Holiday during term time

[youaremychocolatecake]

My LB is 4 and in reception. We are due to go on holiday in May for a week during term time. I know some of you won't agree with that decision but my partner is self employed so we already have to take into account him not earning any money whilst we are away so paying school holiday prices on too of that isn't really affordable for us. Anyway, not trying to justify myself just wanted to check something before I tell the school.
I know that school isn't 'mandatory' until the term after the child's 5th birthday so will the fact that he will still be 4 mean I won't be in any proper trouble? Or does it not matter once they're already attending school?

Thanks in advance

As far as I am aware once you have enrolled your child in school it makes no difference if they are of mandatory age or not, they are still bound by the same rules regarding absences as everyone else.

You may well receive a fine - is that what you mean by proper trouble? But I guess you know that already?

It's only 60. I mentioned that to someone at work who puzzled & then quipped "Oh well then, may as well take them out for even longer!"

I might be wrong, but I was told by someone today that it is £60 per day per parent.
So two parents is £120 a day
For 5 school days that would be a fine of £600 not £60

As far as I know, it is 60 per child. How can they charge per parent?

Anyway, yes if he is enrolled in the school I don't think it matters about age. We took ds1 out when he was at the school nursery and got a snotty attendance letter afterwards (even though it was approved...it was before the fines etc.).

You're right Chicky, it is per parent. I forget that bit. But typically just for the entire absence period (so 120 for 1 day or 10 days). Our LEA doesn't bother to charge for under 4 days/half term.

Thank you all

I'm confused by the claims that you could be fined for the absence of a child who is below compulsory school age. There is no law regarding school attendance for a child of this age. How can an LA legitimately impose a fine when a law has not been broken?

Sure, it will go down as unauthorised absence, if that matters to you, but there will be no criminal consequences.

(BTW Merry, the answer to your question of how a fine could be imposed on each parent is that each parent has committed the offence of failing to ensure the regular attendance of a child who is registered at school and who is of compulsory school age. A comparison might be that if two people steal one item together, both can be charged with the crime, and they won't get to "share" one penalty between them.)

So do they know the home set ups of all the families? What if it is a long term partner, and not the father of the child? Do they get a fine? Or what if it is just a 'boyfriend' who doesn't currently have a vested interest in the child? Do they get a fine? Does an absent parent get a fine even if they didn't actually go on the holiday? Is it every adult they go on holiday with who gets a fine? I just don't see how they can enforce this one.

Saracen, I assumed that as soon as the child is part of the school and is in receipt of funding from the government on that basis, that it becomes an offence. But I don't know for sure.

Merry, I think it is everyone who has parental responsibility who can be prosecuted for truancy of a child who is compulsory school age, but I am not sure. And you're right, that is unfair on nonresident parents. I don't suppose they are often fined, but they could be.

The provision of funding enabling young children to have optional early schooling doesn't automatically cause new laws to spring into existence. If a law has not been broken, a fine cannot be issued.