Term time holiday in YR

[saywhatwhatnow]

I'm just wondering if anyone has taken their year R child out for a holiday before they turned 5, and how the school dealt with it?

I know you can take them out without a fine if you go before (the term after) they turn 5, but I'm concerned they could still take away my child's place. I'm guessing this is quite unlikely though. Does anyone have any experience?

They can’t take away their place. It’s fine to do a term time holiday. We’ve done one this year, we had an inset day before Feb half term & we took her out Mon-Thurs.. we had a wonderful week with family we hadn’t seen for two years in the sunshine!

Loads of DDs classmates have had term time breaks this year! It’s been a popular option.. not the full week in most cases but 2/3 days here & there!

Thanks for replying @Daqqe

Interesting to hear it's been quite common this year.

It will probably be 3 weeks which I know is a lot, but would be more than happy to take some work with us. Did you tell the school in advance? And if so what did they say?

I doubt very much if they will give your DC work for the time your DC is missing. DC isn’t having the lessons! As you decide to miss the work for a holiday I don’t think you can expect teachers to set individual work. You can take reading books with you and suitable maths books etc. You can use the time to teach them about other things.

They cannot take a place away but it’s less time off when it’s wrapped around half terms or tagged on to longer school holidays. We did this once and told school in advance. It’s courtesy to do that.

Technically they can off roll after 2 weeks. If for a specific reason those dates then approach the school, otherwise incorporate the holidays - missing 3 weeks even in in reception isn't good

@gogohm
if the OP informs the school of the dates, schools only normally take action if the child doesn’t return. That’s why the school should be informed and a return date agreed. Schools rarely off roll when it’s a holiday and they know DC is coming back. In my view, DC not coming back is a safeguarding issue - but that’s another story!

gogohm The school can only delete a pupil from the school roll if they have been absent for 20 days unauthorised, it is only 10 days when the absence follows an authorised leave of absence, and they need to make reasonable enquiries. See 8(f) and 8(h).

Thanks for that info @AReallyUsefulEngine Even that says about the child being of compulsory school age which I don't think he will technically be until the first day of Y1, he's April born.

I will obviously discuss this with the school and let them know dates, we may end up going over one of the half term weeks anyway.

I took my son out for a week this year (he's reception), but 3 weeks sounds an awfully long time to be off tbh. I wouldn't do that personally. Starting school is a big step in their lives and being off for such a length of time while everyone else is in school, would be quite unsettling for your son when he returns, I imagine.

Yes, we told school. We are very lucky that our school is very relaxed about holidays. The head openly says although they can’t approve it, he openly welcomes children having holidays or time with families etc that sometimes needs to be during term time.

That said. 3 weeks is a lot. More for your kids wellbeing in school really. Is there any reason you can’t tie this holiday into a school holiday & take time either side?

I teach Reception. I’d be really cross with you if you took your child out for THREE weeks!!!
I think you’ve got an absolute nerve. My headteacher would be calling you in for an interview. If you accept a place at our school, then the expectation is, quite rightly, that your child attends.
Your blasé attitude is unbelievable. If you had to pay for your child’s education you would take it more seriously. I hope that you are fined.

Agree three weeks is far to long. Tag it onto another holiday.

However I will note that I teach in a prep school and we have many children go for term time holidays. The headteacher is powerless so long as fees are paid. But we haven't had three weeks before.

i was going to write and say lots of people have added a few days into other holidays in my daughter’s class but 3 weeks is really excessive unless you’ve got a very good reason. I’d also say it’ll be quite unfair on your son. So much of reception seems to be about learning the routines, building relationships but also the foundations of phonics and reading. 3 weeks would be a fair chunk of phonics teaching if they’re going through lots of sounds a week like some schools do.

We will be in this position this year too. Husband is from New Zealand which has been closed for the past 2 years. We're having a baby any day now so we will be visiting before our son is compulsory school age. We've already asked his new school and although we won't be fined the receptionist did say 3 weeks seemed a lot. Due to the travelling and number of relatives we will need to squeeze visits in for 3 weeks isn't really long enough but it is what it is.... We're going to see if we can tag it onto a half term so we're only taking him out for 2 weeks... Is this something you may be able to do OP?

If OP can afford to take her child out for 3 week holiday can’t see a fine being a deterrent 🙄…..I’ve taken my 3 ( primary and senior) school to Australia for 3 week holidays twice during term time …..I only got fined Once and only for one of them….but at 50£ for a holiday costing £15k it was a drop in the ocean

Unless you have a very good reason then 3 weeks is far too long. You need to reduce the length of the holiday or include some school, holidays. 3 weeks in 1 chunk out of school is enough to disrupt the class and enough for your child to have gaps in their knowledge which will have a potentially significant impact for teaching them on their return.

Do you really want to create that impression at the beginning of their school career?

Technically your child doesn’t have to be in school until after the term they turn 5, however don’t assume that time in Reception is not important. It wouldn’t be funded if it wasn’t important. Your child can learn away from school but they can’t experience what’s going on in school during that time.

It’s a very firm no from me, find another way to arrange your holiday.

3 weeks is far too long to miss, can't imagine many schools would allow that, even in reception.
I think people under-estimate how important the reception year is - the amounts of phonics especially that they'd miss in 3 weeks would be huge and would lead to massive gaps in learning down the line.
I would heavily advise against it.