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Original poster

taking a child abroad to study for a term

10 replies

C00L · 09/02/2011 18:47

I am planning to take my child abroad to study in my country of origin to learn the language and the culture. He is year 5 and the trip would be in the summer term - beginning with the Easter break. We spoke with the head of the school and he said he was supportive of our ideas. He said he would check with the local authority if to ensure he could keep his place. Then we were told that he could only authorise 10 days and he would be taken out of the register after 4 weeks and we would have to apply to the local authority for a space. When we come back beginning of September we would like him to carry on in the current school and class as it is a good school and my child is happy there. Also, year 6 is important as they will take an exam and I don't want to cause further problems. Has anyone got any advice or experience on something like this that they can offer to us? It would be much appreciated.

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Original poster
C00L · 09/02/2011 18:48

I am planning to take my child abroad to study in my country of origin to learn the language and the culture. He is year 5 and the trip would be in the summer term - beginning with the Easter break. We spoke with the head of the school and he said he was supportive of our ideas. He said he would check with the local authority if to ensure he could keep his place. Then we were told that he could only authorise 10 days and he would be taken out of the register after 4 weeks and we would have to apply to the local authority for a space. When we come back beginning of September we would like him to carry on in the current school and class as it is a good school and my child is happy there. Also, year 6 is important as they will take an exam and I don't want to cause further problems. Has anyone got any advice or experience on something like this that they can offer to us? It would be much appreciated.

OP posts:
TheRedQueen · 09/02/2011 18:55

I don't have an experience, but instead of taking him abroad during the school term, could you perhaps look at taking him in the long summer break instead? He would still get a good amount of time abroad and you could perhaps register him for a summer-holiday language course with a school in the relevant country.

Hope you find a solution!

Acinonyx · 09/02/2011 19:14

No experience but I would like to do the same - I had heard though, that if you do this you lose the place and have to reapply, which is worrying - depends how likely it is that it would be full.

The two places we are considering - high summer is not a good time to go.

Can the head offer any ideas about how likely you might be to get back in the following year? Is this year and the next completely full right now?

jicky · 09/02/2011 19:21

Year 5 won't have class size restrictions, so maybe you could find out how likely they would be prepared to go over 30. Also enquire about if they already have a waiting list. 10 days absence plus 4 more weeks to take you off the register takes you too half term. Then apply again immediately for September start.

Panelmember · 09/02/2011 19:31

Remember too that admissions are now dealt with by the local education authority, not the school, so it's the LEA you need to ask about waiting lists and your changes of getting a place when you return. It isn't the school's decision and the school will not necessarily know how many people (if any) are in the queue ahead of you.

emy72 · 09/02/2011 20:23

I agree that you need to ask your LEA (Local Educational Authority). I had a similar idea and when I rang them they said that I could apply for a 6 week break at the discretion of the headteacher, but anything beyond that it would mean I would lose the school place.

goingmadinthecountry · 09/02/2011 21:25

When I did this for 8 months my children stayed on the school register but were down as distance learners. We kept a blog and they emailed the school about weekly to give an update of how we were doing. I'm a teacher by trade and said I'd make sure they weren't missing out. Know of others who have done this for a round the world trip. May be worth a go?

goingmadinthecountry · 09/02/2011 21:26

PS dd1 was Y6 (Oct to May but came back to sit 11 plus), dd2 Y4 and ds Y3 at the time.

Chaotica · 09/02/2011 21:58

My parents did this with my sister and I.

I'm extremely glad they did. I suspect (although matters were different then) they kept us down as 'distance learners' too as we had some 'work' to do to keep up and had to write a diary.

Acinonyx · 10/02/2011 09:28

Chaotica please tell me more. How old were you, how long did you go for, and what was the best thing about it? Any problems? If it's not too much detail - where did you go?

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