Do you think this will count as exceptional circumstances?

[FFSDH]

Probably being slightly optimistic but really hoping dc will be signed off school for a week in mid October (week before half term). It’s the first time dh has had a fortnight off for 18 years. He works in USA for a US company so holiday allowance is pitiful. We currently only see him for 3 days a fortnight. We’re going to stay with him in USA and have a proper holiday with him.

I feel cheeky asking if it could be considered exceptional circumstances as generally only forces kids seem to be allowed for stuff like that. I’m only asking as dc1 has had 100% attendance awards every year and really wants to get another one this year . Not the best reason really!

I don’t think that will count I’m afraid.

So every fortnight he flies from the US back to UK to see the children?

I would ask the school and mention that forces children are allowed the time off and your children rarely get to see their father. But in actual fact days a fortnight is more than some separated parents see their children who live round the corner.

In our school it isn't just yes OK, or no and fine. There are cases where the headteacher can't authorise the absence, but chooses not to refer it for a fine this time.

Write and ask. His year group may affect the answer, but if they do say its not authorised, you may not get a fine.

Oh and even if it is granted, he wouldn’t get a 100% attendance award as he wouldn’t have 100% attendance!

Well I think it may. Children of parents in the armed forces are allowed time off for exceptional circumstances, it sounds like your DH doesn’t see a lot of your DC’s due to work. So I would think you would be ok. If you’re not ok, take your DC out anyway. I have taken my ds out every year, and we never get fined because he has good attendance.

Oh, wouldn’t he? I didn’t know that 🤦‍♀️. I thought if it was without wouldn’t count. Ah well, he’ll get over it I’m sure.

Yes, currently we fly out there once a month and he flies back here once a month. It’s only like that 6 months of the year, the rest of the time he works in Europe and we see him every weekend.

No, it won’t be.

You don’t really expect an attendance award when taking a term time holiday do you?

Sorry, didn’t say - dc1 is in yr3 so not too important and dc2 is at preschool.

icecream I don’t, dc does though!

It is not exceptional as you could have taken a two week holiday in the summer.

It wouldn't be exceptional or authorised either in our school or LA. To get 100% attendance you have to be in school every day, I'm not a huge fan of the 100% attendance awards but you definitely wouldn't get it if you take 2 weeks out of school.

Kids with a parent in the forces don't see their parents for long stretches, your dc see their dad every week or fortnight so it's not compatible. I doubt you'd get an authorisation for the time off but with the school aged one being so young it might not be a fine (id just lay the fine to be honest, it's so little).

It wouldn’t be considered exceptional in our LA, unfortunately. Also, I doubt there would be a 100% award if they are having time off as that’s not 100% attendance.

My dc were given authorisation for a holiday last year but their attendance did not show as 100% due to it. At their school your situation wouldn’t definitely be a no. I would ask and then take it anyway if it’s unauthorised and enjoy the time as a family.

Forces children only get permission (in line with military covenant) when it is for a parent's formal End Of Tour leave after an operational deployment.

Though heads will often grant it when military life has buggered up holiday planning for other reasons. Which is jolly nice of them.

Your head might be nice - especially if s/he knows your circumstances (which is why I think it's right that heads have the final say on this)

If they don't authorise, you could still take them anyhow but you might be fined (depending on your LEA's policy)

I’m definitely going to tell the school that we’re going. I’m currently trying to balance the fine line of getting dc excited enough about it that he doesn’t mind not getting 100% attendance but not getting him too excited so that when dh inevitably has to go to work instead he’s not too heartbroken.

It wouldn't be exceptional circumstances for our school either.
If you do it because it's right for your family life (and importantly you'd not be expecting staff to do lots of catch up), then I'd just do it as long as your child isn't in a crucial year.

Go on holiday OP.

In my school it would not be authorised under these circumstances. No negotiation. And I'm not sure how you expect your child to still be eligible for 100% attendance award - they won't be in school!

Your kids see their dad every fortnight currently, and you are together every weekend for half the year. My kids have seen their dad twice in 14 months and I wouldn't dream of asking school for authorised holiday to see him in term time (nor would I agree to his request tbh)

I’m a different opinion.

I am a CoG in a school where up to 5 days per year (which would not mean an overall attendance below the national requirement of 96%) would be authorised by our school PROVIDED attendance otherwise was 100% and attainment was at the required standard. So in other words if your child has a good record of not taking time off ill, you don’t intend to do this regularly, you can prove the circumstance, you’re child is following the guidance of reading at home etc, etc then we would ‘approve’.

We’re actually quite flexible - holidays for weddings, small holiday overlaps of a day or two, once in a lifetime experiences and so forth are accepted readily.

Overall as a result our school has attendance of 97% (way above the national average).

In our LA headteachers are not allowed to authorise holiday. Attendance level is irrelevant. Also, as it is so early in the academic year a week of absence impacts on the attendance percentage heavily.

It’s all booked and paid for so they’re definitely coming. Dc is only 7 and doesn’t find school too challenging at the moment. It’s going to be a real holiday of a lifetime and I genuinely think he will learn lots of things when we’re there (we’re going to Central America for a week and we’re watching Spanish Muzzy, learning about jungle animals etc.). Im sure as soon as we land he’ll forget all about the bloody 100% attendance award.

I didn’t realise it wasn’t up to the teacher to decide in some areas. No idea if that’s the case with our school or not.

Well he might be ill later on in the year so wouldnt get 100% attendance then? We dont at my DS school, who cares about a piece of paper that says that anyway

I have tried telling him this tired, he doesn’t believe me. Honestly, he’s so ridiculously proud of his ability to (so far) only get ill during weekends and school holidays

Every school and every head teacher is different. So you might as well ask!