Taking kids out of school for a term

[Whenthechipshitthefan]

Possibly the wrong place to post- if so sorry!
Has anyone had any success in taking their kids (legally!) out of school for a term or even a half term. I want to take 2 x DDs (Yr 4, Reception) to my mums country for a long stay. They don't know the culture and I'm aware that we are all losing that connection. The flights are expensive, and it takes at least 24hrs to get there. Its a big country so that if we go over I want them to see a lot, experience a lot and see everyone.

Has anyone applied and been successful? Is it just headteacher opinion that matters? What can I promise to keep their place and not get taken to court. Happy to pay a fine!

'the headteacher is very hot on absence sadly'

Why 'sadly'? Surely that's excellent, and the bare minimum?

@Decorhate what happened?

After 3 weeks they are taken off the role. In exceptional circumstances they could keep it for one more week but I've never heard of more than 4 weeks

I know someone who is an international sportsman and got into a club in Australia. Took his kids out for an entire academic year and the kids came straight back into school, their places were held open. Speak to the headteacher?

The school would be happy with the funding if the children were there on counting day, but they would not be happy keeping them on roll, two children notching up 20 absences every week would send up such huge red flags about attendance that no HT would agree to it.

Look at the admissions figures for the last three years on your local authority website. If they have a cut off distance for the furthest admitted child it’s over subscribed. If it says ‘all applicants admitted’ it’s not.

Also look at the data for the school vacancies - if each year has a 0 for available places chances are it’s over subscribed

Sadly because I was refused permission to take them to a religious celebration for half a day in the last week of term. They watched a DVD instead.

I've said we can't go in summer though I appreciate not everyone reads all posts. We could go but half of the places we would want to visit would be inaccessible potentially

I'm guessing Norway. It can take a massive amount of time to reach some of the more remote areas. Several days

I totally understand that but we are just trying to let you know what problems COULD occur. Then you can make the right decision for your family based on all the facts. If you accept that you might lose the places at your current school and are prepared to deal with that on your return then go for it.

Their places would not be held open in a state school. They got lucky and there were places available in the right year group.

The regulations are quite complicated but there is a relatively simple guide here:

https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/migratedimages/removal-from-school-roll-policyy_tcm3-29437.pdf

Headteachers no longer have the autonomy to authorise this kind of trip.

You can go, but they will lose their places and will need to re-apply when you get back,

The regulations were deliberately designed to discourage this kind of thing.

I doubt it as Norway is pretty accessible in the summer - and OP says the country she is going to is not - took my kids on a road trip to the Norwegian arctic circle one year without any issues

I'd be interested to know how long ago this occurred. I also suspect it was a private school. State schools have very strict rules now. A Head Teacher who broke those rules and got caught would be putting their job at risk.

I am grateful for all the inputs.

I think I was asking what would help me support my case/ my application to the Head?

I guess it depends on the school as to whether or not you would get straight back in, but I agree with PP about doing this sooner rather than later for your DC's sake. After Y5, it's more tricky with friends, activities, academics.

Slightly different but a friend decamped with her children for half a term whilst dealing with a domestic issue. The headteacher allowed the children to keep their schooling places whilst everything was sorted out (they did return to the area).

So in Wales at least it is possible to remove a child for half a term with the permission of the headteacher. So a good place to start is to ask the headteacher what the provisions are for exceptional absence in your child's school.

I agree with PP, this is better to do when they are younger. Worst case scenario, they are removed from the school and you have to apply for a space when you return home - and have to join a waitlist to rejoin the specific school if necessary. If this trip is truly that important, I'd take the hit and deal with the fallout. Much easier to do now than in even in 2 years time.

Nothing, because it's not up to them.

When I was a child we were taken out every few years for a visit. But it was a bit more lenient I guess then. We took work and kept up with it all. I'm sad my kids won't have that experience

As someone up above as stated just now the Head Teacher no longer has the discretion to make such a decision. It's not a matter of making a good case. He or she must obey the rules, after 20 days absence your children will be removed from the roll.

Their places are very very unlikely to be kept open. It has happened at our school before but wouldn’t now. The most that gets allowed now is around 4 weeks school missed around school holidays (so families away for 6 weeks total). That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it, just know that you’re likely to have to sort new school places on return.

Check on the school website. Every school I know, and I know a lot, has something along the lines of “We do not authorise absence during term time under any circumstance.”

I'd be more sad my family didn't want to come and visit me.

but you can give them the experience of going in 6 weeks summer holidays, and 4 weeks easter holidays, you'll still get plenty of time there

No, you can't. Or not legally, anyway.

And schools list their pupils on rolls, not roles.

I would talk to the head - ask what might help. But at their ages I would not give up on the opportunity for them OP. It will be much harder for them to catch up in secondary and potentially be harder to get places back, primary is absolutely the right time to go.

You have to realise OP, the head cannot authorise it even if they want to - they simply aren't allowed to. It used to be the case that headteachers had a bit of discretion around this but they don't any more, and as others have said you won't find a school anywhere willing to hold their places open.
Whatever you claim, there are no countries you 'can't' visit during the 6 weeks summer - there are just countries its less desirable to visit during summer. You absolutely could go during the 6 week break you just dont want to because it won't be as good.

Are there other local schools with places that you would be happy to put your children in on your return. I don’t think an oversubscribed school will be able to keep the places.