Taking DD (5yrs old) out of school term time for 5 days

[qwerty6]

Hi mummies

Firsty can I ask you not to make judgement nor turn this into a battlefield :) I am merely here for help.

I want to take my DD who would have just turned 5 years old, 2 days before I need to take my daughter out of school for 5 days. Please note I am not going on a family holiday as we have just returned from a family holiday this week. However, yes I want to take my child out of the country.

What are the rulings on taking a 5 year old out of school during term time?

i suggest you ask your local authority or ask the HT.

they are of compulsory school age for term after they turn 5 - so did she turn 5 before this summer term started?

Once of compulsory school age children are not allowed to be taken out of school except for exceptional circumstances.

LA authorities give guidance to schools on what they consider exceptional circumstances

If it isn't an exceptional circumstance the leave would be marked as unauthorised on the register.

Different LA seem to take action and fine and different points. In my area they would only fine after 2 whole weeks.

Things I have seen leave authorised for would be attending funerals/weddings of close relatives, attending religious festivals abroad - but generally only the day of the event and two travels days are authorised with the rest of the trip unauthorised.

Mil is very poorly (life limiting) and lives quite far away and we are thinking of going to see her for a whole weekend so my ds (reception) would miss the Friday and Monday but I have read our schools policy and no leave is granted in these circumstances so we will have to either say he's ill or tell the truth and risk a fine. I would rather tell the truth as want to stay on good terms with the school.

My daughter turns 5 on 24th June, and travel date is 27th June, so starts this term age 4.

I too could easily lie, but am choosing to be honest.

My father wants to visit his terminally ill sister abroad, he has dialysis in the UK, and would need dialysis whilst abroad. We have booked him in to a private clinic abroad, he is disabled so the plan was i go for one week, and my sister stay with him the following week. I have all hospital notes and letters I can give, so hoping it should be authorised.

oh well she isn't of compulsory school age until September so they cant fine you.

I don't see the point in lying as it isn't modelling good behaviour and puts your child in an awkward position.

Just fill out the standard form if your school has one, or write a letter. Its courteous to say why your child wont be in and the teacher might be able to help with any anxieties your child about everything going on. The letter just needs to inform the head that x will not be in school because of the reason you have just stated.

If she were older, the school would either say at its exceptional and put it down as authorised , or they will say it wasn't and put it down as unauthorised - my local authority wouldn't be pursuing a fine for a one of like this but I get the impression some do which is why some people are so anxious about a 'U' in the register.

I wish you and your family all the best in this difficult time.

Thank you for you advice and kind words, its very much appreciated x

I'm sorry op.
Could you leave after lunchtime registration and come back Sunday evening or is that not long enough?
Would you be able to wait until half term?
TBH I generally wouldn't take a child out of school but to visit a sick relative? Having lost my FIL last year I say yep. Go. You don't get this time back. Tell the school what you are planning and factor cost of (I would think unlikely) fine into your plans.

Good news!

the school has authorised the 5 days off. I will have to provide hospital appointments whilst abroad which I have already passed on to the school.

:)

I'm glad for you - one less thing to worry about

Once of compulsory school age children are not allowed to be taken out of school except for exceptional circumstances.

Just a point that whilst this is the case in England, it isn’t the case elsewhere in the UK.