Taking kids out of school for a term

If they're Emperor penguins, our summer/their winter is precisely when they lay and incubate their eggs.

If the teacher has to spend more time trying to help the children who are behind that will detract from other pupils.
They do have the whole class to consider.

I remember a school being asked by the local priest to take some traveller children - the school really did not want to because it would disrupt everybody else. This was many years ago - it would be even more difficult now because schools are under greater pressure.

Don't know whether OP has realised that as mentioned earlier state schools are now more likely to be oversubscribed due to influx from private schools (don't think this is what OP wants to hear).

@AngelusBell

In my experience as a teacher, when a child has had a few weeks off and missed significant chunks of learning, they are then confused, behind and lost when they see where the other children have progressed to. They often require 1:1 support in lessons to help them catch up key learning, meaning other children don't get support.

Nothing you can do will stop
Them de registering you

Shame you haven't thought to take them
In 8 years.

They have absolutely awful educational outcomes, the women often marry young and have no opportunities in life and child protection would be involved more if they didn't move on so often.

oh they'll love that. cause disruption, threaten their funding, AND give the teacher extra work to do!

Would it be the end of the world if you came back and didn't get back on to the same school? I work in a school with a lot of EAL children and it's relatively common for a child or 2 each year group to disappear for an extended time. Being Scotland it's al lot more tolerated and although they eventually drop off the school roll if there is no contact it's mostly accepted. Be aware of you have a girl and it's a county that practices FGM then it might trigger an investigation! With you being in England would you be liable for fines? It might be better in your case just to de register!

Kinda the point I was trying to make @StMarieforme

lol at those saying "why can't the family just come here to visit?" and questioning why it's a potentially once in a childhood opportunity for OP's children. Based on the (limited) details that OP has provided, I suspect that this is somewhere that costs a LOT of money to travel to/from, and from where it's not a given that a UK visa would be granted to OP's family.

Ask the head. It's their discretion as to whether a holiday of longer than 2 weeks, is a holiday or requires de-enrolling. They would also probably tell you whether the year groups your children are in have a waiting list or not. Then you will probably have one of these answers:

• Yes go, we'll hold your kids' places
• We'll need to de-enrol your kids', but will most likely re-enrol them when they come back
• We'll de-enrol your kids and it's most likely that there won't be space for us to take back one or both on your return.

• the kids will still have places and all is good
• the kids will probably still have places, and it's a risk you are willing to take
• the kids likely will have to move schools, but it's a risk you are willing to take
• the kids likely will have to move schools, and the upset that will cause outweighs the benefits of the trip so you won't go

How will it impact on other pupils?

Traveller children are included in the Department for Education guidance.

They are expected to attend another school when they arrive at the next destination. I work with children with registration in more than one school. Of course, like anyone else they can deregister to home school.

And that's relevant because...?

My friend did this with children of similar ages. They were lucky the school wasn't oversubscribed so they got places back but in reality both kids had a hard 6 months when back, and by the end of primary school the younger one could barely remember the trip.

can you put the case as visiting family and understanding their cultural heritage. You may well lose your places but you can do it if you are willing to risk that

I know a family who moved to South America for a couple of terms for the dad's work who was a lecturer.

The head teacher was in support and think they technically were off the register or whatever, but then re joined. I don't have all the details but it wasn't counted as an absence.

Life it too short to not spend with family and it isn't as if they are mid GCSEs.

They are primary school children.

Yes of course attendance is important, but equally spending time with family.

I'd speak with the head and be open about your plans and see what they suggest.

Really poor advice.

Have you read the Department For Education guidance, above?

So much ridiculous frothing at the mouth from posters on this thread! It's ridiculous!

Go talk to the school and see what they say. I doubt they will be booted off role if your open and honest with them about your intentions and are committed to keeping them learning.

We are so ridiculous in the uk about not recognising the value of traveling and experiencing other cultures. Your kids will learn so much in the time they are away and have lifelong memories of the trip. A good head teacher will understand the value in travel. In other countries travel like this isn't uncommon.

In other circumstances where children are off school for prolonged periods due to illness they are not off roled.

Go talk to the head. And see what they say. They may also have a preferred window for you to go. If you want to go for six weeks perhaps go two weeks before the Christmas or Easter break and return two weeks after? Then they actually only miss 20 days of schooling and they then can't be off rolled anyway

Children don't have to attend reception so you can legally go without permission but you'll probably need to reapply for a year one place when you get back.

There isn’t a case to put to the head as he or she has to follow Department of Education guidance.

This is the guidance, it may help you understand what headteachers are working to.
This includes dual placements, number of days before being taken off role and the legal duties for headteachers about maintaining the school register.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance