Emailing school to say child is going on holiday, do I tell them or ask them?!

[Diddumms]

I mean I know I can't really 'ask' them because it's booked but I'm struggling with the wording

I've currently got a waffley email saying

Good morning. Due to the nature of our work (we run a holiday park) school holidays aren't available to us to go abroad, so we have booked to go away next week meaning Sons name won't be in until this date. We apologise for any disruption this may cause and will ensure we do reading and some cultural experiences whilst we are away. Please let me know if you need to discuss this further"

Husband thinks I'm mad and just need to factually say "Sons name won't be in school next week as we are on holiday, he will be back on this date"

He's only in reception so not actually compulsory school age, if that changes things

Sod that..... I'd send an email saying he has a stomach upset.... 48 rule, he sick on the Monday to Wednesday, then has to have 48 sickness free before he can go back

This is making me smile as my mum used to write letters to my teachers just like that! I honestly think she was just trying to make them smile and it did (and she did make me go to bloody museums). That was when I was a bit older though and before it was a fineable offence.

I don't think it's "entitled" to say that some families by default can't spend any time together during the school holidays and have to find that time at another point - it's hardly a special treat for the chambermaids/holiday park owners/fish and chip shop lady etc to not see their kids all holidays! Maybe the people saying it's entitled don't understand how seasonal work is in practice.

It’s fine but take out the bit offering to discuss things.

And he won't tell his teacher about any of the fun things he did the week before?

Our school sent out a note at the beginning of the year saying that permission wouldn't be granted for holidays during the school year. Therefore I'd have to just tell them we were going.

I agree about seasonal work. A former colleague of mine (and friend) lives on the Isle of Wight and the council changed the school holidays in part to accommodate families working in the seasonal holiday industry I believe. I thought that was very humane.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-61437572

I might be wrong, but I'm sure a teacher told me once that schools actually prefer this as then it doesn't go down as unauthorised on their records (which I think? Too many doesn't look good for them) and they weren't the ones lying.

Our school told us, if asked they must say no. If they are told its for holiday it must be reported as unexcused absence If we made an excuse then it was in the records and they had no responsibility and therefore didn't care what the excuse was.

In the days when the government valued family life and real experiences.

We can have 6 days off in every 50 days before we're fined and I know a few kids who are taken out for a week at a time for a holiday (although it's key stage 1, might change when they're older). I always think the letter reminding us of this limit is amusing because although holidays aren't allowed it feels like we're being given permission.

Not only fun things, don’t forget the ‘cultural experiences’……..🙂

I think send your email but take out the last sentence about discussing it further. Have a great holiday :)

Just lie and make up a sick relative that happens to live in your holiday destination

I expect that will be the kind of stomach upset that gives you a tan. 😉

All these people saying lie. Do you really want to make your child lie? They will let it out when they get back anyway.

I think what you wrote is fine.

Students at private schools don’t get fined by the LA, but still have to keep a formal note that they have declined requests to remove a child for holidays. I think it’s to do with OFSTED bureaucracy but it always seems a pointless waste of time for me to fill in the form and the schools then write back denying the request, even though it doesn’t affect the outcome.

God it's knobbish to sneer at the OP for using the phrase "cultural experiences" when her's kid's in Reception, she's never dealt with this before and doesn't know what the expectations are.

Have a lovely holiday OP.

I just tell them that they won't be in school from X date to X date.
It's not up for discussion.
Sure I've been fined a couple of times, but the fine is a damn sight cheaper than the extra hundreds to book a holiday during the school holidays.

I'm a member of staff (TA) and asked my teacher (Attendance Lead) for leave during the summer term next year. My DS is also at the school.

This was his reply:
Really sorry to hear about your Grandad.

I, obviously, have no issue with this.

If you put in writing (email is fine) to HT about DS once you have the dates, it will be up to him whether it is authorised or un-authorised although I see no reason for it not to be.

As long as it is less than 5 school days, you will not receive a fine.

I think you'll probably just get an unauthorised absence and possibly a fine.

In my experience, if you have some flexibility, it is better to contact the school before booking anything just to check that they haven't got anything important planned for that week. It can create a lot of additional work if children aren't present for assessments, etc, and they will appreciate you asking.

We discussed holidays with our reception dd teacher and she said to fill in the holiday request form at the office, think it's standard practice. Our school explained that whilst they are unlikely to be able to authorise the holiday they also don't raise fines if people follow the process. We will simply get a reply saying it isn't authorised but they will know where she is.

This was mine :

I just wanted to give you advance notice that we are going abroad at the end of the summer holidays so H won't return to school until Monday 11th September.

I appreciate that the 4 days will be unauthorised but we are keen to take H and her sister on a family holiday.

Yeah, this.
You'll either get a fine or you won't, and no matter how much 'explaining' you do, the school will still stick to their own individual policy about it.

If under 5 it doesn't matter anyway as not legally required to be in school so fill your boots!

He's not yet of compulsory school age so there won't be any fine.