Really angry with the school

[Biba]

We went on holiday last week, we filled in the appropriate forms for the school for taking J out of school during term time. We heard nothing back so assumed all was OK. Then on the 2nd day of our holiday (1st day was a bank holiday) I get a text to say he was absent and to call them. I explained we were away and had filled in the form OK said the receptionist and said she would make sure the register was updated.

Last night at my HoP class J's teacher was there (its held in the school hall) and said she was sorry about the mix up the form hadn't made it from the office to the class room, no worries I said.

Ffwd to today and I get a phone call from the deputy head saying that one of the reasons for the mix up with the form is that they try and speak to the parents before the holiday is approved and he was sorry he hadn't managed to speak to me before we went away. He then went on to say that they would have to mark J down as an unauthorised absence but in fact that wouldn't have any effect on him. He then went on to explain that they only granted holiday in exceptional circumstances to do with respite care of the armed forces. He said this was because of their overall attendance levels. I said that I wasn't happy about that really as why should J have that on his records because there are some other parents which are shall we say a little more relaxed about their children's attendance and I also pointed out that Jack had only been absent through illness in his time at school. At this point we were cut off (bad signal on a mobile) but I am going to go in and speak to him to try and get this sorted out because I think its really unfair that this is being said to us after our holiday and not before so we can make a decision about taking him or not. And if what he said was true that it has no effect on J then why have it on his records as and unauthorised attendance? And if it is so at their next inspection it doesn't look bad on their attendance figures then why penalise people like us because they can't make all those other more 'relaxed' parents send their kids to school???

[RealGoneKid]

I can understand why you are annoyed about only being told this now They really should have told you before you went away.

However, I would expect a holiday in term time to be unauthorised absence Maybe that's just because of the policy at E's school where it has to be a close family wedding or a funeral for any absence to be authorised. Any other absence is unauthorised and all other requests are refused. I think they would probably authorise a holiday where one parent was serving in the forces by AFAIK none of the parents are so that's never been tested.

The "relaxed" parents are the ones that don't give a monkeys about whether it is authorised or not IME

[Funky Mum]

I always thought you had to get a definite 'yes, it's ok' before you go away. When mine have been off in term time (father lives overseas and because of holidays, taking the last day or two of term before Christmas gave the children an extra 5 days with their dad), I've gone in and spoken to the head teachers before completing the forms, to explain the situation and make sure they're ok with them having time off before I book flights.

I get a copy of the form, signed by each of the head teachers (one infants and one next door in juniors), for my records, so I guess if you didn't get anything in writing, they're right to put it in as unauthorised, because by rights if it didn't leave the office, the head teacher could have refused the time off, if that makes sense.

If the head teacher had said no, would you still have gone? (In which case it would have been unauthorised anyway). Annoying, but next time I'd definitely get written confirmation that it's ok before booking anything or going anywhere.

[simplypimply]

I can't understand what the school have done wrong. It's pretty standard now for holidays to only be granted in exceptional circumstances. I'd say booking a holiday in term time assuming it would be authorised is rather 'relaxed' Schools are judged by ofsted onstage dance, it's a big deal for them

[Mrs B]

Have to say that I would leave it. Like RGK said, any absence for holidays in our school is now unauthorised. It won't affect J at all, it's all down to Ofsted figures. Please don't get hung up about it honey.

[McMummy]

They definitely should have told you before, but agree with RGK.
IME (friends & family) it has always been recorded as unauthorised even though the headteacher doesn't have a problem with it.

We have taken my nephew home to Ireland twice for St Patrick's Day to enable him to take part in the parade & march with the Accordion band my Granda founded. The Headmistress agrees it's important for him to be involved in things to do with his cultural heritage and we've always turned it into a project for Charlie to show at school after with photos and Irish translations etc. But still has to go down as unauthorised. x

[cheeky_biscuit]

I would be cross that the policy wasn't clear & I'd make sure they knew that parents didn't know their policy and expect them to publicise it.
our school makes it very clear of what's expected (our form has to be in 8wks before the date unless exceptional but then he'll say no anyway)N- I think we had to sign something to say we understood (but we get fines too )

[Bert2e]

Yes the school should have spoken to you before you went but here it would have been marked down as unauthorised too. It is local authority policy not just school that all absence in term time is unauthorised. If you decide to just take your child without filling in the form and your child is away from school for 5 days or more they will be reported to the police as a missing person as part of the safeguarding policy.

[Velvet Chain]

I am another one who thought that all absences other than illness are unauthorised. Our school has the policy that there are to be no holidays etc to be made during school terms - fair enough.

[Superkat]

I think our school has the same policy. Any absence other than illness/funeral/close family wedding are marked down as unauthorised