Unauthorised school holidays

[wakefield789]

I hope someone can help me! My daughter is only 4yrs old and we asked her teacher if she thought there would be any problem in taking her out of school for a week. She told us that there wouldn't be a problem because she doesn't legally need to be in school until she is 5, so we filled in the form and handed it back the following day. We then double checked with her teachers again on parents evening we again got told the same answer so we went ahead and booked it. Four weeks later we then recieved a letter refusing permission! Due to it being SATS week which we were not aware of. She is only 4 and has a brilliant attendance record (even has certificate for 100% attendance!), she is doing very well at school and even has extra reading books every week as she excells in that area! We always do a lot with her at home. We are very upset about this as it is an important holiday to us as we are taking my father away for his 70th birthday to one of his favourite places. All of my siblings are coming and have the time booked off, everything is organised we really don't want to cancel it!! Does anyone have any advice for us?

[Chaffinch]

If it were me I'd just go, the little one's only 4, so everything, even a hoilday is a learning experiance.

[ummmm]

Take her....don't worry about it.

[ladyalex]

I'd definitely go.
Her Grandfather will only be 70 once.
I cannot think that a week off school will make a scrap of difference to a four year old. She could have more time off with chicken pox.

[maclarencat]

Just go. It is hardly going to ruin her future is it? A family holiday will do her more good that sats

[welshlibranr]

Oh just do it anyway, your daughter will learn and have experience from this trip!.........the school are being too strict here!.........ignore them!.........I would!...........enjoy your break away!.................never give it another thought!............

[jno]

you asked and they gave you the wrong answer. No, just go; getting the dates right is their job, not yours.

[JackDanielsU]

Just go, as youve said theres no legal obligation for her to be there. The letter will be some generic rubbish meant for older children.

/if youve been given 2 verbal oks from her teachers, then youve done more then enough.

And not wanting to sound harsh, but its not as if shes going to miss anything amazingly educational....reading, painting etc, all stuff she can "catch up" on

[The-HouseHusband]

Your school is talking nonsense on the SATS as only children in Year 2 are required to sit them, it is more likely that they dont want to have the attendance average affected which would go against them on an OFSTED report. Your child is in reception if I have got my facts right so I would have another word with the school.

[chrissa1]

What is this, a Police State?? Just go!!

[pips1]

Definitely go - it is their mistake, not yours. There is nothing they can do about it - anyway they don't do SATS till 7yrs old!!

[sherrardk]

I would take her. Some schools do dish out fines but this is usually secondary school where some jobs worth hasn't got anything better to do with their time. Have a brill time.

[welshlibranr]

I'm with Chrissa!.............just ignore them and take her!.................what are they going to do!..............nothing much!.................

[Buenchico]

While children normally commence formal primary education before their 4th birthday (often at the start of the term in which their 5th birthday occurs, if not before), the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 of the Education Act 1996 (relating to compulsory education and parents' responsibilities in respect of it) don't take effect until the child's 5th birthday.

SATs, per se, only affect children in school years 2, 6 and 9. (There are no SATs for 4 or 5 year old children). Schools do, of course, make initial assessments of children's skills and abilities (so that they can measure progress) but that is not done through formal SATs.

When I was teaching I used to get driven mad by parents who took their children out of school during term time but, on this occasion, I'd recommend that you simply take your daughter on holiday anyway, because there's absolutely nothing the school can do about it.

Chris

[DaisyNonna]

Please take your daughter to join the celebrations for your father. It will mean so much to him. She may well remember it in the future. SATS at 4 is ridiculous. Any queries, quote family commitments. (ex teacher)

[pips1]

Key Stage 1
SATs take place in year 2 (at the end of infants) throughout May. Each child is teacher assessed in Reading, writing (including spelling and handwriting), maths (including number, shape, space and measurement) and science. Your child's class teacher will set short pieces of work in English and maths to judge what level of ability your child is considered to be.

Just so you're sure, I googled this:

[Buenchico]

Oops!
I've just spotted a typo in my post. '4th birthday' should, of course, have been '5th birthday'.

Sorry!

[brenda]

Stop beating your self up about this. Take the little one and enjoy.The school will look extremely foolish trying to do something about it , as you have been give mis- information twice.