Head refusing to authorise absence...

[twistyfeet]

for a severely sick life limited child to go to a hospice. FFS. Its respite and a break for us ffrom constant care. 10 days a year must be taken in term time or we lose them. Only 4 may be weekend or holidays due to the massive demand.
So we took 3 during term time after yet another serious op and the Head has put down 3 days unauthorised absence and sent a shitty letter home.
What do we do?
I am angry and tearful and stressed as hell.
Can they fine us? Or will the LEA hve aheart?

[HedgeHogGroup]

I speak as a Headteacher. Go! Call her bluff. You might get a call from the EWO but imagine the bad press if they prosecute you! There is no shame in an unauthorised absence... only in being a dick-head teacher.
Hope you get the respite you deserve xx

[BrianTheMole]

I would take it anyway. Get the social worker involved to support you and put in a complaint about the head teacher.

[mrz]

It's either a mistake or a total jobs worth head ...

[twistyfeet]

Thanks Hedgehog. I am completely petrified of being fined. She's put down 3 unauthorised absences as we went to the hospice for 3 nights after being totally axhausted after a long hospital stay. I had called the school and she wouldnt authorise them so we went anyway. It was that or literally have a breakdown.

[quip]

I would put in complaint to governors and go to local paper. That's heartless of the headteacher - who obviously only cares about her attendance statistics rather than the children in the school's care.

[wakeupandsmellthecoffee]

What a horrible nasty woman I'm so sorry you have to deal with such an awfull person .She should be ashamed of herself . DO what you need to do.

[Periwinkle007]

that is ridiculous. The whole point of the fines is to stop people taking unnecessary time off like going off on holidays. NOT for respite or health reasons. Seriously I am shocked. So long as you have sent in a letter explaining what the absence is for and why it is so necessary then you are covered. If you receive any follow up from the LEA or whoever it is who chases it up then you send them the same documentation. I can't believe they would take it any further. You need the respite care.

[Hassled]

I'm sure it's a mistake. Or at least I hope so.

Your appeal route would be the Chair of Governors - may well be worth a letter.

[littleducks]

Sod the fine, its only money and I'm sure someone with a heart would pay it or wipe it off the system if they were crazy enough to uphold it.

Don't let it put you off going again.

[Bunbaker]

I agree with quip - governors, local paper, plus I would write to your MP. This is ridiculous.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

I can't see you ever being fined. That WOULD be a press story.

Ignore the unauthorised thing. Think of it as a ridiculous blanket policy. The HT IMO has no right to authorise or not authorise an absence for the reasons you have given so dismiss it as ridiculous.

[MakeGlutenFreeHay]

Yes yes - governors and local paper. Shocking - surely it's classed as absence on health grounds rather than unauthorised?

[500internalerror]

But that's medical absence, surely?
I assume the head knows the exact situation?
And I assume I'm reading this right, that its the absence of your ill child in question, not absence of siblings whilst the other is in respite? Fwiw, this would also be justifiable family time, but I can see kind of how the head might be thinking?

[Icantstopeatinglol]

That is absolutely ridiculous!! You need this so just do it. I would go above her head definately. She needs to realise that situations like these are exceptional circumstances that they CAN authorise!! It's not for a cheap holiday?! I'm shocked!
Hope you get sorted, she needs a foot up her rigid arse!!

[admission]

Just totally pathetic. Do what you believe is right for your child, some head teachers seem to loose sight of the reason they are there in the job - it is called the pupils in the school.

[twistyfeet]

thanks all. It was done over the phone. When dd came out of hospital (she is in lots) I called and said we needed to take her to the hospice and could we have authorised absence and the miserable old bag said no as dd's attendance was only 82% (like d'uh, she's in hospital a lot.). So we went anyway. I was exhausted, stressed out because we'd thought we'd lose dd this time and just thought 'fuck you' so took 3 of our allocated nights because we bloody needed them right then and there.
Not a word was spoken when we got back. The head of the resource base was fine with it, as was the class teacher but the school Head had a face like a sucked lemon although she said nothing (the last Head told me to take as many holidays as possible even though we cant and to be honest, school is a break and dd loves school so we miss as little as possible). So nothing until the school report which I openend today and found the 3 days unauthorised and shitty letter.
We've always got on great with the school until this new Head. She even put in about the 7 late days which were down to the school transport either showing up late or failing to turn up to fetch dd!!!
I'm trying to think of an elaborate curse 'May her nipples head south and join her toes'

[TheWoollybacksWife]

I would write a letter to the governing body asking them to review the Head's decision. Send in copies of any medical reports that may be relevant. While you're at it complain about the additional distress that the Head's inflexibility has put you and your family through.

[twistyfeet]

No, no siblings 500.

[TwllBach]

I can't see any head in the land having so little compassion for those in their care... I'm disgusted, and I work in a school with a pretty hardcore senior management time.

Fingers crossed its am admin mistake OP.

[OhDearNigel]

No court in this world would prosecute you. I think you would have a good case for harassment actually.

[BabiesAreLikeBuses]

Truly appalling. Even if not given on medical grounds schools can give compassionate leave. How thoughtless

[cornypony]

How awful for you to get such a nasty letter in dd's report

I'm wondering whether the HT is in breach of the equality act

[GlaikitFizzog]

Your dd went to a hospice after a stay in hospital, where you nearly lost her and the head has classed it as unauthorised absence? that has to be one to the cruelest most appalling thing I have read on here in a long time.

What in gods name is the head playing at. I couldn't let it lie twistyfeet, can you talk to dds teacher (who sounds lovely) and ask her to meet with you and the head? M trying to give the head the benefit of the doubt that she doesn't understand the nature of your dds condition. Can the hospice help you by writing to the head?

I'm so sorry you have been treated like this. Bloody gove and his target based education system