Hi all. We have a fantastic opportunity as a family to live abroad in June and July this summer. This means my children will miss school for the second half of the summer term. The school has been advised by the LEA that we will have to take our children off the role, and then reapply to get them back in on our return, by which time their places may have been given to someone else, in which case we would have to go through an appeals proceedure at the beginning of September. This sounds a bit bizarre, just for missing I think 7 weeks of school.

Does anyone else have experience of doing this sort of thing? We have scoured both LEA and government websites and can't find anything relevant at all.

hi Alison,

I think if you can keep the school on your side they will agree that the children (how old are they?) may be educated off site for this time and they will stay on the role. That way they still get money for having your kids there so it is in there interests to do this rather than hope that some other kids will come along!

It sounds stressful to contemplate doing it the other way...

The other thing might be to describe it as 'flexischooling' which the school may or may not have knowledge of. Anyway, hope this gives you some new words to google for! It sounds a wonderful opportunity, I'd jump at it!

The trouble is the school consulted the LEA and the LEA said we had to take them off the role. The other trouble is I don't trust the LEA to give the best advice.

It might be worth trying to get some iinformation from a higher level than the LEA - I don't know what that would be in England but it looks to me as if you need some sound legal advice. After all, a very sick child missing school for 7 weeks isn't taken off roll and you are, after all not moving abroad permanently.

When I taught in the UK we were obliged to keep children on roll until notified by another school that they had been put on roll. This was one way of seeing that children didn't just disappear into the wilderness.

Best of luck.

Get good legal advice as soon as possible, it shouldn't cost a fortune. Different areas and schools have different admissions and pupil retention policies and it may be that you need guidance to help you present your situation in such a way that it fits the rules in your particular circumstances.

Good luck with the trip. Education is simply preparation for life - not just for passing exams - and it sounds like you all have a fantastic opportunity. Don't let other, less fortunate and enlightened , people stand in your way.

Try citizens advice bureau for a start. They may be able to direct you to good legal advice.