Unauthorised absence for a 5 year old before attendance is legally required

[PoisedGoldBiscuit]

Hello,
I'm not looking to debate if we should take our child out of school or not, as we have read both sides of many of these debates and have made a decision for our family and son with ALN.

We are looking to take him away in November, he will have just turned 5 when we go.
I understand his attendance isn't mandatory until the first term after he turns 5, which is Jan.
We have contacted the school to let them know that we will be away. We have received a letter to say that this won't be authorised (as expected), but this also said that the council would be notified and a fine issued.

Should this be happening if he's not legally required to attend yet? Also, should it count as his 'first strike' of non-attendance? We don't have any further plans to take him out of school again, but if his needs grow and make it more difficult to get away in the holidays, I don't want to rule it out completely.

Having done a very quick Google it would seem that as you have enrolled him now, then yes the school are correct.

He will be statutory school age the term after his 5th birthday. You cannot be fined. It may be the letter you received was standard letter that is sent to all parents who take their child out of school during the school year.

I don’t think so it’s probably just a standard letter

Thanks for the replies so far. Hopeful bump in case anyone has experience of this for this age group.

No this is total crap and exemplifies why Google AI is still not fit for purpose. OP they can’t fine you before school is compulsory.

I’ve previously replied. School Attendance used to be my job.

I did this. My ds was 4y4m and I took him out for 4 days. The school refused permission in writing but said they quite understood, and were very nice about it.

He'd had a hacking cough for weeks and I took him for a week of inexpensive sun in January. There was no threat of a fine.

There's a specific code for non compulsory school age absence, it's recorded as attendance not required rather than unauthorized absence.
Go to the office and talk to the attendance officer, I'm sure you can straighten it out

I’ve just been given authorisation to take my son (5 next month) on holiday on Friday. Admittedly it is only one day before half term but I was expecting my request for an authorised absence to be declined.

You will be fine. I taught reception for years, loads of these letters go out and only once did something ever come of it (September born child away for 14 school days in Feb/March)