Is this Authorised or unauthorised?

[MrsShaff]

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.

I am responsible for attendance in a school, hopefully this helps.
Schools are not allowed to authorise holidays. It will be recorded as a G code on your child's attendance record (which you can request a copy of). Years ago, schools used to able to authorise, and this was recorded as a H. Now though, when Ofsted come to visit and ask to see the schools attendance breakdown, if they see a H code, the school will get into a lot of trouble. So schools have to unauthorise all holidays, regardless of reason. If it was my school, we would have recorded a C code, which means authorised in exceptional circumstances, such as a funeral. I would not authorise 8 days as a C however, as Ofsted would still ask the question why is the school authorising that many days off. It sounds like the school has followed the rules, by not authorising but also not fining you. I had this exact situation this year; a child's mum died, and she was taken on holiday to deal with the grief. We could not authorise the holiday, but we did not fine, as that would have been very harsh.
If you like, you can speak to the Head, but bear in mind that in September, your child's attendance will go back to 100%, so in their whole school career, it's a small blip.
Hope this helps.

Schools cannot authorise time like this .

They have done the most they can do.

Its exactly as @Daniellemoz says.

Thank you.

I will be speaking to HT, but won't ask them to make it authorised, instead I will request them to add an explanation like funeral/ explained holidays etc. But as PP said I won't push the matter.

About future holidays, I'm not planning to request any. But things happen, life happens. I never thought I will take kids out for this long.

Thank you all for your kindness.