Missing school during first few weeks of reception?

[moojie]

FIL has a big birthday next September and wants to spend it with all the immediate family together in Australia. DH's brothers and niece/ nephew are live out there and we have not been since having the dc's although they have been over here a few times.

Sounds great so far (especially as they are paying!) however ds1 starts school next year. I have worked out that he would be there a week or possibly even two before we would then be away for 2 weeks. The schools setting in process means that he would arrive back just as all of reception start full time.

I am so torn and my first thought was an absolute no but although ds won't really miss out on all the family being together everyone (including us) will, especially as DH's nan is also going to come out.

Is this a really bad idea? I'm happy to be told it is and we will not go as I don't want to jeopardise him starting school.

Only other point to say is that he goes to a pre school where quite a few will be going onto the infants school so he will know people already.

DD1 missed a week of her first term in reception, for similar reasons. Her uncle got married about 400 miles away from our home, on a Wednesday, so we ended up taking a whole week off for travelling etc.

We spoke to the Head about it at our induction day (i.e. after we'd accepted the place, but before she actually started school). She was very happy for us to take the time off for an important family event. We applied for an authorised absence once we were at school, which was granted.

DD1 actually had three weeks at school, then a week off, then a week at school before half term. There were some adverse effects - mainly that friendship groups had shifted about while she was away and she had to re-establish herself. But her teacher was helpful and it didn't take too long to settle back in.