Appt in school time and unauthorised absence ?

[WhatWouldyo]

What would you do if the school insist on appts being made out of school time where possible, want a reason and want you to ask permission and show proof ?

Dd is secondary school, has ASD and only wants to see a certain gp on a morning (as it’s quieter she then needs to come home and calm down a bit and go back in for lunchtime as finds appts stressful. It’s also about period issues so she’s anxious) . School say that as the gp is Open up till 7 pm that appt can be out of school hours ?

It will be marked as unauthorised unless we have got permission prior to the day ? Or do I just say she’s unwell

Does it matter if it is put as unauthorised?

I'd take the unauthorised absence I think. The school sound a bit overly strict unless your dd has persistent low attendance.

I work in a school and kids go for medical appointments all the time. Nobody minds unless they have very low attendance, when maybe there would be a question or two

Given how difficult it can be to arrange an GP's appointment - just tell the school that's the only time you could get with her GP.

Your DD's health comes first

I wouldn't mind what it goes down as tbh as long as I followed what DD wanted.

Just don’t want a fine ! Her attendance wasn’t great last term as she was very stressed and having a lot of time off due to pain and heavy periods. We had this issue then so I’m reluctant to ask for permission for another appt and dd is saying she wants her privacy which I understand. I don’t want to lie but considering just saying she’s not well, her attendance was 90% last term

I would go to Senco .

my Ds had many medical appointments - just state it is a reasonable adjustment .

Is this a one off or regular ?

one off let them post what they need . If it’s office staff telling you this they are following instructions so escalate it

You shouldn't be fined unless absences total 10 sessions (5 days)

We had this issue then so I’m reluctant to ask for permission for another appt and dd is saying she wants her privacy which I understand.

Why are you asking their permission - tell them she has a health appointment and if they have anything to say about it point them towards the Equalities Act. She has a right to privacy around health stuff.

Can you ask the GP to write a letter saying about needing to be the one to see her and the stress anxiety etc is part of her SEN the school should make reasonable adjustments talk to the SENCO as well.

We just forward the text confirming the appt.

Have you explained to them why?

ds school has this policy but it’s also pretty flexible knowing that there will be exceptions. It’s more to stop people taking the piss with avoidable appointments

I'd speak to senco and request reasonable adjustments. I have 2 asd dc who also have medical issues. I've had letters from the council but always had proof of appointment and reasonings and send all this proof to school. Dd particularly can't go back to school afterwards so in the next six weeks will end up with 4 full days off school and there's nothing I or they can do about it and therefore I would take unauthorised absence if needed because in my opinion there is no good reason to send a distressed child into school until they've regulated themselves. I would send proof of every appointment, I also send an update after appointments so they have complete information and can't use lack of information against me.
When dc1 was really ill I said to him your health is more important than education, you can always go back to education (obviously it's harder) but if you don't keep ontop of your health what's the point of an education?