Can you get fined for unauthorised for 4yr old?

[ChangeYouFucker]

Just that really. My DD is not 5 till June and is going on holiday shortly afterwards (so before the 1st term of her 5th birthday).

Can you be fined?

Thanks

I don't think you can be fined if a child isn't CSA but that said schools will try it on.

I think that, once you have taken up the place, you are then agreeing to ensure your child will attend regularly - so whether the child is 4 or 5, you have taken up your place, therefore your responsibility is to ensure they attend and taking her out could lead to a fine.

I read up on this when we took 4yo DS on unauthorised holiday. They can't fine you unless the child is of statutory school age.

I'll see if I can find the link to where I saw it.

I don't think you can be fined until they are required to be at school i.e. the term after they turn five.

I think you can be fined as if you accept a reception school place they have to attend as they are in the system and if everyone pulled their child out of school on this basis the school would get a poor attendance record.

If she's turned 5 then yes if not then no.

They can't fine you though some will try. You may get a letter. It will more than likely go down as unauthorised.

If it's for more than 2 weeks they can remove her from role though I've never heard of this actually happening.

We were able to take our 4 year old out of school as the head said he wasn't able to refuse a request for absence because she wasn't legally required to attend.

They cannot fine you before statutory school age.

But, as you have chosen to enrol your DC, they should attend and all other attendance interventions can be used.

Thanks for responses.

I find it strange this idea of 'you chose to accept the place so must obey the rules'.

Actually if I want my DD to attend her local school I HAD to accept the place before she is legally required to do so (at a very young age IMO). So why should I not make the decision to take her out. I do NOT intend to take her out when she is not of CSA, but she is not yet and is not so until Sept.

I find it baffling but clearly from responses above I possibly am being unreasonable.

You cant be fined until she is 5 i.e. statutory school age. The fine is currently £60 per parent. If her atttendance is well over 90% i wouldnt worry. If it is under that then i would be more cautious

You can't be fined until the term AFTER they turn five. So any child who isn't five until Easter term is ok.

No my head when she authorrised hols for 3 dds she said it didnt matter anyway re dd3 as she was 4 not 5

I think a lot of schools do not fine anyway but just because you didn't want your child at school, it does not mean you can do what you want regarding attendance. If you wanted freedom of choice you could have refused a place at the school and taken your chances regarding starting in year 1. It is a case of weighing up what means most, a school place or freedom to take holidays when you want.

Children are not compulsory school age until the term after they turn 5. When parents ask I usually say that it's a good idea to send a letter saying that they will be on holiday etc just so we know not to expect them.

It's not the school who decides to fine.

I think some people are a bit confused between "school rules" (or perhaps what they perceive to be the parent's moral obligation to send a child to school once she is registered there?) and the actual legal situation.

There is a law stating that where a child is of compulsory school age and is registered at a school, it is an offence for a parent to fail to ensure her regular attendance, unless there is good reason. As you know, OP, this does not apply to your dd because she only reaches compulsory school age in the autumn. There is no grounds to fine you.

Those of you who think that it is possible for a fine to be enforced where a child is not yet of compulsory school age, could you please cite the legislation which you believe allows this. It does not exist.

In the past people asking this question have always been given this line: Once your child is registered at a school, you are legally responsible for making sure they attend regularly.

But looking into stuff myself, you're right, Saracen, all the legal stuff refers to 'children of compulsory school age'