Hi everyone. My fiance and i are planning to get married in Malta (where he...

I’m in Birmingham, well Solihull but close enough! It really depends on the school. No school is now allowed to authorise holiday but it’s down to the head whether they go ahead and want to fine. My sons first primary school refused the holiday but didn’t fine, his second school however are actively fining everyone that takes holiday, myself and my sons father who aren’t together were both fined when I took him abroad for my moms 60th.

Close family weddings are considered exceptional circumstances by some schools. Head teachers can grant absence in exceptional circumstances.
Legally a child does not have to attend school until the term after they turn 5 so depending on when your nieces birthday is she may not even have to be there.
Your wedding may also fall during school half term?
If she does have to be in school and the head refuses to authorise the absence as exceptional then it will go down as unauthorised.
Her parents may get fined, £70, maybe offer to pay it if you are able? Nothing else you can do really x

Just don’t tell them.say she’s ill.if it’s only a day or so don’t worry

Don’t just say she’s ill. She’ll likely be out of school for a week or so and once the photos of the wedding go online, it’s easy for the school to fine. Honesty is the best policy. Just speak to them and be prepared for a fine of some sort..

Haha we did think about saying she is ill but she is such an honest little girl we wouldn't get away with it 😂

I would say discuss it with her parents, if they are happy for her to be off then they should put in a request ASAP! My sister got married on a Friday and because of where it was our 5 year old had to have a few days off. The head teacher declined it (although I put in there family wedding and he was page boy etc) anyway we kept him off anyway, I was told by the school we could dispute it with the council! About a month later we got a letter saying on that occasion they wouldn't be issuing a fine due to exceptional circumstances! However if we had got a fine I'd have just paid it there was no way we were missing her day xx

Well I know a couple who had to pay a £60 fine to take their daughter out for a week, think its at the schools discretion at that age, might let you 9ff as it's a wedding.

My nephew is 5 and has permission from the school to get time off for my wedding in Spain during term time. Something along the lines of special circumstances. Xx

Just pay the £60 fine. Most schools are ok with it anyway but just forced to fine you cx

I think if her parents don’t mind her missing the time of then if it was me I would offer to pay the fine if they get one. To me it would be worth it to have her there x

Get her parents to write a letter to the head and explain the reasons behind her having the time off. I'm sure they'll be fine with it if your honest :) x

Wouldn't worry about the school. Take her off... Then pay the pathetic fine given out.

Schools tend to be a lot more understanding about time off school for a family wedding when the child is that young. I had to take my daughter out of school when she was 5 for 2 weeks for a wedding in Dominican Republic and didn't get a fine. But if your nieces school are awkward and issue a fine, maybe offer to pay for it instead of her parents? It's only £60. Nothing compared to the memories she'd get from going to your wedding

My little sister is 5 she was allowed to come to Gretna for my wedding (missed school Friday and Monday) because it's a holy sacrament. If the parents ask they'll be allowed. As for the somewhere else to get married. I went to Gretna I'm from Manchester and it was the best thing I could have ever done. Me and my husband chose it because it was right for us. It's your and your husband to be day and it's about you. You chose what's best for you and screw everyone else.

Not from Birmingham but my relatives are Maltese too and live there. I’m getting married 14th September 2019 and my sister let the school know already about it. Only having a week off and with such advance notice they seem fine with it.

Is she in reception class or year 1? In my local council area, whilst holidays aren't always authorised, if in reception class, provided they've attended school regularly, the schools don't tend to pass on the fines as it's the child's first year of school

You should be fine as it will be exceptional circumstances but we put holiday feom in got turned down and they said as it wasnt over 7days we will just get a warning letter

My son was 5 when we travelled to Spain for my sisters wedding, school was lovely about it, understood it was a special family occasion where the date and place are out of your control, I would hope they are fine about it, as he’s young and not studying for exams etc!

The fine is usually only issued if the child is off a lot but if they have good attendance and then have to me for for this is say it would be fine but seriously what's she likely to miss at age 5?

Granted I live in Scotland but my son was 5 when we took him out of school for three weeks. We were going to a family wedding in Australia and the trip was planned before he even started school. I included the letter about our trip and his time off with his school application. We were told the time off was noted but not authorised. Nothing happened at all. The teacher made sure he had 3 weeks worth of homework in his bag on his last day and that was that.

I would budget for the fine. It’s £120 if parents together or £60 if single parent. If it doesn’t come through then it’s a bonus.