To consider a term time holiday for a 4yo?

[longestlurkerever]

I've been offered free accommodation somewhere exciting and educational the week before the Easter holiday. I can't afford to go during the holidays as the free accommodation is not available and the peak time flights are out of my reach, though we could go somewhere more affordable and less exciting - probably in the UK. Dd is 4 so not legally obliged to be in school yet. What are the implications of taking them out of school at this age?

Wales has a different set of rules about it, by the way. Just in case you're not in England as everyone seems to assume.

""You won't mind if the teacher also goes on holiday in term time too then?""

That's a ridiculous comparison, but all through all three of my children's school life, they regularly had substitute teachers.

Mine left school before this ruling came in and I still think that one discretional, holiday per term should be allowed, especially for primary school pupils.

We took 4 year old out of school the last 5 days of Christmas term and the head teacher allowed it and wrote down on the form the reason 'under compulsory school age'. We had an ace time in Florida! :)

Ride if a parent took their child off role (which is what that would be) they would then have to reapply to the school, say why and go to the bottom of the waiting list for the class.

Not worth it

I would go.

Primary 1 isn't England though is it Mrs Jay.

That's true is reception not compulsory then

Thanks all. I am in England so school isn't compulsory until the term after you turn 5. For dd this isn't until the summer hols after reception has finished but it makes sense that absences still technically have to be authorised though I don't think you can be fined?

School isn't ever compulsory.

School ( or rather education) is compulsory term after your 4th birthday. So with reception it depends when your birthday is, dd is January so compulsory for her after Easter.

Yes op the school may not be pleased but as far as LEA is concerned the absence is unauthorised so they can't fine you.

Isn't!

My DC are summerborn and are in reception.

We've taken them on hol recently.

When I filled in the request, I actually wrote that they weren't satuatory school age until this September.

The reply we received, confirmed that yes they were not satuatory school age so therefore the absence would not be deemed as unauthorised.

I'm gonna hate crash your thread but you said she isn't legally required to go to school cos she's 4?

What's that then? Do they not HAVE to attend til they are 5?
I've not heard about this!!

Andnow did you mean 5? Point taken disappointed. I don't think I have the patience or the means to consider full time home ed though. I did investigate part time schooling (I started a thread which got a bit tetchy) but school weren't keen and I didn't have the stomach for a fight about it, and now I'm in the system I have clearly lost all perspective

They are legally obliged to be educated the term after they turn 5 (so for a summer born child, not till Year 1). They are entitled to a school place from the September after their 4th birthday though.

In my area they don't fine unless you have 8 or more half days off in a 10 week period. We took DS out for 3 days/6 sessions in September and will probably do the same in July.

Yes sorry term after 5th birthday!

No that's right, Mrs rats. If you want them to start reception a year late there is some faff involved though - otherwise they start straight in year one. School places may be an issue though I think they're supposed to defer it for you? There's a whole Facebook group called flexible admissions for summer born full of knowledgeable types

I have a child in reception and would definitely do it! Your dd will get more out of spending time with you in a new and exciting place than sat in a classroom making Easter bonnets for 4 days!! Have fun!

I could have deferred my DD from starting at 4 because we are winter birthday s here