Nursey holidays

[SleepyTinker]

Hi all. My son is turning 4 in 2 weeks. He was currently attending a private nursery (eligible for free 30 hours) and we talked out with his school managers for a holiday for 2 months and everyone agrees at his nursery, but yesterday I got a call from one of the best ofsted schools in our area and they gave him a place in school nursery which he's due to start tomorrow....now I'm wondering if this 2 months holidays are going to cost me a penalty??? It was all planned from a long time back and this school nursey place just turned up..today her nursery teachers came in for a home visit.....I tried to start the talking with her Home visiting teacher about the holidays but she brushed the topic away by saying " too many holidays can make him loose his place at nursery" she also added "once he's 5 , Holiday are a big NO NO" so I didn't mention our already booked 2 months plan to her...😰😰😰

I want to know what should I do? If they refuse the holidays and I take him away on the trip, will he loose his place at the nursery?? He's not officially at school attending age yet....I'm really worried

P.S we booked our flights 6 months back with the consent of the private nursery he was attending.

Fines for taking holidays in term time only apply once children are of statutory school age ie term after they are 5. Schools will discourage holidays in term time before this but it does not affect their attendance statistics. Whether the nursery will hold your child's place if they are away for 2 months is a different matter and one you would need to address with them.

Techncally a long absence can mean the Early Years funding is lost and therefore place could be forfeited as it could be offered to another child. Whether they would do this is another matter. Why not ask if you can delay starting until after your trip?

The fines only apply once your child is in compulsory education. They don't apply to nursery's attached to schools. But they may have their own rules about keeping the place open. You need to talk to them and tell them you have this holiday booked.

We're going to be away for 6 weeks and 2 days (excluding the Halloween & Christmas holidays) will the school hold up his place till then?

If you are away for half a term, I wouldn't expect them to keep a place open.
Or rather, I wouldn't expect general taxation to pay for a place at a nursery for that long that wasn't being used, when another child could benefit from it.

Aafi, how could any of us possibly know that? Why don't you email the school and ask them?

It might be better if he starts at the
nursery after your holiday. The LA might not be able to pay the school for the place if he is away for so long which means the school will lose funding if they keep the place open.

Yeah sure, thanks all. I'll ask them straightaway