Children at Summerhill were allowed to do whatever they wanted to, every day, as long as they did not impinge upon the right of others to do the same. They could play all day and never go to class if they wished. What is funny is, once the authoritarian programming and shame from the public and Catholic schools had worn off, they almost inevitably did go to the classes of their choosing and they excelled at them! Play was also considered more important than "curriculum."
That is gold. We are in the middle of making some radical changes with our children's education to put them in this kind of environment. I'm so excited to see how their creativity will blossom and their love for learning will grow.
Keep me updated! Would love to hear and learn from your experiences.