school attendance in reception before age 5

[SilverSixpence]

Hi, my DS is due to start reception in September, he doesn't turn 5 until July. We have the option of sending him to school in January also, but put his name down to start in September as thought it would be easiest for him to settle in with all the other children.

I will be finishing my current job in October and am pregnant with a baby due end of January. It's the first decent stretch of time I've had off since mat leave with DS, so I'd really like the flexibility of being able to visit family/friends (live 200 miles away) or go on holiday for a week or two at a time without being restricted to school term times. Can schools enforce attendance before the age of 5 if he is taken out of school? Is this generally not a good idea because of disruption to his education etc. He has been in preschool and is able to write his name, recognise some words and do very simple addition so I'm not too worried about him falling behind. Should I consider a January start instead (if its not too late to inform the school)?

once you enrol them at school, you agree to follow the school rules and therefore school is not flexi -disruptive to the class and a bad lesson to teach your DS

if you want this time to do things (and I can absolutely see why you would btw) then start him in January

Just to be completely contrary I'd send him in September and take the holidays as you want before the baby is born.

I've got 4 dc ranging from 14 to 4, and between them we've only taken 1 day off for a family wedding in all the time they've been at school. I'm not generally in favour of taking children out of school at the drop of a hat but if it comes down to missing a whole term of school rather than a couple of weeks, surely it's better so start now and have the holidays - it seems like a no brainer.

thanks, will have to think about it (and discuss with DH!). Would be nice to get DS settled in before the baby too as he'll have two big changes at once if he starts in January, but I do like the idea of having the freedom to go away for a few weeks without having to fit in with school holidays!

Given your plans for next term, I would take up the option of starting in January. That way you can do exactly what you like without messing the school about regarding your DS's attendance.

Once enrolled, a child should attend.

Taking random days off is probably the most disruptive option there is.

I would suggest deferring or agreeing a proper flexi-schooling arrangement (regular attendance, but only 3 or 4 days a week).

I think if you really feel like that you should start him in January. When you start school you agree to your childs attendance, whether they are 5 or not.

If you are going to go away for a few weeks then there is no point in starting him at all.

I have to say though - they learn so much in reception, I wouldn't be doing either!

We wouldn't take him out if the school objected and if he is in school it wouldn't be more than a few days but not more than 2 weeks in the term (maybe added on to half term/Xmas). Need to give it some consideration as not sure if I could handle being home full time with him for 4 months either!

If there is an extended holiday, I would be tempted to enrol for September and put in a request for authorised absence with the reason being that in the official holiday you would be to near pregnancy to travel, and then afterwards with a small baby.
If it's for repeated absences then leave it to January, or alternatively, do the long trips now in the holiday, and reserve weekends away for closer visits in school time. Remember, the bigger you get, the less likely you will want to travel far from home.
Family and friends would also probably like to have a visit after the baby too, so what had you planned to do re school then?

auntevil we were thinking of doing a holiday (long haul) in October so could request an authorised absence as you suggest. Christmas would probably be spent with family in the UK, I suppose 2 weeks would be enough for that so we wouldn't need to extend that. I suppose the difference is that I wouldn't need to plan ahead so much and could see family more often and for a few days at a time, the weekend is very short when you have a 4-5 hour drive each way! When family and friends visit, he would just go to school as normal and then see them in the afternoons/weekends, that wouldn't be a problem. I appreciate all your suggestions though!

Having both sites of parents equally as far in opposite directions London - Cornwall-Yorkshire (yes, could have planned it better ) there are plenty of opportunities in school breaks anyway. First week of Jan, 2nd week in Feb, 2ish weeks in Mar/April, long weekend May, 1 week in May/June, nearly 6 weeks July to September, 1 week Oct/Nov, week and a half December. Its never really more than 6 weeks from 1 holiday to the next.
Trust me, with 2 children that's probably as many as I would like to make!

I think your plan is absolutely fine, just do it quietly and noone will mind or notice particularly. I would probably keep it to a week at a time max in term time to avoid too much disruption. I guess you could keep him in preschool until January. Tbh I don't think it would matter him starting in January rather than September if this suits you better.

Be aware the absence may not be authorised. If it wasn't, would you not go?

If you're concerned that it would be difficult for your son to start school in January at about the same time his sibling is born, you could defer his start until later. Given his birthday, in order to be sure of not losing the place if the school is oversubscribed, he just needs to start school by the end of his Reception year. For example, he could start at Easter or even later. (If there are vacancies in his year group at the school, so there isn't a risk of losing his place, then he could miss Reception altogether and join Year One the following autumn.) It sounds like the school/LA did not make this clear, and led you to believe that your only options were a September start or a January start.

He does not legally have to be in school until 5. My son is 5 in June and starting in Sept, we have a holiday in Dec, told the school and not overly bothered