Rules on taking children out of school under the age of 5?

[sianypuss1]

Hi everyone.
My son has just started in reception. He is not 5 until June next year and i was wondering if anyone knows the law on whether we are able to take him out of school to go on holiday without being fined? It would only be for a couple of days before half term and I was under the impression we were allowed to until he is of the 'compulsory' school age of 5 but wanted to know if anyone has had any problems with this? Thank you in advance!

Correct, you cannot be fined when the DC is not of statutory school age.

All other attendance management measures can be activated though, because having chosen to enrol your DC at school at that age and start them off (not defer), they should attend.

So does this mean that absence will count "against" the school in terms of their attendance targets, Ofsted etc?

It's unlikely you would be fined for a couple of days regardless of age. School may mark it as unauthorised absence.

My son's head (who is known to fine) told me that she couldn't fine for a child under 5.