Going on holiday in term time in reception, would you?

[Phoenix]

Ds1 starts school part time in Sept and full time in Jan. We can't afford to go on holiday in the school hols and this year went May 22nd, ie. the week before school hols. We really want to go away the same week next year but not sure with ds1 starting school. Is it going to be that much of a problem in reception? I really want to book the cottage i've seen before anyone gets in before me

I wouldn't, but I think I am pretty unusual.

Worst case scenario is that you would have the absence as unauthorised and depending on the level of attendance during the rest of the year could end up being seen by the Educational Welfare Officer and potentially fined.

Some schools will automatically grant you up to 10 days holiday a year. Some won't. There will generally be a form to fill in, but if you don't have it "accepted" there isn't much they can do to stop you.

But anyway as I said I am unusual and I am sure many will say that your DS1 will benefit much more from the holiday than the time spent in school.

deffo ask/fill in a permission form. honestly, go, if you are allowed. it's really important to have family time.

We had his open day on Wednesday to have a look round, meet some teachers etc. and i fully intended to ask but forgot . He goes for a settling in visit on July 13th so i can ask for def then but i really want to book, dh won't let me though

I wouldn't - but that's just me.

Schools do vary. Our school used to allow up to 10 days per year, but now that's recently been changed up to 10 days throughout school career (from 3 - 11).

However, a friend of mine who has a child in a different school requested a month off for a holiday and was told 'no problem!' (I think the headteacher left during the holiday time she took!)

A lot of schools are reasonable about holiday leave, but can be strict for years 2 and 6.

I wouldn't.

We have struggled to cover the holidays they do have as we both work (tho now I work in education so huzzah!) so I always wonder how people manage that aspect.

But maybe you don't WOH OP.

Even without that reason I am very keen the DC don't miss school unless absolutely necessary.

I would certainly chekc the school's stance before you book. Why does yr DH object?

At the new parents information evening (DD starts reception in September) we were told about the school's policy on holiday in term time and although there isn't a blanket ban, we were told it isn't an entitlement and that holidays being cheaper in term time wasn't an acceptable reason. I'm sure people do go in term time though.

My general stance is that you shouldn't go away during term time. DS1 is just finishing reception now.

However, we have actually had a total of 8 authorised days off this year as his Dad has been away since November and back on 2 occasions neither of which has coincided with holidays. School hasn't had a problem with this even though absence was one of the few areas it was marked down on during the Ofsted inspection.

We asked for time off primarily because it is important for DS to see his Dad, but other things that we considered before asking were that he is doing well at school and has only had 1 day off all year for illness.

See what the policy is and take a view.

I would but then we don't have reception in Scotland. DS2 is starting school this Aug and he will 5.4yrs old.

I wouldn't hesitate, but, I am not in the UK. when DD was 5, I took her out of school for a week, her teacher gave us some work to take with us so she wouldn't fall behind (although at that age she was mainly colouring in).

Yes, but if we didn't then we would never get away with our children as we are always working in the holidays due to our business.

If the school happily allows it then I would and have.

If the school was unhappy then I would not break the rules - written or not - to take them on holiday.

I wouldn't worry about taking my child out of class in reception, but it does depend on school policy. Ours is very reasonable about it, and so we have (to avoid very expensive weekend flights).

I believe that given your child isn't legally required to be at school till the term after his 5th birthday, then if you choose a time before this to holiday, then the school can't even record it as unauthorised.

You can confirm this with your LEA.
Would I? Yes...but I'd choose to go last two weeks of term to minimise disruption.

Yes, I would and I have and I will be again. We went away a week before term ended at Xmas in DS's first year of reception. He was not yet five, not legally obliged to be in school, and the Headteacher, although not thrilled, couldn't really be arsed to argue with it. We will also be going away a week before summer term ends. Again, the Head knows an, although DS is now five, she isn't challenging it.

Yes, I have done it to save money. No, I won't make it a regular thing from next year onwards. But at this age, I really don't see it causes anyone any disruption.

Holidays in term time can be very beneficial to the children, as they are getting real experiences in exciting new places. It does cause some problems for me as a teacher e.g. sorry but there really isn't time to go back over things that the children have missed.

We don't send work for during the holiday as our authority requests that we don't, as they see this as encouraging.

Just to add to an above posters comment 'I'd choose to go the last two weeks of term to minimise disruption.' - In Reception and KS1, this is ok, as often they are on winding down mode. However, further up the school, during these two weeks there are usually theme weeks, transition days/meet the teacher times for the next year and sometimes assessment weeks. It can actually cause more of a problem than at the start of the term. I recently had a girl go on holiday during the last two weeks at Easter and as these were our assessment weeks, it caused me lots of issues, as I had to then find the time to assess her, when she returned.

I would book your dream cottage right now, and tell the school that you can't go in the holidays because DH/you can't get the time off, or something.

Honestly schools are completely ridiculous about this. I regret not doing it more when my kids were at primary school. If I could go back I would do it every bloody year.

'Sends a message about the value of education'??

I don't think so.

I wouldn't

Had this debate many a time and oft on MN. I've got an inbuilt respect for rules and want the DCs to have the same sort of attitude.

An argument often raised is that children never learn anything much at primary school. Which I think says an awful lot about the schools.

Still, am aware that I am in a minority on MN.

The schools in Edinburgh have finished this week for the Summer holidays. DS1 (9yrs) has spent the past 5 days cleaning the classroom, watching DVDs, playing with toys. With the best will in the world none of this has any educational value at all and it would have made no difference whatsoever if we had gone on holiday instead.