Fines for taking children out of nursery?

mrcow

What they probably mean is that you have to pay for the place whether the child attends or not.

It's not a "fine".

Savvy_Sue

Even 20+ years ago, when mine were in a state nursery setting not connected to a school, it was made abundantly clear that holidays in term time were strongly discouraged, and if we made too much of a habit of it then we could lose our place.

How hard is it to arrange this family do before nephew starts?

How much time will be needed off nursery to enable attendance?

What sort of 'do' is it, eg someone's 100th birthday, a golden wedding, or cousin Freddie's 4th engagement party?

Those things would make a difference to me.

Also they may already have their INSET dates available - would that help? And half term's not far off 22nd September. Again, dates will be available.

GracieP

pandora205 wrote: »

Children under 5 do not have to be in school, and therefore, parents cannot be fined for non attendance.

In the UK no child has to be in school, they must be in education but how they receive that education is up to the parents. If the parents choose to enrol their child in a school, then they are subject to rules governing attendance in that particular school or by their local authority, usually set out in the parenting contract. These contracts will vary depending on the school/area so perhaps in this case the contract is written to apply to younger children in an attached nursery?

emweaver

Kate/Bob wrote: »

This sounds like a school nursery rather than a private day nursery, in which case the same rules apply as to school children.
That could mean a £60 fine for each parent.

Edit: just rechecked the actual rules and there us no fine for nursery children, but the school may try to imply it does.

The school is separate from the nursery and has no input at all so can't imply this.

emweaver

ellay864 wrote: »

My nephew's never been to this nursery before - they only moved to the area earlier this year and have only just got a place. They aren't paying anything for him - no expert on how the free places things work as mine were past that age when it came in. This isn't even reception year - it's the year before reception (ie he will only turn 4 in April 2015) so comfortably out of the age where the rules should apply.
Will suggest my brother asks for more details as it seems ridulously heavy handed at that age

My daughter up attends the same type of setting and we wasn't fined. There's I legal obligation to even attend school until a child is 5.

Tigsteroonie

We took our son out of school this June, he is still 4. His head teacher agreed with our stance that, though he had to be seen to discourage the action, we could not be fined until our son is of mandatory school age i.e. 5 years old.

If the nursery in the OP is attached to a school, it could simply be that their communications are generalised for all children - i.e. the same letter regarding attendance and fines is sent to all children, regardless of age and school class.

moomoomama27

It wouldn't be a fine, but it would result in the session having to be paid for.

ellay864

Thanks all, I did wonder if it was a generic letter that was more intended in that bit for school kids. It is only one day we're looking at and I was being rather vague with 'family event' - what we actually want to do is go scatter our mum's ashes and for various personal reasons we want to do so during September aligned to other significant dates. The place we want to do it means a 5 hour drive for me and at least one day off work so I need to plan ahead; I was just stunned when it seemed working round my nephew's nursery was a complicating factor

maman

ellay864 wrote: »

This isn't even reception year - it's the year before reception (ie he will only turn 4 in April 2015) so comfortably out of the age where the rules should apply.
Will suggest my brother asks for more details as it seems ridulously heavy handed at that age

ellay864 wrote: »

Thanks all, I did wonder if it was a generic letter that was more intended in that bit for school kids. It is only one day we're looking at and I was being rather vague with 'family event' - what we actually want to do is go scatter our mum's ashes and for various personal reasons we want to do so during September aligned to other significant dates. The place we want to do it means a 5 hour drive for me and at least one day off work so I need to plan ahead; I was just stunned when it seemed working round my nephew's nursery was a complicating factor

I think you've been given the right advice on the legal situation in the sense that as your nephew isn't of compulsory school age then the fines won't apply.


I can see why the school wants to set good habits and encourage all parents to send children to school (nursery or otherwise) during term time.



Obviously you have personal reasons for choosing a September date to take time out, whether a school would consider this 'exceptional circumstances' for school age children is debatable.

wannabeasupersaver

Hi, I actually deal with attendance in my school and you will not be fined for taking children out of school if they are in nursery. Children are not of legal school age until the term after they turn 5, so for example if your child turns 5 in sept, oct, nov or dec then after the xmas hols is when you could be fined. A 3 year old will be completely fine to be gone for a day.