Another thread about holidays during term time!

[undercovamutha]

I'm not sure what our schools policy is re. term-time holidays, although I understand from friends that most schools have a 10 days per annum policy.

I was wondering whether anyone knew if this was the case, and if so, does it apply to children under 5?

DD will be going into reception in sept, and will not be 5 until next summer.

Really want to book a holiday for term-time, but don't want to wait til september if poss, OR upset the school.

TIA

[spanieleyes]

Children under 5 do not legally have to be in school so technically there is nothing the school can do if you take as much holiday as you like! However, I would try to stick to the 10 days ( although there are some schools with a zero tolerance policy!)

[HappyMummyOfOne]

Our school doesnt allow 10 days, term time holidays are only approved in exceptional cirsumstances like funerals, close family wedding etc.

[undercovamutha]

Thanks everyone. Seems like there is quite a variety of rules. Spose I'd better wait until sept just in case.

I can totally see why they don't want kids being absent for weeks and weeks, but DD is only FOUR. Its not like she's studying for her GCSE's or anything. She will be in a class with nursery children (50/50) who have no 'rules' re. holidays.

[DreamTeamGirl]

If he is under 5 school isnt compulsary anyway, so a nice letter requesting/ advising them of the time off is all you need do
DS' school replied saying it would have been unauthorised but as he was under 5 it was fine.

[Feenie]

"I can totally see why they don't want kids being absent for weeks and weeks, but DD is only FOUR. Its not like she's studying for her GCSE's or anything."

Ahem. Can I recommend you don't mention this view in front of her Reception teacher, who will most certainly see her planning and teaching as extremely important.

[kodokan]

I'd strongly recommend not taking a child out of school during the first term of Reception. They are whizzing through the phonics reading system then, at a rate of 3-5 sounds a week, so they will be noticeably behind when they return.

Later in the year would be better, and less annoying for the teacher!

[roadkillbunny]

It all depends on the school, ours has a very strict policy and if you request term time holidays you have to have a meeting with the head who will then deside weather to autherise it.
I also disagree that term time off in reception is no bother and they wont miss anything or get behind, my dd had to have surgery in her reception year (that she just finished) and had to have almost 2 weeks off, she also had to have a good few days off for hospital and 8 afternoons of for therapy, it really shows, they miss pleanty, even though her teaher had given me all the planning of what she would be missing off for surgery and we did a great deal of it at home as she recovered she still went back behind and at my last meeting with her teacher she mensioned how the fact dd's school year had been disrupted for medical reasons really showed in how she was doing. Unless it's a once in a lifetime never can be repeated I really wouldn't take holidays in term time regardless of the year group they are in (my dd only turned 5 in May, after all the medical disruption was mostly over).

[undercovamutha]

DD has already been in the school, in the same class, for a full year in nursery, so am not worried about it being unsettling really.

However, I get what you mean about missing out on the 'lessons' (although from spending 2 days helping out in the class last year, it does seem very unstructured!). I just feel a bit sad that the treadmill has started already for DD. Just turned 4 seems very young to be worrying about whether she is behind with phonics, and having to make up for work at home.