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Original poster

Taking four year old out of school for a week?

60 replies

RiverFlowers · 08/03/2022 13:52

DD is four, started school last year. We want to go away for the week but the only week we have free is a week after half term - so first week is half term then second week we want to go away.

I have been receiving mixed messages about if I can take her out of school without incurring a "fine". Apparently as she is four and therefore not legally required to be in full time education, we can take her out without receiving a fine - is this correct? Then once she is in Year 1 taking her out would then incur a fine?

Thanks

OP posts:
JoyOrbison · 08/03/2022 13:55

Cant fine at 4 year old as not compulsary school age, ehrn they tirn 5, even if in reception, you can then be fined

Original poster
RiverFlowers · 08/03/2022 13:57

She will have turned five a couple of weeks before we want to go away - still in reception though obviously

OP posts:
Lazypuppy · 08/03/2022 13:59

I thought it was term after they turn 5 it is compulsory school age, before that you shouldn't be fined.

Original poster
RiverFlowers · 08/03/2022 14:03

@Lazypuppy

I thought it was term after they turn 5 it is compulsory school age, before that you shouldn't be fined.
That is what I have been told but I keep hearing other people saying it's can still be fined?
OP posts:
SpringRainbow · 08/03/2022 14:03

At 5 she will be compulsory school age, so I wouldn’t be so certain they wouldn’t fine you. However, I’m not saying they will,

I believe it would be down to the school/ local authority.

My kids school have always pushed for fines as they take attendance extremely serious.

We had a bit of a break from it during Covid but now the frequent reminders about the importance of attendance and how we should always send them in unless they are very ill.

Plumbear2 · 08/03/2022 14:07

I think you can be fined. They are still taking a reception place if under five which could be taken up by someone else. Schools take attendance much more seriously now.

Bevvyoc · 08/03/2022 14:07

For the sake of £60 book it and have a good time. I'm taking mine out for a week in June and I'll be fined but for the sake of £180 over a couple of thousand to book in the summer hols I don't care.

SuitcaseOfWhine · 08/03/2022 14:08

I'm taking my son out of school. It cost £1,500 more to have a holiday out of term time, which we can't afford, so just decided to take the fine.

My son's school doesn't always fine. I think it's only after 5 days off, but we are still preparing for it anyway. Maybe ask around other parents as they will have an idea of what the schools culture is around this.

Trudij123 · 08/03/2022 14:08

When I wanted to take my four year out for a week I was told that ( even though legally it was before the term after her fifth birthday) because she was registered and attending school the rules still applied. If she was in nursery it would have been ok, but because she was in reception it was different.

I think ( as has been said above) it must depend on the school….

AFS1 · 08/03/2022 14:27

Technically, until the term after your child turns 5, I think school attendance is not compulsory.

Up until covid, I took my kids out of school for a week each year. I was always upfront with the school about where we were going and accepted that it would be classed as an unauthorised absence. I’ve never received a fine, although if they had fined me, it still would have been worth it for the thousands of pounds a termtime holiday saved me!

Take her out and have an amazing time.

Thinkbiglittleone · 08/03/2022 14:29

Our DS school is strict on attendance as they see it as a disrespect to take them out when you are advised of the rules, so they do push for fines. I thought they can be fined after them turning 5 if in education but only need to be in education the term after them turning 5.

Original poster
RiverFlowers · 08/03/2022 14:56

Thanks all. We are going to take her out, even if we get fined as it's the only week we can do until end of August and we cannot afford those prices (it's over £1k more).

OP posts:
cherryonthecakes · 08/03/2022 18:24

I'd do the same for a 4 year old

MyDcAreMarvel · 08/03/2022 18:26

You definitely cannot be fined as your child is not csa until the term after they turn five.

MyDcAreMarvel · 08/03/2022 18:27

@Thinkbiglittleone I thought they can be fined after them turning 5 if in education but only need to be in education the term after them turning 5. why? That’s not only incorrect it’s illogical , csa is csa.

CristinaYangismySpiritAnimal · 08/03/2022 18:31

1/ it’s the term after their 5th birthday that attendance becomes compulsory and you may be referred for a fine.

2/ the school doesn’t fine - they refer to the LocalAuthority who then decide whether to fine or not. The school will never even know the outcome of the referral.

Somebodyelsestrain · 08/03/2022 18:42

@CristinaYangismySpiritAnimal

1/ it’s the term after their 5th birthday that attendance becomes compulsory and you may be referred for a fine.

2/ the school doesn’t fine - they refer to the LocalAuthority who then decide whether to fine or not. The school will never even know the outcome of the referral.

This. You can't be fined. Even if you could they are unlikely to bother.

Just do it. Your child is four!! They wouldn't even be at school in many countries. Have a lovely holiday.

Ostryga · 08/03/2022 18:46

My friends went back to SA for 6 weeks over December and took their 4 year old Dd out. No fine whatsoever.

However, when I took my Dd out of school for a week when she was 4 I did get fined. Our schools are 20mins apart.

So basically factor a fine into your holiday plans - bonus if you don’t get one.

Nelliephant1 · 08/03/2022 18:49

Take her out and enjoy yourself. Family time is more important than school.

MyDcAreMarvel · 08/03/2022 18:50

@Ostryga However, when I took my Dd out of school for a week when she was 4 I did get fined. that was illegal and unenforceable why did you pay?

Pumpkinstace · 08/03/2022 19:09

I take mine out for a week every year, however we are in Wales were they don't normally fine for primary.

We still have to complete a holiday request. It's always been authorised.

Dreambigger · 08/03/2022 19:23

Just say she is sick. Don't understand how the gov can insist on fining parents....when it was totally fine for kids to stay at home for months on end Hmm

Headteacher415 · 08/03/2022 19:29

AFS1 is correct, she's not of compulsory school age and therefore no fine. Pretty sure this is consistent across local authorities.

If a parent requested this, I'd unauthorise but no action. I'd want to know why it would be different next year and say this is not ok though.

In future years, earning is spiral. If that's "fractions week" or "measuring in centimeters", the Year 2 work doesn't make sense if the gap exists from Year 1.

Liveandkicking · 08/03/2022 19:32

You can’t be fined before CSA which is compulsory school age. That kicks in the term after they turn 5. So if they turn 5 in May, it would be September of year 1. If they turn 5 in October it would be January of reception.

lanbro · 08/03/2022 19:38

I agree with a pp, 99.9% sure that although a cold doesn't have to be in school until 5 the fact that they are wipes that, and a fine could be given.

Apart from during covid times I've taken mine out every year. One year we got a warning from the LEA but no fine, but that was a week in January and another week in April. This year they missed a week in January due to a postponed holiday that should have happened over Christmas but we got covid, then 2 days after Feb half term due to a last minute holiday. I'd be surprised if we get a fine, but if we do I'm happy to pay as the holidays were so cheap and very much worth it after a pretty shitty 2 years

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