Taking DC out of school for a holiday - how to tell them?

My son will be missing the first 2 days when they go back to school in September.

Im a bit stuck on how to report this as I have never taken him out of school for holidays.
We are going back home due to my grandma having medical issues as wanting to meet my kids before she passes.

I would prefer to be honest and hope that 2 days would not lead to a fine. But I have had people suggesting to just call in sick instead.

Would love to hear other opinions.
Thank you

Who is them? School or your children? What age group?

In our school you download the form send it into school and then you get a letter saying they wont grant permission and then you go and enjoy your holiday.

You need to tell the truth. I’ve seen when people lie it’s become a safeguarding issue as the location of the child is unknown. In one situation the Mum was found out to be in Spain said child wasn’t in Spain with her but staying with aunty but ill. Aunty didn’t know anything about it. In the end it turned out child was with Mum but Mum hadn’t told work she was in Spain either - unfortunately school dropped in her it with work.

Yes at our last school there was a South African mum who had a stand off with the head teacher about how she couldn't dictate if or when she was allowed to take her kids to visit family.
TBF it's not the heads fault, they are following gov guidelines.
FWIW I've never "asked" but I've told them kids won't be at school and why. Done it every year at 3 different schools and only once did we get a letter saying you might get a fine from the LA. We didn't in the end.

I had a chat with the Head - said "so we need to have the talk where I ask for taking them on holiday, you tut and tell me it's not authorised and look disapproving and then we both go ahead with it anyway"

He just laughed and nodded and said chuck it in an email cos they've done away with forms - but our head is ridiculously laid back about it all!

I can’t get my head round being too gutless to just tell school I’d booked a holiday, but not being too gutless to lie through my teeth about a fake - and very obviously so - “stuck” extra week 🤣

I've only taken DS out of school twice, each for one day. At our school, we have to write a letter. I just stated he would be out of school on those days and gave a brief reason. The first was because we were going abroad to celebrate his grandad's birthday and to my surprise they authorised it; I really wasn't expecting that. The second was because our flights were half the price if we came back the day school started rather than the day before. The school simply replied to acknowledge my letter and say it would have to be unauthorised. No recriminations from the school and we weren't fined.

I would always tell the truth as children talk. One of the children in DS's class went on holiday in school time recently and her parents lied and said she was ill. Apparently several of the kids in the class were saying quite loudly "She's not ill, she's gone on holiday!"

And say / do what if child tells everyone hes been away?

Do you need to give a reason? Don’t you just fill in a holiday form?

They have covid.

I wouldn't request the time because they can't authorise it and will just fine you anyway. Just say they're sick.

So odd. We took ds out for a hiday. I popped into office, asked for form, filled it out... took 2 mins. Handed it in and left. Duly received a formal not-authorised email. Away we went.

Doesn't need to be a big deal.

Some of these replies are just 🙄

Work with the school not against it.

I would work with the school as it’s not their fault these forms and systems are in place.

There is the wider debate as to whether these things should be in place at all. We’re now in Canada and when I tell them the system for taking kids out of school in the UK, they look at me as if I’ve completely lost it. They can’t imagine a system where you couldn’t do whatever you pleased with your kids. Obviously if the child is struggling it would be addressed but the thought of not being able to freely take your children out of school unthinkable!

I don’t fill in the forms either. If it’s not going to be authorised, I don’t see the point.

I'm taking my DC out of school later this year albeit only for a day so slightly different. but I'm just planning on emailing them a month or so beforehand telling them that we are going away for a long weekend and to please let me know if I need to complete any forms etc.

@Quartz2208 I’m only taking two days so I don’t think we can be fined no. I know there’s no scope for this to be authorised, that’s why I cba filling in the form! Anyway I’ve said my piece - if others want to fill in pointless forms they can of course. Enjoy your holiday OP!

Please don’t lie. Don’t make your child lie either. You will come unstuck.

Kid in my class spent all day telling me that he was going on holiday that afternoon with his great grandma. He was going to finish school early and go off to stay with in a caravan. He told me the place they were going, who he was going with etc.
Dad then phones up to say that the boy had a dentist appointment and would need picking up early.
I don’t think the dad knows that I’m friends with Grandma and knew bloody well that the boy was off on holiday with her.
It didn’t matter, it was a hour of Friday afternoon. It wasn’t important really. But don’t lie.

Are you in the area for being fined as well? I never see filling in the form as a request for the time off just scope for it to be authorised. You are requesting to see if if it can be authorised.

That’s a completely valid question.
What do you think school staff do?

@SkoolShoes of course I understand that schools need to know where children are - and I’ve told them that DS will not be on school because we’re going on holiday. What I object to is then being told I’ve got to make a “request” - no I don’t, I’m his parent, I don’t need to ask them to take him anywhere - and to try to justify why we’re going on holiday in term time, when we all know there isn’t a good justification and so the exercise is pointless. As someone upthread said - I’m owning the decision!

PRimary or Secondary?

But simply fill out the form and say you are on holiday and dont be surprised if it comes back unauthorised

@Robostripes just fill in the form - it is then on record for when the attendance officer checks it. It saves them so much admin just fill in the dates and the fact that you are on holiday and it goes in the file.

Presuming that they'd already told the school that they were taking the child on holiday. Obviously, you'd tell the school that (hopefully!)

It wasn't meant to be arsey, perhaps I worded it badly, but for Robostripes who didn't have any extenuating circumstances and thought the form was stupid so wasn't going to fill it in, my thought was at least put 'no reason' if there is genuinely no reason other than that's when they've booked the holiday would be better than ignoring the form altogether or not answering.

Again - work with the school. They may try and make it authorised - if they can. If it fits the rules. Education is important. But other things are too. Being arsey with the school really doesn't gain you anything. They have to ask. a) so they can work out if they can authorise it and b) to make sure there are no safeguarding flags. "My child is not coming into school for 2 weeks". Ok Ms Shoes, please can you tell us why?". No.

OK. So is DCshoes on holiday? Having to care for an ill relative with no adult help? Being taken somewhere for FGM? Not at school as parents have left them alone while they fuck off on holiday? Parent in hospital for operation and no-one to take child to school?

Can you really not envisage schools have to know where children are when they are supposed to be at school?

This is so irritating. We (as a school) then have to ask what the reason is! Medical - authorised. Opportunity to go to Dance World cup in Spain - authorised. Going to grandmother's funeral in Britanny - possibly some authorised (but the 2 weeks after probably not). Terminal aunts last minute wedding in Croatia - possible authorised. Authorisation can depend on age and if there could be some "other" reason (compassion etc) which may allow the school to authorise it.

2 weeks in tenerife - probably not. But give fucking details. Honestly!

Authorisation is by government rules. It is not schools being arsey.

But giving "no reason" is arsey beyond belief!

So just write 'no reason'. Takes a second.