Taking reception child out of school in October for a holiday

[CarolineSAlondon]

Hi

My daughter started reception today. I was considering taking her out of school for a week early October to go on holiday as I have some time between jobs and she turns 5 later in the month. Teachers/ parents do you think this would be very disruptive for her?

many thanks.

All deoends how well shes settling in, remembering theres a week off at end October as well

Well, yes perhaps it would. Would you get permission in any case or are you willing to accept a fine if not.

Reception usually covers 2 new phonics sounds a week, so depending on where she is up to with this, you might need to give some extra support/ teaching for these. Where is she up to with number skills. If only average or behind, then you'd need to be willing to teach these too.

Then there is emotional impact to consider. Only you know what your DD is like. If she is a confident child who doesn't stress easily then she may be less affected than a more sensitive child.

Please also think of how disruptive it is for the teacher. Handling a single child's absence isn't too bad but there are also likely to be others off sick etc. Keeping tabs on who has missed what can be hard.

I'm not a " you must keep your child in school unless it is the apocalypse type person" and some children might take this in their stride, but the above issues are what you need to consider.

What is the problem? Just take her away at the half term holiday.

You won’t get a fine, as she’s not legally required to be in education until the term after their 5th birthday.

I would do it, as long as she is settling in ok, as she will have had a few weeks to know the children, teacher, routine etc.

I think the " no fine" only applies if she isn't enrolled in school. If she is in school then fines can be given, even if she doesn't legally have to be there until the next term.

Thanks all- the school don’t have an issue with it they said ok to do it until they are 5. But my husband worries about friendships etc. the reason we can’t do half term is affordability and also this is a rare time between roles where I can truely switch off and also time spent with my girls - I work 5 days a week normally

starting the holiday a day or two before end of half term is one thing, a random week is another. even if your daughter is fine and can take missing the phonics sounds etc in her stride you are marking yourself out to the teachers before they’ve even got to know you. and is this the first impression you want to make?

Friends won’t disappear! She probably hasn’t got any yet anyway! They won’t be palling up whilst she’s away. I’d crack on. What I would say is that if dh is concerned about friends - get dc round to play after school or on a Saturday. Get actively involved in doing that.

I work in reception and personally wouldn’t take a week off so early. Can you link it to half term? Do Wednesday to Wednesday or something?

As an ex- teacher, I’d say take her. When she’s 16 it makes absolutely no difference if she’s had a couple of weeks a year out of school. HOWEVER don’t moan if she misses a phonics sound or number bond and doesn’t know them in a check up or doesn’t get through the picture book or whatever they do scheme a quickly as the child who didn’t have a week off and expect the teacher to catch her up. Or she misses out in a treat or a part in an assembly etc because she’s not there when the teacher has decided.
Or if the friendship group excludes her for a few days because she’s wasn’t there. It won’t be permanent!

in the long run, occasional absence really doesn’t make much difference but idiot parents who then kick off because the child didn’t get a part in the nativity or missed a class treat and want it repeated are the issue!

Take the holiday and enjoy the family time.

Retired Primary Deputy Head, here.
Take her on holiday, she will probably learn more from the experience than she would in school for the week. The ridiculous emphasis on phonics lessons (which usually only last for 15 mins) drives me mad. Children do NOT learn anything in a linear fashion. And as for friendships, in Reception , they are very fluid anyway.
I would read some good children's picture books with her, while you are away, and play some dice games, so that she doesn't forget what she has learned and instead relates her school work to Real Life, which is what should be happening in school.

I took mine away for probably two weeks a year every year in primary - didn’t do them any harm at all. I would do it.

It's not ok. Teacher here. When your child returns we have to get her to catch up. That's a diversion of our time and impacts on the rest of the class. It's different when a child is ill.

My daughter had two weeks off in October in Reception from chicken pox. Yes she missed a few sounds but she soon caught up. It's no big deal.
I'm an ex teacher.
Take her on holiday.

It didn't used to bother me. Was part of the job, holiday or illness.
It's not a big deal and as a parent myself now I completely understand why parents take term time holidays.

My DD missed 5 weeks of Reception. On Day 2 she had a birthday party invitation, by the end of the term everyone had forgotten she hadnt been in the nutsery class, let alone started 5 weeks late.

As for phonics etc... they all learn at different rates.

Can you go in the October half term ?

When the school says they don't have an issue with it because she isn't 5 what they actually mean is..

That's a right pain you taking her out in early October but because she's not 5 we can't find you.

Take the holiday. She’ll be fine

Schools don’t fine people 🤦🏻‍♀️

Reception teacher here. It’s fine, take her on holiday and enjoy your family time. In 5 years time, will you regret her missing 5 days of school or regret missing out on lovely memories?
All learning in Reception is repeated and reviewed regularly, so a short time off will have very little impact on her academically.

I believe the schools request the fine. The council issues them.

Take her away.

Yes phonics is important BUT what if she was poorly for the week?
kids are off for a week atleast with chicken pox.

in my experience they end up doing phonics groups so whatever she misses she will soon get caught up with.

Surely the children you taught didn't all progress at exactly the same time? One of mine had surgery during his first term in reception and missed 4 weeks He finished the year further on in the reading scheme than any of the others. The following year he again missed a month and again it didn't hold him back. He has eye surgery so we could even do any work with him as he wasn't allowed to read or draw until he was cleared to go back to school.

OP I'm sure she will be fine.