holiday during term time

[zigzagbetty]

I've just rebooted our Haven holiday that was next week to september 20th 2021. All was fine until I realised out lg will be in reception then. Will we get fined and how will the school let her take it off.
Looked on the dfe website and it says the fines dont start until the term after she turns 5 which would be the January after we would be going. AIBU to keep the booking or should I pay the admin fee and move to half term, which is double the price?
I don't want my little girl to have a bad start to her school, or will it not really matter at that age?

[FortniteBoysMum]

If you go in September and she's not five until say October you can't be fined during the term before christmas as she's not legally required to be at school. Personally however we have never been fined for taking our kids out during term time.

[zigzagbetty]

Haven holidays are the best! Changed the date no questions asked and didnt get charged any admin fee just the brochure price. Thank god, and thank you all for the advice. I definitely dont want to disrupt her first few weeks of school

[Hollyhead]

Is it a week or a long weekend? A long weekend would be ok in my opinion but a week more disruptive.

[maggiemuff]

There are no fines here. But anyway how can they fine you after the disaster of the past three months.

[JaniceWebster]

I wouldn't worry about the schools opinion on it considering they have been closed for 3 months.

if that attitude gets more widespread, I wouldn't be surprised the fines get much higher once things are back to normal.

[maggiemuff]

I wouldn't worry about the schools opinion on it considering they have been closed for 3 months. Take your holiday.

[noxestdormienda]

And yes, Reception attendance is compulsory (and absence fine-able) once a child reaches compulsory school age.

[noxestdormienda]

They can't take the place away, as your child won't be compulsory school age. You have a right to keep your place and not send her in at all until the term after she turns five, if you want. I wouldn't take the holiday though. As others have said, it's a very disruptive time to be missing school.

[GameSetMatch]

You don’t get fined in Reception, reception isn’t mandatory so given that you won’t get a fine.

[cabbageking]

She can't be fined and September is an unknown still.
You can tell school you are on holiday and they can not take you off the register. They can send a letter re attendance but that is it.

[cardibach]

Yes, Malteser And that sort of illness based absence could still happen, on top of the holiday...

[Malteserdiet]

Your DC could just as easily start reception as normal and then catch chickenpox or hand, foot and mouth etc on 19th September and be off for a week anyway. She will be 4 years old and able to slip back into school and any friendship groups that may have started to form with ease in my humble opinion. Meanwhile, as this whole situation has just demonstrated, quality family time while everyone has their health is paramount.

[JaniceWebster]

So it’s ok to miss education on your terms?

in normal circumstances, absolutely, you can easily catch up the couple of weeks you are missing.

After months of disruption and home schooling, absolutely not.

[simonisnotme]

the first weeks of school are important, why miss them for the sake of a holiday

[AllTheUserNamesAreTaken]

Don’t be ridiculous Davincitoada week and 5.5 months are hardly comparable!

I’ve not done it but I don’t think a week out of school in reception is really a problem but I wouldn’t do it so soon after she has started. It might be a bit unsettling for her

[ToothFairyNemesis]

I don’t have an issue with my dc not being at school currently.

[Davincitoad]

Given all the criticism about schools being closed I can’t actually believe people are happy for term time holidays to happen

So it’s ok to miss education on your terms?

[BendingSpoons]

Whoops I misread your date. Hopefully you can reschedule it for a time that works for you.

[JaniceWebster]

I wouldn't either for the reasons above.

With all the schooling older ones are missing, I wouldn't plan to take any child during term time anytime soon either.

[vanillandhoney]

I have no issues with holidays in term time, but I wouldn't take a reception-aged child out within the first few weeks. They do a lot of settling in during that time and I think deliberately taking her out for a week isn't fair on her.

I'm sure the company will let you change it given it's over a year away though, so try not to worry! :)

[Appuskidu]

They won’t off-roll a pupil just because they miss a week of school.

[Daisyhut]

The school cannot fine you but they don’t have to keep your child’s place at the school if she doesn’t attend.

[ToothFairyNemesis]

*date

[ToothFairyNemesis]

Ah didn’t read the dare. Would still go personally.

[ineedaholidaynow]

It's 2021 not 2020, hopefully back to normal then!