'Etiquette' of taking holiday in term time.

[Lukethe3]

Hello
DS1 has just started Reception and is loving it. We have already unthinkingly booked some holiday in what turns out to be term time. I need to fill out a 'request for absence' form but I have also been told that this will be refused. The holiday is paid for so we will be going, so do I just go without saying anything or do I tell the class teacher? It seems really bad manners to go after permission has been refused but ds is only 4yo and I'm sure will develop more during the holiday with both his parents there 24/7 than he would at reception for a week.
What does everyone else do in this situation?
Thanks

we take DD out of school for holidays and days out

lots of reasons, and as long as it doesn't take up more than 10 days a school year, no-one of 'authority' is going to get involved

my hard hat and tin helmet is in the wash btw, but i don't really care what other MNers think, it's my decision

OP, you will get lots of different opinions, hope some are useful to you

I would fill out the form and write what you did here, that you unthinkably booked it in term time before dc started school, so please on this occasion could they authorise it, you will make sure the trip is educational blah blah :) and then hope for the best.

Not fair how different schools deal with this kind of thing. Our school gives up to 10 days as long as normal attendance is ok.

If he's 4 be does not legally have to be at school

Tale him, what's he going to miss? Play dough work, it's all play in reception

fill in the form, then take unauthorised holiday.

Simples.

They will just mark it as unauthorised absence.
They aren't allowed to authorise term time hols unless there are really strong reasons specified in some head teachers code somewhere. So they say 'no' and then mark it unauthorised.
No consequences, except they could well fine you or withdraw the place if it is for more than 10 days.

tiggy does that still apply if there are exceptional circumstances ? We are taking DD out for 2 weeks to go away when DH is home on R&R, we wouldn't normally but otherwise she will not see him from September till May and the only time he could have was when our other 3DCs boarding school was on holidays but the state schools weren't. Our head has said nothing about how she is recording it just that it is ok, although she has only verbally said that and from what I understand there will be no letter written to say it is ok (so am slightly concerned)

There is specific guidance somewhere (one of the military covenant documents I think) enshrining as good practice the authorisation of leave for Forces families at times of return from operational thwarted. It doesn't oblige heads to authorise, but it's definitely something to mention on your request.

I've got to go out for a bit: have a google and see if you can find it. If not, I'll look for you later.

thanks scaevola I think I know the document you are talking about it just slightly concerns me that the head doesn't write back to approve the leave (she is well known for this throughout the school) so wondered if there would be any recourse but am guessing not as long as I provide the correct link. (think DH has a copy on the pc so will dig it out)

You cannot be fined for something that isn't illegal. Your child does not have to be in school until the term after they're five. They cannot even record it as absence, let alone hold it against you.

The school does not even have to report the absence to the LEA until a child is five. The absence does not affect attendance figures at the school and so will have no bearing on Ofsted etc. I would definitely go.

It is not a problem now but don't get into the habit of doing this.

A family I know has just been fined £400 for doing this though their children are older.

The school don't like because it looks bad on their attendance figures which make part of their OFSTED assessments, but you're right the holiday will be of more benefit to him, just a shame it couldn't in the holidays then he could benefit from school and the holiday

However, as others have said as he doesn't legally need to be in school yet, it doesn't really matter to the school either, but they will be concerned about setting a precedent.

I have never taken DC out of school (in 9 years) because I want them to see how important I think their schooling is, rather than because I think they'll miss anything vital in a few days away. For me it's about supporting the school and demonstrating to DC that there's nothing more important (even though sometimes I might not quite believe it)

As you've already booked and it was a mistake, go ahead and enjoy your holiday though.

I understand that you booked the holiday a bit thoughtlessly and it would be a waste of money, fair enough. Don't do it again.

Some of the comments above, though, get my blood boiling.

If your child is "legally not obliged" to be in school and being with you is so much more educational, wtf is your kid doing in school in the first place?

And what kind of attitude are you teaching your child? Yes dear, we all have to go to school, learning is really important, but not when we want to spend a cheap 2 weeks in Greece.

I hate it when people think that rules apply to anybody but them!

Thanks for the replies. I feel a bit less guilty knowing that the school will not need to record his absence until he is 5.
I naively had no idea about how much our lives were now going to be ruled by school and term dates.

we took the boys out for 9 days it was an unauthorised absence. as he handed the letter over the headmaster said he hoped we had a lovey holiday.

I think they HAVE to refuse, but most know you are going to go anyway.

I think you'll be all right this year if he's still 4. M DSs' school fines parents at £50 per half day session, per child, per parent, so with my 3 a week's unauthorised holiday would cost £50 x 3 boys x 10 sessions x 2 parents = £3000!

Sorry to correct you, but this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence. If you have a place in a school and have started in September then your child is "at school". It's not just free child care to dip in and out of to fit in with holidays and trips to Legoland.

I would recommend checking your LA website, the one for Dd3's school still says that HT's can authorise 10 days holiday in term time. I will be continuing to take Dd3 away in term time until they change it.

Our HT does authorise it but some others in the area say that they wont. I always tell people about the website if they ask me.