Reception Term time Holidays

[Roseaal]

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!!

I am talking about the first couple of weeks in September, not October.

storynanny - I was talking about the principle. I wasn't trying to suggest that your school is doing anything wrong.

Is the first two weeks full-time? In my experience, summer borns would not be attending all day until well into the autumn term, maybe not until Christmas, depending on the school.

So she may only be missing 10 sessions rather than 20, anyway.

It may throw her for the first week when she starts but I don't think she'll be permanently scarred by having to play catch-up for a couple of days.

And I say that as someone who does not agree with term-time holidays.

Oh wow! That is the worst time and don't try and stay with her in the class to 'settle her in' when you get back. Worst thing you can do!

In my experience, summer borns would not be attending all day until well into the autumn term, maybe not until Christmas, depending on the school

Schools cannot force this. If parents want their children to attend full time the school must accept it. I believe mrz is correct that most children now start full time from day one.

Yes, in principle I don't agree with term time holidays but I do think the first 2 weeks ( 10 days max if child starts from day one full time) of reception as a holiday, for a barely 4 year old child, is not going to put him/her at a disadvantage. By Christmas, missing the first 2 weeks of reception would probably be irrelevant.
Just my opinion of course. I never claim to know it all re education.

Our area (north London) is still entirely phased entry so it's certainly not the case that hardly any schools do it anymore. Not saying it's right or wrong but that's the situation locally. I managed to get DD into the first group by having a quiet word with the reception teacher (she was at the pre school) but she still didn't start full days until something like 20th Sept.

Roseaal, go for it. You have your reasons for choosing these dates and although it's not ideal, it's not going to scar her. If anything it will enrich her knowledge and experience - something a lot of young children miss out on because of these draconian rules and regulations! It's quite clear you won't get fined. Nowhere on school and government websites will they specifically state unauthorised absences for under 5's can't be fined - they don't want people to know! TBH no child should start school at 5 let alone 4..... there's more evidence to suggest this than a child's education being affected by holidays in term time for heavens sake. I would however advise the school asap as a courtesy and in case they have the power to rid your daughter of her place. Maybe you should check if they can legally do that too 😉

Please send the school an email. I check the school email at least a couple of times a week during the long holidays. Our reception class start full days straight away. If you were one of our new reception parents it would go like this....

1st day of term - Rose isn't here today, I'll call home (and parents mobiles) to make sure they haven't forgotten. Oh no answer (you are on holiday), leave a voicemail.
2nd day of term - Rose isn't here. Call home and parents mobiles, leave voicemail explaining that if they no longer want the place let us know as we have a waiting list.
3rd day of term - Still nothing from Rose's family. Call local admissions team "have you had any correspondence about Rose?"
After 10 days of absence we will contact first on waiting lust to say we MAY have a place if they are still interested. On the 21st day of no contact we will remove child from role and admit a new choice.

So two weeks and you aren't going to lose your place HOWEVER, regardless of age (if you were in our area) you would be hearing from the educational welfare officer. The school CANNOT fine anyone...that is down to the local authority only, all the school does us give the EWO and LA all attendance data.

Email the school and at least save them the hassle of having to keep trying to contact you.