School asking for evidence of dentist appointment

[AddingUp]

Hello there

I booked the dentist for the whole family. In order to minimise disruption, I booked it after school. However due to timings etc, my child needs to leave at 2.30 instead of the usual 3.15 finish.

Now, I called school to inform them. They asked for evidence of the appointment. I do have a reminder text from the dentist. However, I feel it's a bit of an invasion of our privacy. Surely, I don't have to provide actual evidence. Or am I wrong?

I took DS out last month for the first time. It was a follow up appointment for something they knew about as the hospital has sent the school a copy of the results from the last appointment (with our permission) so the school knew he was having ongoing appointments. All the other appointments had been outside school hours but this one was made on a school day. They still asked for a copy of the appointment letter. I just sent it, took 2 mins.

I'd show them the text but would add a passive aggressive ' so nice to be trusted'

Also, if you have to leave school 45 mins early you haven’t booked the appointment after school…

Just show them proof.

How did they make you out a liar? This is all very extreme. Just show the text. It’s hardly an invasion of privacy

Not so passive.

I think it's a bit odd that they've asked - my dentist doesn't send reminder texts I don't think, so I wouldn't have any proof beyond the appointment written down on my own calendar. It's not like a hospital appointment where you'll have been sent a letter with a time/date.

I wouldn't object if I had the proof though. It just seems a bit pointless, what are they going to do if you say you don't have any.

My dc has frequent apps at the hospital. I'll always send a copy of the letter when informing school with his time off etc.
It's not a big deal.
If you don't want to even try to make a bit of effort to make admin easier for staff, just don't take them out during school hours.

You can easily ask for an appointment card at Reception and provide evidence on the child’s return. It’s their business because people take the piss and they need to know how to authorise the absence.

I’ve taken my children out of school very occasionally in the past and said dentist or whatever when it’s actually been for another reason. Once ‘leisure‘, sometimes for a personal reason that my child didn’t want to share. I’ve never ‘squirmed’ or even slightly stuttered. I would have you weighed up and would wipe the floor with you.

What a sad life you must lead if that gives you pleasure. Try exercise, bungee jumping or good sex instead. 😇 Get out more, live a little.

Total invasion of privacy. You've told them where you're going, presumably the default position is that they trust parents, and so all they need to do is to code the absence as dental or medical.

Unless this is a directive from the LA?

Do they not have appt between 4-5 pm

Weird power trip, they should just trust you unless you're pulling them out once a week.

I don't know about the OP but I don't find it easy to get a dentist appointment, and I imagine ones near the end of the day are even less available.

I was told at one point that any future absences would require a drs note from the gp.
I told them it wasn't going to happen.
Hard enough to get a gp appt anyway - they are under too much pressure to do sick notes for school for a migraine.

They don't need it as your child will already be marked down as present at school. I only provided my dd school with 'evidence' if she was going to miss a registration mark.

Have you tried getting a dentist appointment recently?

The squirming and the ohh errr ummm I think I have lost the confirmation text? Yes it would hahahaha Nice try CF! Book your leisure activities out of school time next time.

What a weirdo. 🤭

I'd just send them the text. Mine do send an email as well, but I've never been asked for evidence. Seems OTT. DDs are at the end of/beginning of orthodontic treatment - braces, teeth out etc and there have been a lot of appointments. The school could have a ream of paper on both of them if they asked for evidence.

The more people that comply with this nonsense the more it will go on. I’m genuinely shocked that anyone thinks this is ok. Glad we don’t live in England anymore.

I have to show evidence if I need to leave work for medical appointments.

This wouldn't bother me.

Why should you,are we in a nanny state where you have to prove everything.In fact I remember years ago one of my former employers ask for proof of a medical appointment I asked the doctor and he basically said they can jog on don