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Original poster

Is this Authorised or unauthorised?

28 replies

MrsShaff · 09/08/2019 09:44

I took my kids out of school for 8 days because my mom passed away unexpectedly and she lived abroad. I didn't have time to make a written holiday request and head teacher wasn't a available, so I spoke to the receptionist in the morning explained the circumstances and picked up the kids at usual time and we left to airport. We haven't been fined but the holidays are recorded as unauthorised. I do feel this was an exceptional situation and should be authorised, should I speak to HT or just leave it because we weren't fined.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 09/08/2019 09:50

I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m guessing they would need something in writing to authorise it.

StrongerThanIThought76 · 09/08/2019 09:55

Even if you write in we would not authorise an absence of this length unfortunately.

Sorry for your loss OP. Please don't let this add to your grief. Flowers

Original poster
MrsShaff · 09/08/2019 10:03

Thank you

But I didn't have enough time to fill a formal application and request it, which is why it's an exceptional situation. Any other holiday you are in control of the dates but this wasn't.

About the length, I was abroad, funeral planning takes time. I needed some time with my family.
What are authorised holidays then? Can someone give me an example please

OP posts:

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General education
Wolfiefan · 09/08/2019 10:45

At my kid’s school it’s a form that is available at reception. Takes less than a minute to fill out. Worth a chat with the school but don’t worry about it.

KnifeAngel · 09/08/2019 10:47

There was recently a story in the newspaper about a child dying of cancer. The school wouldn't even authorise holiday for the child and sibling.

wowfudge · 09/08/2019 10:48

They may be able to authorise retrospectively if you write and explain. If you spoke to the receptionist I would have expected that person to say you could quickly sign their form.

Sirzy · 09/08/2019 10:49

Does it matter? I would class if in the pick your battles camp. It’s not as if in 20 years time there is going to be an issue because they had 8 days unauthorised when at school

Original poster
MrsShaff · 09/08/2019 10:55

I did a sign a quick form at the reception about dates and kids information. For the reason I remember writing as family emergency because I couldn't bring myself at the time to write it down.

It matters because in future It will be difficult for me to request any holidays from school, because this will come up as unauthorised.

OP posts:
RowingMermaid · 09/08/2019 11:03

I am terribly sorry for your loss.

The standard response from most schools is that all holidays are unauthorised so any future requests won't matter anyway. It is very rare that a school authorises a holiday, most of them won't authorise for even the most severe circumstances. It sets a precedent. Our primary school say take the holiday anyway, but understand you will be fined.

The school notify the council and they decide whether to issue a fine or not.

newstart1337 · 09/08/2019 11:03

It will be difficult for me to request any holidays from school
But you can't request holidays from school, so I dont see how this unauthorised absence makes any difference to anything. Don't sweat such small stuff.

derryrose · 09/08/2019 11:13

Authorised absences are things like competing in dance or sports at a competitive level or taking music or dance official exams. They will be authorised and not count against 100% attendance. Any holidays etc even if allowed by the school will still go down as unauthorised.

Original poster
MrsShaff · 09/08/2019 11:18

I don't feel it's small. My kids report and online status says that they've taken 8 days of unauthorised holidays. There may be another family who did the same thing for a holiday or wedding etc and we both have the same thing on the paper to describe their absence but totally different circumstances. I think it's not fair. School should differentiate this in some way. They can as they have the option of making it as authorised.
I know it's not a big issue for some but I haven't taken my kids out before like this. I always pay the premium fairs to do things during holidays because I respect the school rules. So this matters to me.

OP posts:
KnifeAngel · 09/08/2019 11:22

Yet you are worried about booking future holidays? You cannot take them out if school for a holiday.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 09/08/2019 11:25

If you respect the school rules and pay the higher prices, why are you needing to request holiday absence in the future?

missperegrinespeculiar · 09/08/2019 11:27

OP, I agree with you, it's the principle, the idea that going to your grandmother's funeral is "unauthorised" like you have something inappropriate is awful

sorry for your loss

newstart1337 · 09/08/2019 11:39

"Grieving children will not be given permission for extra days off during term time even after a death in the family, the Schools Minister has said.

Nick Gibb warned that while pupils can have a day off to attend a funeral at the discretion of the headteacher, they are not allowed to take "extended holiday on the back of that funeral".

He warned that taking just one week off during term time can impact a child's GCSE grades and said that fewer children are absent from school following tough new rules on days off."

It might seem unfair but that's the rules, its the same for everyone.

DeadZed · 09/08/2019 11:49

They are the rules but how schools use them is down to their discretion.

My dc's father died last year - DD has had various days off, late starts and random time off. She came home at the end of term with a 100% attendance badge and certificate. It happened because school differentiated between holiday (which we have had none) and absence.

Similar the previous year when her grand father died, she missed school on the day of the funeral but the absence was authorised but not as a holiday.

Tbh OP, I would not worry about it. Saying that, you could make an appointment with school and go and discuss it with them. They will be able to explain better than anyone on here about their decision.

yellowsun · 09/08/2019 12:09

You didn’t follow the procedure of requesting the time off BEFORE you went, therefore it has to be unauthorised - at least in my authority. We wouldn’t fine though and a school would have to be very harsh to do this I would say.

When did it happen?

I am sorry for your loss.

Scarletoharaseyebrows · 09/08/2019 17:38

Schools in our area can't authorise additional days off aside from medical so it is unauthorised. I know it's bothering you but it really isn't worth stressing about. If it's not a regular occurrence, it won't matter and I'd be surprised if the LA will fine given the circumstances. Even pre booked hols go as unauthorised absences. I'm sorry for your loss. Please don't give this any more thought.

MyDcAreMarvel · 09/08/2019 17:42

He warned that taking just one week off during term time can impact a child's GCSE grades
What a load of nonsense, unless it’s year 10/11 and even then only very specific times for a handful of children.

ittakes2 · 09/08/2019 18:29

I'm sorry for your loss. But I don't think it would make a difference if you had of asked in writing or not. Schools tend not to give time off for these sorts of things. BUT if you want to it does not hurt to ask.
My family live overseas in a different hemisphere to us - we have lots of unauthorised dotted all over my children's attendance. Its annoying when you think you have a valid reason that schools won't approve of things. I once wanted one day off because I was going to be made a Godmother on a Sunday at a mass and with a journey time of 24hrs I could not physically get my children back to their CofE school for the Monday. I thought being a CoE school they might agree to a Christianing...but no. They actually had the audicity to ask me why I did not lie and just say my kids were sick for the day...umm because as a Godparent I have to agree to bring up my God child in a Christian manner maybe?

Justgivemesomepeace · 09/08/2019 18:33

Its ridiculous. No one is treated like this in the real world. Just schools.

Littlemeadow123 · 09/08/2019 18:42

Really sorry for your loss.

As you havent been fined, I'd just leave it on this occasion. Speak to the HT just to explain the situation if it makes you feel better but dont push the matter. It's probably just semantics. The eight days absence wasn't arranged via the normal channels (unavoidably) so they class it as unauthorised.

With schools, you really need to pick your battles. If they do try to fine you, by all means complain, take it further if need be because that would be completely unacceptable behaviour on their part.

ittakes2 · 09/08/2019 18:49

Mrs Shaff if it is bothering you just speak to the Head about it - there is no harm in doing this at least it might make you feel better. But you are also comparing yourself to others you are assuming have unauthorised days due to holidays - its not always the case so you do not need to think others are lumping you in with them. I am also like you and pay the premium to fly during school holidays - sometimes as its long haul home it costs an extra £1-£2kper each trip to do so. And like you I used to then get upset about unauthorised appearing on my children's record when I had a family matter - but I have become resilant to it now to the point that sometimes unauthorised appears on my children's records for days they were late or sick. I now assume there has been an admin error but I don't move to fix it as I don't see the point as over the last eight years nothing has ever been said or done about authorised absences dotting my children's attendance records. I also know of other people who have been upset about funeral attendance appearing as unauthorised - I don't think its right but it was a common occurrence unfortunately. Do what you need to with the school but your mum's sudden death must be awful for you to deal with especially since you live abroad - I would recommend you don't waste any energy on this but if you want to you should just speak to the school.

Wilmalovescake · 09/08/2019 19:15

It’s completely ridiculous. YANBU.

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