Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Original poster

Reception Term time Holidays

109 replies

Roseaal · 23/07/2017 12:05

Hi

My little one is august born and will be 4. Her reception year is starting on mid September. We have booked holidays and she will be missing out exactly 9/10 days. I haven't mentioned anything to school yet. The only reason we booked holidays was vast price difference in holidays during term time. We are going back home to meet family.

I'm now worried will we be incurring fine? And can I make her start the very next day after returning from holidays. I don't want her to miss out. She used to attend nursery 15 hours per week.

Need your advice!!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
RedSkyAtNight · 23/07/2017 12:32

I don't think you can be fined for missing school before she's actually of statutory school age. But .. the start of term is a really bad time to go away - she'll miss out on all the settling in type activities, the children will already have started to make friends and she'll be playing catchup ...
So that would be my main concern -not whether or not you'll be paying a fine!

also, why on earth haven't you told the school yet? Depending on the school it may now be a while before anyone picks up a message from you and they will need to know that your child will be arriving 2 weeks late! I'd suggest doing this asap.

regularbutpanickingabit · 23/07/2017 12:44

Is she missing her first 10 days of reception or 10 days at some point in reception? The first is not good. The second is up to you but yes, your LA is able to fine if they want to. The rule is missing more than 10 sessions. A day has 2 sessions. However, not all LAs will fine anyway.

To be honest, it really doesn't matter when her birthday is and I don't think your first thought should be about getting fined! It's about making her as comfortable and settled at school as quickly as possible.

You definitely need to speak to school. If her start date is mid September then it sounds like they are already doing a staggered start for reception. Can she join on the same day as a later group if there is one?

Is there any way you can delay the trip?

user1500537177 · 23/07/2017 12:52

A child does not legally have to go to school until they are 5 so I don't think they can fine you

Original poster
Roseaal · 23/07/2017 13:24

Schools are now closed for summer holidays. I can leave a letter. I also told my partner the same thing.

She is very adaptable. When we moved to new area, she joined the nursery in second term. It only took her a day to settle. The first day she was upset and doesn't want me to leave. But gradually after two hours she started to settle in and playing with other kids.

The school is near to our current nursery and so most of the kids she knows and friends are going to same school. I know her first few hours are she's going to feel out of place but as she sees familiar faces she will be alright. The teachers have reassured me that I can stay with her in class until she's all settled in.

Will she miss out a lot during the beginning of term? In first week it's mostly playing and introducing rules.

OP posts:
Original poster
Roseaal · 23/07/2017 13:26

It's full time reception. There is no morning or afternoon session as it was in nursery.

OP posts:
TittyGolightly · 23/07/2017 13:27

I don't think you could have chosen a worse 2 weeks to take her out, to be honest.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 23/07/2017 13:40

Will she miss out a lot during the beginning of term? In first week it's mostly playing and introducing rules.

Yes, that's exactly what she'll miss out on - establishing the ground rules and basic processes - in the morning we sit on the carpet / this is where we go for assembly / this is when and where we go for lunch etc. Obviously she'll still get up to speed eventually but personally I don't think it's great.

That said, DS's reception did a staggered entry so there were 'new' kids throughout September anyway.

Oh and PP is completely correct that school will treat a half-day as a 'session' for attendance, even though reception is indeed full time.

Glumglowworm · 23/07/2017 14:33

Schools have two sessions, for attendance purposes. If you take her for 10 days she misses 20 sessions.

I do think it's a stupid two weeks to go away, she will miss a lot of the settling in, learning where to go and what to do and where things are.

Theoistfit · 23/07/2017 15:32

My dc unavoidably missed the first week of reception and year one. It's a really rubbish time to do it and she took a while to feel up to speed with the other children both times. She knew lots of them already and was very confident but it still threw her.

mrz · 23/07/2017 15:43

"The teachers have reassured me that I can stay with her in class until she's all settled in." Did they suggest it or did you? In my experience this is usually the worst thing you could possibly do.

Sirzy · 23/07/2017 15:47

I doubt school will let you stay as long as you want 2 weeks into term when others are just settling in nicely.

Also be very careful with not letting them know given that if you just don't turn up for he first two weeks - especially if you are away and uncontactable - then you may find the place is offered elsewhere as they will assume you don't want it.

MarthasHarbour · 23/07/2017 15:51

Yes you definitely need to let them know otherwise you will lose the place. I know someone who got a reception place in the first week as the school had a 'no show'.

sixinthebedandthelittleonesaid · 23/07/2017 15:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrz · 23/07/2017 16:31

I'm in tomorrow to work in my classroom (as are a couple of other teachers) but there won't be anyone in reception or anyone to access school email or post until September.

Love51 · 23/07/2017 16:40

As others have said, you won't get fined, as your child isn't of compulsory school age. Not telling them is risky as they may offer the place elsewhere. It is also quite rude.

prh47bridge · 23/07/2017 16:40

Your daughter does not reach compulsory school age until the start of term following her fifth birthday (i.e. September 2018). You cannot be fined for unauthorised absence until then.

Yes, you can have her start the day after you return from your holiday. Just make sure you tell the school what is happening so that they don't think you are a no show and allocate your daughter's place to someone else. It doesn't matter too much if they don't pick up the email or letter until September but you do need to let them know.

TittyGolightly · 23/07/2017 17:19

Your daughter does not reach compulsory school age until the start of term following her fifth birthday (i.e. September 2018). You cannot be fined for unauthorised absence until then.

I believe that isn't the case. If you accept the school place you accept being bound by the rules.

Starlight2345 · 23/07/2017 17:22

You won't get fined but the first 2 weeks of her starting school..

Just wow Shock

Doublefecker · 23/07/2017 18:10

I'm not against taking children out of school for holidays (we've done it ourselves this term) but missing the beginning of reception is really bad timing.

As for the 5/fine thing - my understanding is that you can defer them starting until they're 5 but if you choose to start them at 4 you accept the rules from then and can indeed be fined.

spanieleyes · 23/07/2017 18:17

There is a reason why the first two weeks in September are cheaper for holidays. It's because these are the worse two weeks to be absent from school so no-one is! This is especially true for children joining Reception. The school may well be OK with parents stopping for the first few days to settle children in, but not after the first few weeks! I can't think of a dafter thing to do!

Mrskeats · 23/07/2017 18:18

Why would anyone do this? Ridiculous

soapboxqueen · 23/07/2017 18:22

Titty the rules state that a child is not of compulsary school age until the term after a child turns 5. Fines are only applicable for children of compulsary school age.

TittyGolightly · 23/07/2017 18:28

Do feel free to link to that.........

Frazzled2207 · 23/07/2017 18:31

I'm not generally against taking kids out during term time but think taking the first few days out is a ridiculous idea. Those first couple of weeks will be key to getting the kids settled in.

MidnightVelvetthe7th · 23/07/2017 19:02

I don't think you're giving her the best start at school life or being very fair to her.

Starting the day after you get back will mean that she hasn't had time to settle back at home yet, she may still be tired & she might need a rest before the next new thing.

She won't get that & then you are thrusting her into a situation where she is one of 30 other children who already know the rules & she will be the only one who doesn't know where the toilets are, what breaktimes are or what happens at lunchtime & how she gets her school lunch. She won't know the behaviour expected of her in assembly or in the classroom & as everyone else has passed through this period of uncertainty, she may be too shy to ask.

Friendships may not be an issue as they are generally fluid at this stage so hopefully no friendship groups would have established yet. But if children are already 'paired up' (to walk through the school to assembly for example is a common one) she has less of a chance to be a pair with a child she knows, it will be whoever is left over at that point.

I would be extremely surprised if a teacher let you sit in the classroom 10 days in, after the start of the school day....

I realise you said she is adaptable & all the rest of it, but you are prioritising money over giving her the best possible start at school & that doesn't sit well with me.