To keep my daughter off of school for a hair appointment

Having read what is involved in caring for your daughters hair I think you are definitely not unreasonable…I would be honest with school though.
I also didn’t know that caring for Afro hair was so involved! ..It must be a huge time and financial cost burden. Six hours! You must really have to like your hairdresser.

I wouldn’t fake illness but say she has an appointment. If they ask what it is then tell them the truth- but just explain it as you have here. I’m sure the staff would be understanding of that even if they technically have to put it down as unauthorised. Even if it does go down as an unauthorised absence nothing will happen for one day.

I was going to say YABU but then I read your post. I would be honest with the school and say that in order for her to be able to go on a residential trip she needs this doing.

I would be honest in this situation and explain how important it is that her hair is looked after properly - its actually better for them too if they don't have to worry about it!

Is there no way of plaiting it up tightly yourself, well enough just for a couple of days? Or is that not possible?

I would absolutely, if it’s only a few hours she might not need the whole day off. Could she go in for some of the day and say you have an appointment?

I agree with others, YANBU to keep her off for the appointment (I'd do the same!) but YABU to lie about it, just tell school she won't be in or that she has an appointment

Don't lie - you are co-ercing your daughter into corroborating. Just tell the school and if they don't like it they can suck it up. It's a race issue. That'll shut them up.

Kids tend to broadcast their homelife, where they've been etc from that age! Unless she is good at keeping quiet, maybe just tell the truth. If the school don't authorise the absence, they'll just mark it as unauthorised, but they might be lenient given the reason that your daughter will have difficulties at the residential if its not done?!

I would let the school know because they aren't allowed to do her hair and the only appointment you can get for her to have it done is a school day, then that's your only option. A 6 hour appointment isn't like one you could have after school. Actually, just thinking about it, is there one that would mean she would only miss half a day, say just the afternoon?

Surely that's only for vomiting and diarrhoea? OP, personally I think it's absolutely fine to keep her off to get her hair braided.

I would do it, I wouldn't lie though. I would offer to pick up the school work she's missing and do it at home though to catch up.

Can you have her hair cut a bit shorter? 6 hours is a hell of a long time for a 7 year old to have to sit having their hair braided.

What do you currently do with it to send her to school? Can you do something simpler involving putting in a couple of hours one evening?

Its quite unusual for schools to do residentials for children this young.

If this isn't something that you usually do, and her attendance is good, and she's only 7 then I'd say it's fine, although I'd either tell the school or go with something non-infectious/exclusion like a sore throat.

As it's a Monday, she could have had her hair done Fri/ Sat, then been sick Sat evening and be clear for school on Tuesday.

It is a welfare issue that if her hair isn't looked after it will cause notable pain and difficulty in restoring it to its usual condition. You also need it styled in a way suitable for any health and safety requirements e.g. helmets if it's an activity trip.

I doubt that school could authorise a hair appointment and honesty could result in stroppy communications about it. It's frustrating that we live in a state where there's little space for nuance in a very regimented system.

I’d call on the Monday, say she was sick on Saturday so you’re keeping her off for 48 hours and she’ll be back the next day.

6 hours! That must be expensive too.

Are you not able to plait it yourself at the weekend?

Won't it be pretty obvious she comes in from a sick day with a brand new hairdo?
Other than that it seems you have no choice. She can't really go on the trip without suitable hair. It's probably really outdoorsy so her hair would get even more matted than usual.

I’d be honest as well but perhaps try and get an afternoon appointment so you can at least do morning registration. I opened this expecting to say you were being unreasonable but I think you’re putting your daughter first and prioritising her care so it feels like a very legitimate reason to me especially if she’s not going to get much help with her hair while away.

I know people mean well but making it out to an ‘inclusive’ necessity, is crazy..

Go to YouTube and look up protective styles. Taking a day off for a hair appointment is ridiculous.

I would be honest. Your reason is acceptable and you have had no notice.

Agree tell the truth! I’m a TA with lots of kids with Afro hair in my class and I always notice when someone has had new braids done (just as I do when kids with non afro hair come in with a new cut or style). Obviously it being a Monday she could’ve had it done over the weekend, but it will be simpler all round to just be honest.

@drawnfrommemory I see, right on it aren't they. We get away very lightly then!

There's no point lying because seeing her hair braided the next day will be a dead giveaway.

If you have tried every avenue open to you to get an appointment outside school hours, then just tell school she has an appointment. If they ask for more information then tell them it's a welfare issue. That you'd asked for a staff member to help her and been refused.

I thought you were going to say the appointment is for a trim or a cut and colour, but in this instance I would say it's fine, especially as you raised your concerns to the school and they said they couldn't help. Her hair texture is difficult to manage so the braids are for haircare during and after the trip, not just to look nice