child, we approached our local private school about the possibility of us travelling for a year, while still starting school in Year 7 (one year later).
They were all for it and said that because he is summer-born, it would be a definite yes from them if he wanted to attend school there a year later. It was as easy as that. I deregistered him from the local council via email and then booked his place at the private school a year later than planned. I was surprised at how easy it was to deregister him!
His new school wasn’t bothered either way if we educated him, as technically, he wasn’t missing out on school. We did, however, make the gap year as educational as possible. This was through holidays based on learning about history, cultures and anything in between. We appreciate that this isn’t an option for everyone, and thanks to Keir Starmer, we now have to find an additional 20% of the costs for his education.
Ideas for a family gap year
A family gap year doesn’t have to be set in stone as a year; for example, we travelled for almost 14 months. Nor do you have to permanently travel. We spent around 8-10 days a month at home, which was split up over the month. This was so our son could still see his friends, we could still see family, and we could have some time to not feel like we are always doing something. For us, this was important as it was our way of recharging, plus it meant we didn’t have to change or worry about our house insurance.
Because of this, we didn’t slow travel. This is a great option, though, if you can do it. You could choose to set a base somewhere for a few months or even go on a long cruise. Because we didn’t slow travel, I had a lot more to organise and book.
Worldschooling your children on a gap year
One option for a gap year with your kids is to homeschool them. This option involves them not missing any schooling, and for you to educate your kids. Or some people offer online sessions to home-schooled kids. This will mean you need good Wi-Fi at most places you travel to. Worldschooling isn’t just about sitting at a desk and learning, though. Travelling brings so many life experiences with no desk or laptop needed. This option means that your kids will have to be deregistered from school.
Deregistering your children isn’t so much a risk in smaller schools. For example, had we chosen to deregister our son from school while he was at his state primary school, we wouldn’t have had any worries about him going back to the same school, as his class was nowhere near the maximum of 30 pupils.
He went to a small village school with an average class size of 15. However, if your child goes to a larger state school, you may find there isn’t a place for them on your return. This would mean carrying on homeschooling your children or trying to find a different school for them. This option is not without risks. But sometimes life is about taking risks.
Travel before your kids reach school age
If you take a gap year before your kids reach school age, you don’t need to worry about homeschooling them. Had this been an option for us, we’d have possibly done it. But for us personally, I felt that at the age our son was, it was the perfect age for him. He will hopefully be able to remember most of the trips, and he learnt so much more from it because of that.
If you can’t just ditch your jobs travelling during maternity leave is another option. Travel Mad Mum did this with her first two children, and she is a great inspiration for travelling with kids. They currently live in Sri Lanka and regularly explore their current country, which they call home. In the UK, you are entitled to one year of maternity leave, no matter how long you have worked for your employer. This is made up of 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave and 26 weeks of additional maternity leave.
You won’t, of course, be paid in full for the full 12 months. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks. You get: 90% of your average weekly earnings (before tax) for the first 6 weeks. Then just under £200 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks. SMP is paid in the same way as your wages (for example, monthly or weekly). Tax and National Insurance will be deducted. (This is always subject to change)
Unpaid parental leave
If working remotely or if becoming a travel writer with your own website, bringing in an income isn’t possible, then there is the option of taking unpaid parental leave. On top of the annual leave for holidays that you are permitted as an employee, you can also take unpaid parental leave.
There is a page on the gov.uk website that states all the information you need.
Eligible employees can take unpaid parental leave to look after their child’s welfare, for example to:
- spend more time with their children
- look at new schools
- settle children into new childcare arrangements
- spend more time with family, such as visiting grandparents
Their employment rights (like the right to pay, holidays and returning to a job) are protected during parental leave.
Taken from the gov.uk website
In a nutshell, you can take 18 weeks’ leave for each child up to their 18th birthday. You will need to have been employed by the same business for more than a year. Notice must be given, and there are restrictions as to how long you can take, plus how long per child.
How to afford a family gap year
Some families choose to sell their family home, car and other possessions to free up money. This is certainly a good option, just remember to put some money aside for your return. Another option is to rent out your house. This is not without risks, so renting your house out through an agency will take a lot of the ‘headaches’ out of this.
A lot of families choose to purchase a campervan. This is a great way of making travel more affordable. Just remember that if you are visiting countries overseas, there are restrictions on how long you can spend there.
In Europe, for example, we Brits can only spend up to 90 days within a 180-day period in Schengen member countries. Luckily, this is rolling, so it resets after each 180-day period. There are different rules for other countries around the world. Backpacking is also an option. Pack as minimally as you can and travel around using buses, trains and more.
Another option is to become a digital nomad. I have had a travel website (wheretogowithkids.co.uk) since 2016. This earns a steady income each month through on-site advertising, affiliate links and more. This brought in enough money each month for us to use as spending money. Obviously, this is something not everyone can consider, but starting a website and writing about your current travels is a great way to start. Many businesses allow their employees to work remotely, so this could also be an option.
A lot of people find that it is cheaper to travel than to live where they currently live. Eating at home and taking picnics out with you every day is a great way to save money. Having friends and family abroad and staying with them for a few weeks can also be another way to save money.
A lot of people even look at doing house swaps. We did this ourselves a few years ago, but after the fourth house swap, we decided it wasn’t for us. Let’s say it wasn’t much fun coming home to a big, long list of everything they decided they didn’t like about our lovely home.
To Conclude
Taking a family gap year isn’t just about ticking destinations off a list; it’s about creating time for connection, growth, and unforgettable experiences. For us, it was a mix of opportunity, timing, and a willingness to step outside the norm. We found ways to make it work and we learned that flexibility is key. Whether you travel full-time, part-time, or simply explore during maternity leave, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. What matters most is crafting a journey that suits your family. If you’re dreaming of a gap year, don’t let logistics hold you back. Start with what’s possible and build from there. The memories you make will be worth every bit of planning.
