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Original poster

wwyd in this situation ?

29 replies

candycaned · 21/11/2019 08:13

If you win tickets for something but it was on a school day 😳 and then school are strict about attendance ?
For context attendance is 100% but they won’t authorise absence for anything like days out holidays and I know fines are possible aren’t they ?

Or would you appeal to their good nature and hope they say it’s ok ?

OP posts:
MegaClutterSlut · 21/11/2019 08:19

If it was something special I would ring in sick. I may be a minority though...

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 21/11/2019 08:21

If you know that school are strict about attendance and you entered a competition for something taking place on a school day, you must know that the absence won’t be authorised. I don’t think you’d get a fine for one day’s absence, particularly if attendance is otherwise good.

You can’t really appeal to their good nature. The rules are just that. I wouldn’t think that one day will cause a rumpus though.

Original poster
candycaned · 21/11/2019 08:21

Those are the 2 options I think ring in sick or ask but once we’ve asked if they say no..... then we’d get a fine if then went I assume
Will have to think 🤔

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DisplayPurposesOnly · 21/11/2019 08:22

What are the tickets for? Unless it was something unmissable I'd pass them onto someone else.

If it really is unmissable, I'd pay the fine, as the tickets were free.

PurpleDaisies · 21/11/2019 08:22

What is it for? Could it be spun as educational?

What I’d say is kids are crap liars so don’t make them say they were ill when they’ve been out somewhere.

Original poster
candycaned · 21/11/2019 08:23

With attendance 100% (and hoping it stays that way for the next 2 weeks) maybe it would be ok
I can understand why schools are strict but it seems to be very strict at our school

OP posts:
Lllot5 · 21/11/2019 08:24

Go. Tell them you’re going. They can like it or lump it. 🤷‍♀️

BlueLadybird · 21/11/2019 08:24

You don’t get a fine for one day, do you? Or is it a private school?

If you think they would get more from the day out than a day in school just take them out. Say they are ill or you have an appointment.

Original poster
candycaned · 21/11/2019 08:25

Yes agree kids are crap liars and it would feel wrong to say ‘we’re going somewhere nice but you can’t talk about it after ‘

OP posts:
Original poster
candycaned · 21/11/2019 08:26

Not private school
I thought they could fine for a day-I couldn’t see anything saying otherwise on LA website

OP posts:
Original poster
candycaned · 21/11/2019 08:27

For appts you have to provide the letter before the day or you can’t take a child out

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PhannyMcNee · 21/11/2019 08:27

I’d tell the truth and accept that it gets marked as an unauthorised absence.

stucknoue · 21/11/2019 08:28

Depends what it is, if it's a once in a lifetime/exceptional I would simply tell the school it's happening and pay the fine if they charge you. If it's just ordinary i wouldn't take the kids

BlueGingerale · 21/11/2019 08:29

They won’t fine for one day.

Don’t ring in sick it’s not fair on the kids.

Unauthorised absence is not a big deal. Legally HT is not allowed to approve the absence.

Go to the event. Enjoy. And don’t worry about 1 day unauthorised absence.

They can’t fine.

BlueLadybird · 21/11/2019 08:37

I am generally against term time holidays but if it’s a family day out you think they would enjoy, just do it. They won’t fine you. The school might be slightly put out but so what, they are your kids.

Teensruletheroost · 21/11/2019 08:41

Check the policy on the school website if you can’t find it on the LA one. Ours only fine after three days and only on the second occasion.

I am normally very anti term time holidays but sometimes for a day there is an experience you really don’t want them to miss out on.

It really depends if it’s a free cinema trip or it’s actually something out of the ordinary in my opinion.

Dogwalks2 · 21/11/2019 08:50

My in-laws live abroad and I take the kids out of primary school for 1 day twice a year.

The head teacher supports us and I fill in a form saying museum visit or suchlike.
A one off event, go for it.

GroggyLegs · 21/11/2019 09:04

For one day it would cost more in the admin faff than it would in fines, I'd be amazed if anything came of it.

If it's a special event, personally I would tell the truth & take them. Experiencing new things is important, theres more than one kind of education.

Dilkhush · 21/11/2019 09:11

Our school only fined for unauthorised attendance after two days - they had to notify the council for further action to be taken. I took my kids out twice, once for tickets to Lords and once for a visit with their cousins visiting from the USA. It was unauthorised but the school were fine about it and we heard no more about it. I didn't ask the kids to lie, though.

Seeline · 21/11/2019 09:18

How old are the DCs?

And what sort of activity?

BigBairyHollocks · 21/11/2019 09:26

I would take them out, life is too short to worry about missing one day of school. Madness that people can’t make decisions for their children without being penalised. I certainly don’t advocate kids not attending school willy nilly but with outhwrwise good attendance just do it.

GiveHerHellFromUs · 21/11/2019 09:30

It depends what it is but you may as well ask if you're going to take them out anyway because they'll almost definitely forget if you tell the school they're sick so they'll drop you in it anyway Grin

Floralnomad · 21/11/2019 09:33

I’d just be honest and send a note in a few days before , I doubt anything would happen for one day .

InMySpareTime · 21/11/2019 09:38

What time is the event? If you take the DCs in for morning registration then take them out of school after 9.30 they aren't counted as absent for the morning. If you can spring them after the afternoon registration (usually about 1pm) they keep full attendance marks for the day.

Grannybags · 21/11/2019 09:38

School can’t officially approve but will hopefully at least be able to understand. Talk to them and explain why you are taking them out of school. For example, my friend’s daughter is a talented dancer and had the chance to go to the Royal Ballet. Her teacher asked her about it and made her feel that it was a valuable experience. Much better than lying about illness.