Term time holiday in Year R, massive no no or definitely yes?

[collectingstones]

So, we've just found out about primary schools for DD1. Got into the one I wanted (yay!). They publish the school term dates on line for the 2017/18 school year so it's got me thinking about holidays next year.
We used to go skiing pre-children but haven't been since DD1 was 1. We now have a 2.5 year old DD as well. I really would like to go again and think the children will be a good age next season to take them.
My dilemma is, with DD1 starting school the only allowed holiday dates would be Christmas or Feb half term. The difference in price between going the first week in Jan and the school hols is at least £2.5k
So, my question is this. With DD1 still being 4 and not actually legally required to even be in school until April 2018, is it still considered an unauthorised absence? And my second question is, if it is unauthorised, would you still do it? I don't intend to make a habit of this but really tempted by the possibility of a skiing holiday again, but can't quite stomach paying the additional eye watering amount of money.

And yes, I know, totally first world problems!!

[GreatWhites]

Definitely go! Just be perfectly upfront with the school.

A 4 year old will learn wherever they are.

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

I probably would. DS was compulsory from after Christmas though so never option for us.

[Mary21]

In primary depending on the dates we would take them out of school the last few days before xmas. Often there is a few days after nativities etc before the Xmas hols. It would bring us back home for Xmas. It's a cheap week but you need to go high as snow can be dodgy. Or book very last minute. Also we often go at Easter. Nice for young kids as should be warmer. Again head high and book last minute. Also often a cheap time.

[drspouse]

Definitely go, we did and will be considering it for next year as I'd rather face the HT who is lovely than my boss who doesn't approve holidays in half terms.

[Verbena37]

Of course you can go.
Your child doesn't even legally have to be in school (I would subtly but politely point that out in your letter).
We took our kids out in term time before they were 5.

[BollardDodger]

It won't be unauthorised, because there is no requirement for it to be authorised if they are below legal schooling age. There is no requirement for you to even advise the school they won't be in (although it would be polite to do so)

[collectingstones]

Thanks for confirming what I already feel. Just feeling nervous about potentially annoying the school before she has even started!

[2014newme]

Yes I did it. School don't get "annoyed" . it's unauthorised absence but you won't be fined.

[BigWeald]

Our school tends to have an inset day the Friday before Feb half term so what we ended up doing is missing just one day of school. Travelling Wednesday after school, missing Thursday school. Returning Wednesday or Thursday in half term. That way we avoided the expensive flights, still got a week's worth of skiing, and got a few days at home to recover before school started back again.

We didn't have to worry about accommodation though, staying with family.

This one day off school has never been authorised but even after reaching age 5 it has never been an issue (re fining or such).

I wouldn't want to miss the last few days before Christmas - our school purposefully holds nativities etc. right at the end of term so that parents don't take the kids out of school...

But the last day or couple of days before February half term are no problem to miss.

Occasionally we have compromised in that I've flown out with pre-school DD a few days earlier, and returned a few days later, catching all the cheap flights, whereas DH and DS got more expensive flights rather than missing school, but at least we didn't have to get the expensive flights for all four of us. Again, no accommodation to worry about which makes it easier.

[AngelicaSchuylerChurch]

I agree that you should avoid the first week of term if possible.

If you want a full week, it's worth costing up Wednesday-Wednesday, leaving in the last week of term and returning half-way through half term or the first week of Easter hols (Easter is a little earlier next year).

[Littlefish]

I agree - take the last week of the Autumn term, rather than the first week after Christmas.