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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

How long can I keep my kids off school without going to jail or getting in trouble???

28 replies

OneLieIn · 19/08/2008 22:01

Long and short of it is that we are moving house. We had planned it to happen at the very end of August, but it won't happen until the middle of September maybe even towards the end of September. The problem is we have stopped the previous school the DCs (year 0 and year 2 moving up to 1 and 3) went to in July. They can't go back to that school as there are no spaces.

We are moving areas, so there will probably be 3 weeks at the most without school.

What do I do about this? How long is too long? At what point do I start getting into trouble? Is there a chance I will end up in jail (I am hopefully joking, but seriously worried??)

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olympicsnotfederer · 19/08/2008 22:03

I believe the local education authority are obliged to find your dc school places so I don't understand the problem?

OneLieIn · 19/08/2008 22:07

The problem is they have left their school. They cannot go back to this school, there are no spaces.

They have spaces in the new school in the new area starting September. but we will be late for this.

I really really dont want to put them into another new school for 2 or 3 weeks, then move them. This would really stuff them up I think. This is why I want to keep them off school for a bit.

Sorry, my posts are like my brain, a bit unclear all of the time!!!

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olympicsnotfederer · 19/08/2008 22:09

s'ok, not unclear

but I would speak to your educ authority to see what they suggest

LittleBella · 19/08/2008 22:10

Can you not officially home educate them for those 3 weeks?

bonkerz · 19/08/2008 22:10

my sister is in the same situation, she was hoping to be moving next weekend so cancelled places at current schools and has places at new schools starting next week,problem is she didnt count on delays and now is not moving for 3 more weeks which means kids missing 3 weeks of school as new school is 120 miles away! She has been told she has to send her kids to school or face fines! i think i will be having the DCs here so they can start school.

GooseyLoosey · 19/08/2008 22:11

I think as they are new, I would want to try and start them in the new school at the start of the school year. Can they "commute" there, or could ,you get a short term let for 3 weeks (b&b, hotel etc.) so they don't miss the start of school?

OneLieIn · 19/08/2008 22:12

Hmmmmm bonkerz, that worries me.

Will talk to the LEA in the new area. The other thing is do you think I would be able to get away with it as they were in private and are moving to state? Does this help?

LittleBella, how do I 'officially' home-ed them?

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orangehead · 19/08/2008 22:13

I think definnetly talk to educ authority and see what they suggest. It is highly unklikely they will put them in a new school for just a couple of weeks, too much paper work for them. If they already have places at school where you will be moving to, would it be possible to arrange something with them such as work at home

cece · 19/08/2008 22:14

TBH no one will notice for 3 weeks. My friend took her DD out of school to go traveling for several months and no one contacted her before, during or after her absence.

Heated · 19/08/2008 22:14

Do LEAs really notice these things?

OneLieIn · 19/08/2008 22:16

I don't know, I am just a good law abiding citizen. Although jail might be relaxing in comparison ;-)

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cece · 19/08/2008 22:16

Oh but part of that would be not informing the authorities! BTW I am a teacher so do work in schools...

cece · 19/08/2008 22:17

Honestly it is frightening how little tracking would go on to follow a child to ensure it is being educated...... That is how lots of children just disappear off of the radar.

OneLieIn · 19/08/2008 22:18

Goosey, unlikely to commute, its a good 80 mins away from here. Also, dont really want to do short term let (although I will look into it) - one thought is maybe sending them 1 day a week or 2 days a week and home ed'ing them the rest.

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Heated · 19/08/2008 22:21

I wouldn't bother, keep them off and then if contacted, be surprised and pleased they have rung to solve the problem. I wouldn't want my youngs dcs to go to a new school for a few weeks and then another one.

LittleBella · 19/08/2008 22:21

I think yhou just de-register, HE them and by the time anyone notices and thinks to make enquiries, they'll have been at new school for six months...

MingMingtheWonderPet · 19/08/2008 22:22

I guess a lot would depend on how long the new school are prepared to hold open the places for your DC. If they are over-subscribed abd you don't turn up in Sept could they offer the place to another child?
Surely your absence would count as authorised/unauthorised absence from the new school since they have you on their roll to start in Sept?

LittleBella · 19/08/2008 22:23

Have you asked LEA if you can go back to old school? I thoguht they had to keep places open for new families moving into area?

cece · 19/08/2008 22:23

Could you rent a holiday cottage for a fortnight?

OneLieIn · 19/08/2008 22:24

MingMing, I have applied to new school for mid September saying we will miss the start of term. Hopefully they will be OK with it.

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MingMingtheWonderPet · 19/08/2008 23:05

I see, as long as they are ok with it then I don't see a problem.
I hope the move goes ok, it is such a stressful time and this is obviously adding to it.

OneLieIn · 20/08/2008 11:23

Mingming, that's nto stresseful. What is stressful is the might move, might not move whilst the bloke at the bottom of the chain is playing silly buggers, me getting a new job, DH getting a new job, sulky AP, desparate need of a holiday - that is stressful. :-)

Thanks for your kind comments, its nice that someone is kind!

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fatzak · 20/08/2008 11:28

I would think that as long as your new school are aware of the situation, it won't be a problem. Perhaps you could get in touch with the school and even ask for some work or at least an idea of what topics etc your DCs will be covering. The school won't want any unauthorised absence on their record, so will probably have a code they will use for your Dcs not being there- personal circumstances etc

AMumInScotland · 20/08/2008 12:09

If your children are deregistered from their old school, and the new school are fine about registering them from the date when you'll be moved in, then legally you are fine. Technically, you are home educating them during that period, and are required by law to provide them with an education suitable for their age, aptitudes and abilities. But in all honesty no LEA is going to chase you about this if it is really ony 3 weeks or so.

(BTW I Home educate myself, so I'm pretty sure about this!)

posieflump · 20/08/2008 12:13

I would find temporary accommodation near the new school
What if you are delayed again?

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