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School holidays

Find half term and school holiday activity ideas.

Term Time Hol Under 5

4 replies

Pineapples1986 · 17/09/2025 22:27

Hi, looking for a bit of perspective… our little one has just started reception but doesn’t turn 5 until July. We booked a couple of one week holidays for next year, earlier this year (on re-book offers), as we knew that the fines etc only came into effect the term after turning 5 (so for us, Sept’ 26), and wanted to make the most of the opportunities ‘whilst we still could’. Yesterday, we attended a welcome meeting for new parents at school, which of course covered the importance of regular attendance, heavily weighted with threats of unauthorised absences, fines, court orders and general life failures of pupils with under 96% attendance. Although i know that these targets are largely to appease Ofsted and legally, we could enjoy two more family experiences that don’t break the bank - nor are they going to break her future - I now wish I hadn’t booked them, just to avoid the hassle / stigma from the teachers when DD seems to be settling and doing well. One of these holidays we could cancel and only lose a small deposit, but the other would cost quite a bit more. What do you think / would you do? TIA x

OP posts:
Springadorable · 17/09/2025 22:31

Go on holiday. In future years you will be fined. Part of the box ticking expertise is presenting this info to parents. Just ignore it and bin the attendance letter.

friskery · 17/09/2025 22:32

The teacher isn't going to care that you take your 4 year old on holiday.

user2848502016 · 17/09/2025 22:57

Go, honestly it won’t make a difference to her education and you have years ahead of term time only holidays

Namechangedasouting987 · 17/09/2025 22:59

Go on holiday. Your DC is 4. School can stuff it. And your DC will not be adversely affected. The teachers won't remember, I am sure.

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