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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
SnowdaySewday · 08/03/2022 19:43

@Bevvyoc

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.
Remember that each parent can be fined, which may change your calculations.
devildeepbluesea · 08/03/2022 19:45

Just take her out. She’s tiny!

I still take DD aged 9 out once a year for a week. I do ask permission and it is always granted as authorised family leave.

gogohm · 08/03/2022 19:48

Take her this year but next year you need to plan a trip you can afford in the school holidays. We found that by going to destinations not popular with British families we could get good deals or we took camping trips

MrsSkylerWhite · 08/03/2022 19:51

It was September after 5th birthday when ours were little (adults/parent now).

In years gone by I’d not have been sure. With the world as it is now and the difficulties everyone has had these past two years, I’d say, at that age, a firm go enjoy your holiday.

ChairCareOh · 08/03/2022 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Seashor · 08/03/2022 20:03

If she is 4 no she doesn’t have to legally be in school, but if she is in school then yes you can be fined. Our county wouldn’t bother though for five days.

MyDcAreMarvel · 08/03/2022 21:06

@Seashor but if she is in school then yes you can be fined. what part of not csa is confusing for you?

Darbs76 · 08/03/2022 21:09

Yes that’s correct you can’t be fined as she’s not 5. Most schools with impose a fine after that but I know lots of people who never get a fine too, so it’s not widely imposed which I find annoying. It needs to be 5 days I think to get a fine. I’m 2yrs off compulsory school finishing for my youngest child and due to 14yrs between oldest and youngest I’ve been paying for school holiday holiday costs for 24yrs now

MajorCarolDanvers · 08/03/2022 21:14

Just factor in the fine to the cost of your holiday.

MintyGreenDream · 08/03/2022 21:14

We got fined when ds was in reception

Hospedia · 08/03/2022 21:19

Is her 5th birthday after 31st March? If so then she won't be considered compulsory school age until 31st August.

80sMum · 08/03/2022 21:27

Regardless of when her birthday is, just take her out anyway and pay the stupid fine if need be!
Why don't headteachers have any authority any more? It used to be that you could take a child out of school with the head's approval - and I never had a request turned down.
It's ridiculous for the council to suggest/imply that missing a couple of weeks of school to go away on a holiday is going to be detrimental to a child's education.
I would argue that the opposite is true. It broadens a child's horizons, gives them an opportunity to see different places or experience other cultures. Education doesn't all take place in the classroom.

Thinkbiglittleone · 08/03/2022 21:35
  • @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.

I thought Because they are opting to place them in education, but you can only get fined once over 5 years old - just what I thought, I suppose that's why people are checking, as it's unclear for some.

You don't need them to be in education

ldontWanna · 08/03/2022 21:43

In all my years as a parent and school staff I've yet to see a family get fined just for a week off, when the child has otherwise 100% attendance. All that has happened was that it was unauthorised.

ldontWanna · 08/03/2022 21:48

Check on your local council website when they might give a fine. Mine says this

When we might issue a penalty notice
The pupil must have at least 15 half days of unauthorised absence in the current and / or previous term.
The school must have sent you a formal warning.
The school, academy, police or attendance improvement officer considers that issuing a penalty notice could stop any more absences.
Issuing a penalty notice does not conflict with any legal action being taken

A week would be 10 half days so well under.

AuntFlorence · 08/03/2022 21:51

It's the term they turn 5 not the term after they turn 5 so if 5 in summer term you could be fined anytime after Easter

AuntFlorence · 08/03/2022 21:54

I just looked it up, ignore my last comment. You should be fine in summer term, it's the term after they turn 5 not the term they try then 5

Liveandkicking · 09/03/2022 12:46

@AuntFlorence

It's the term they turn 5 not the term after they turn 5 so if 5 in summer term you could be fined anytime after Easter
It’s after they are five. See government website here.
Taking four year old out of school for a week?
treehearts · 09/03/2022 13:11

I'm under the impression it gets marked as an X01 code (non compulsory school age, outlined by DFE) and wouldn't cause an issue with attendance for the student or school.

Blondeshavemorefun · 09/03/2022 14:49

Once 5 can be tuned

Dd is 5 at end of month

We are going away end of may /ht fir 2w so few data before ht and 2 days after ht

We had a letter saying we will be fined £60 per parent

Still cheaper then going away in holidays

Blondeshavemorefun · 09/03/2022 14:54

*fined

Duracellbunnywannabe · 09/03/2022 14:56

Fine depends on the LEA. Our doesn’t fine if attendance is above 80%.

Ostryga · 09/03/2022 16:45

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@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?[/quote]
Because I was new at the whole primary school thing and it scared me 😅

sherbetmelon · 09/03/2022 19:50

EYFS teacher here, @Hospedia is correct it's the term after they turn 5 so you won't be fined.
And I would totally do it!! One holiday is way more memorable for a 4yo than that one week of school, especially first week of a new term.

bumblenbean · 09/03/2022 21:04

What process do people follow when they plan taking a DC out for a week or 2?

DS starts school this year and I’m half Australian and desperate to go back to see relatives etc some time in the next couple of years. Planned to go before they started school but couldn’t due to covid and finances etc. When we do go it would be for 2.5 weeks minimum, so I’d aim to go during Easter/ Xmas holidays but would probably need at least an extra week tagged on the end of the school hols.

Do people generally seek permission and then go anyway if it’s declined? Or just say they’re going and accept an inevitable fine? Not sure what the etiquette is! Presumably the school wouldn’t be pleased if they didn’t authorise it and you went anyway - but I probably still would 😬