Would you risk deregistration?

[cjt110]

Not me. Someone I know...

Sent in form for absence to school (family holiday). Absence has been deemed unauthorised and they've been informed that they will receive a £60 fine and are at risk of the child being registered.

Person saying that it's not worth the risk. That the child can go in the summer instead.

Person then speaks with someone "who knows about all this" and has decided that as child is summer born and under 5, the school can't fine them. And that if the school does, they will just contest it.

I am a little boggled by this. Surely nothing is worth risking your child's place at school. Or all the aggro that may ensue based on someone who "knows" stuff.

Said school is extremely strict WRT attendance and admissions and I wouldn't put it past school to do as it has warned.

If the child is in Reception, aged four, and born after 1st April they do not legally need to be on school and there is nothing the school can do it it. Up until compulsory school age (term after fifth birth, it is up to parents when and how their children attend school, if at all, even though many schools try to deny this).

Yes the person is right. If the child is four then legally they do not have to be there. I would pawns a letter to the school advising of this and the absence and confirming your intentions to take the child out of school. In terms of de registering I highly doubt they can do this but it would be worth seeking advice from the LEA. Someone on the summer born thread on Facebook will also be able to advise of this.

Seems mad to risk it just for a holiday. I expect the school will be willing to follow through. It also doesn't sound like a great way to build a relationship with the school.

Person is right.

At risk of deregistration? How long are they going on holiday for?

It seems rather an extreme threat, unless it’s a very long holiday, but I’d probably want to get some advice from someone who’s knowledgeable about these things before the holiday.

Empty threats. If the child is not 5 they don't have to be there. And I'm pretty sure no child has ever lost their place at school because of going on a term time holiday.

You can't just de-register a child. They have to have missed school with no communication for at least 20 days. The school have had communication. They might not like it, they might not authorise it but they do know where the child is and they can't take them off took.
Ex-Headteacher here. I know this is true!