Termtime holidays whilst at School Nursery

[OsmiumPhazer]

My DS has a nursery place at a highly sought after Primary in London, but soon after he starts I have a pre booked short break planned. As my DS is not in the compulsory reception year, he allowed to have 3 days off? I spoke to a teacher at the school about this already, and she said that we would have to write a report to the headteacher. My son has already been attending a private nursery where taking time out was not an issue

I agree, with Sirzy. Significant periods of absence will lose funding and so the place may be removed. But this will not happen because of 3 days absence due to holiday.

And the 'school rules' in terms of penalty notices do not apply to children under compulsory school age. Attendance figures for nursery and reception children have to be recorded in order to identify those children who are likely to have poor attendance once they reach compulsory school age but parents cannot be fined for it.

Fortunately, the world hasn't quite gone bonkers yet, Maryz. Some posters appear to have done.

As others have said a 3 day absence would not result in a loss of funding for the school. There seems to be discrepancies between LAs e.g. Brent state two weeks continuous absence, and Oxfordshire state a six week continuous absence, will result in loss of funding for that term.

Due to my university timetable (which changes weekly) my DS will be attending school nursery on an ad-hoc basis; some weeks he will be there every day whereas others he may only do 2-3 days. The school have cleared this with the LA and will be able to claim the full 15hr entitlement.

Well, I am glad that I was prepared to pay the full nursery costs until Dd started school, we didn't know about the 15 hr funding at first.

I think it is bonkers to put so much pressure on 3 year olds. School starts early enough and at this age they should play and not be put into routines that much.

I come from a country where Kindergarten is not mandatory but virtually all children go 5 days a week, fees are subsidised by the council. But even there people take time off when it fits them.

No I havent gone bonkers, Im pointing out what can and does happen if a child is kept of nursery (school placement) on a regular basis. people do abuse school nursery places, there should be safeguards to remove these children as there are usually waiting lists of children whose parents wont abuse the system.

This is perfectly fine to do.

My DD is in a very sought after school nursery and in September I'm taking her out for 2 weeks to go to Florida. They're fine with it.

I personally wouldn't take a child out of a new nursery setting in the first few weeks especially a school one. They spend that time settling in and learning the rules and the way school works.

Thank you for all of the post.
I was told by a parent today who knows the school well that under NO circumstances am I to take my DS out. This parent told me that the Headtecher would not look on it favourably

Well, I'd take that with a pinch of salt, to be honest. If they're not 5 yet, there's sod all he can do about it.
6 of my class out today, 7 in the parallel class.

I'm with clam. The head teacher can look at it as unfavourably as he likes. There's nothing he can or should do about it. It's 3 days in a school nursery not in the middle of GCSE exam season.