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Original poster

Requesting time off school and getting denied ??

101 replies

Oversteppingonasubject · 30/10/2023 14:00

Do schools actually have the power to enforce this ?

Been waiting MONTHS for an allergy appt for dd (year 5) - got an appt and it’s 130 pm in a few weeks. For all appts or holiday as a formality you have to request the time off so it’s authorised- school have declined !!!!

The reasons are ‘low attendance’ (dd has had a d and v bug and an ear infection since September) and the fact that ‘the appointment could be out of school time ‘ they have checked with the hospital who confirmed the clinic runs from 1-430 !!! But that’s general info they don’t actually have an after school appt available for dd unless we reschedule for February which I’m not prepared to do !

So we will have an unauthorised absence which is unfair and the school have said with lower than expected attendance plus if I go against what they’ve said and get this unauthorised absences they may have to refer for a fine ???

OP posts:
Starlightstarbright2 · 30/10/2023 14:05

I would tell them it is medical need and you will be collecting your child . Keep hospital letter . Keep it as evidence

Stressfordays · 30/10/2023 14:06

Just go, they won't fine you for taking her to a hospital appointment. You also can't help your child getting poorly. It is what it is, they are just scaremongering.

Original poster
Oversteppingonasubject · 30/10/2023 14:06

Starlightstarbright2 · 30/10/2023 14:05

I would tell them it is medical need and you will be collecting your child . Keep hospital letter . Keep it as evidence

I have the letter I had to send a copy in with the request for time off, honestly didn’t think they would say no !!

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Original poster
Oversteppingonasubject · 30/10/2023 14:07

They don’t seem to understand why we can’t get the appt changed to after school time I don’t think tbey know how hard it is to get appt in some clinics ! We’ve waited 8 months !

OP posts:
HavfrueDenizKisi · 30/10/2023 14:10

Just take her.

The school are being ridiculous. You can't pick and choose times for an NHS consultant appointment and they bloody well know it.

SisterMichaelsHabit · 30/10/2023 14:10

Sounds like someone at your school is on a power trip. You can't reasonably be expected to miss a hospital appointment for a life threatening condition.

I highly doubt the LEA will fine you for a confirmed medical appointment missing up to half a day of school; if you get any hassle off them you need to show them the letter from the hospital and tell them what you've said here, pointing out that if the clinic runs to 4:30 she would still need time out of school for the last appointment of the day as that's when your appointment would end! So factoring in travel time and start time for the appointment (the appointment lasts about an hour) she would still miss some school time, so they would still have to authorise it by their own system!

Also if you do get a penalty notice, keep escalating it to people like your MP, national news etc to make sure they know what this stupid fines system is doing. Could you imagine if every paeds department could only run clinics outside of school hours? Utterly preposterous! They're struggling to fit kids in already!

Honestly the whole fines system with schools is appalling. It's not like you're off on a jolly with her! Hope you get it sorted.

Comefromaway · 30/10/2023 14:11

I thought you were going to say to attend a family wedding or something, not a medical appointment.

I think that some schools think they have more power than they actually do. These kind of appointments you have to take what you are given.

There is no way you will get a fine. The EWO won't be the least bit bothered.

Finteq · 30/10/2023 14:12

YANBU.

Take her.

And keep your letter to appeal in the rare case you do get fined.

SisterMichaelsHabit · 30/10/2023 14:14

Do you get those godawful e-letters instead of a printed one? If so screenshot it for proof of this appointment in case you need it later, as we found out the e-letter links they send you actually expire so you don't have a record of the appointment, and in your case, you really need it!

MaggieFS · 30/10/2023 14:16

I am hugely sympathetic. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a fixed threshold thing e.g. if below a certain % already + the fact it could be done after school (I know, I know February) = they simply can't authorise it.

May have to refer is a threat, it doesn't mean they will carry it out. It's crap, but their hands are tied by attendance targets.

NewKidOnTheBloch · 30/10/2023 14:19

I do understand the position schools are in with their attendance figures. But some seem to lack common sense. "Refuse" a hospital appointment? Lol, no, they don't get to do that. It will probably look worse for their figures if they put it down as unauthorised, but that's not your problem they can tick whichever box they like 🤷‍♀️ Tell her teacher the date and time she will be away as a courtesy and keep the letter until the end of the academic year just in case. Who are you communicating with here, office staff?
I hope her appointment goes as well as possible.

megletthesecond · 30/10/2023 14:19

The school are just box ticking. The local authority would look stupid if they wasted their time penalising you for a medical apt.

The allergy apt might even help you get to the bottom of her recent illnesses. My DS threw up as an allergic reaction once.

BookSuperWorm · 30/10/2023 14:25

The school can't authorise any absence these days, and its not usually that they are being obtuse, its that it falls into the remit of the local authority's rules. At our school for example, we can 'request' time off but it will always be met with 'this will be an unauthorised absence'. Its then up to the LA to decide what to do.

FWIW, for a 1 day off for a medical appointment the LA won't do a thing. A lot of LA's can't do any enforcement actions until the child is absent for 3 days (diff LA's will have varying rules though).

shardash · 30/10/2023 14:26

There are no words to describe the dunderhead who would refuse a child time off school for a medical appointment, citing poor attendance due to illness as the reason for refusal. Doh.
Confused

(Reminds me of the time the school sent an attendance officer round to my friend's house to investigate why her dc wasn't at school, and who found that the child wasn't at home. No shit Sherlock, try the hospital instead, that's where they've been for a fortnight.)

Beginningless · 30/10/2023 14:27

That’s really terrible. I’d ask them are they really suggesting that your daughter turn down essential medical care? If they dare to try and fine you I’d raise a complaint up the chain. Outrageous.

CattingAbout · 30/10/2023 14:29

That's absurd. I tell DCs school when I will be collecting them early or brining them in late for medical appointments. I would never think to ask permission and tbh I have no idea what type of absence it gets put down as.

BoohooWoohoo · 30/10/2023 14:29

You shouldn't have requested time off. You should have told them that she was having time off for medical reasons. It doesn't matter that it's unauthorized and if they fined then you have proof. I am surprised that they don't know that you get the appointment assigned, you didn't book 1:30 out of choice.

ReadyForPumpkins · 30/10/2023 14:31

I wouldn't worry about school authorised absence. They can't stop you from not taking your child to school that day.

AnSolas · 30/10/2023 14:32

they have checked with the hospital who confirmed the clinic runs from 1-430

Has the person from the school managed to get an appointment on that day or before it for your child at a time which would allow your child to remain in class?
Because if not they cant request that you delay medical investigations or treatments which will have a negitave impact on your child.
And somebody needs to turn up for early as the NHS clinics work days in this case that somebody is your child.
Go and at the appointmemt ask if the scheduling staff can do you a letter to confirm that the waiting list is long and fully booked for the next few months.

( But as the school went to the trouble of calling the hospital I would be tempted to give them permission to attempt to obtain a later slot on the appointment day. I am sure that they will be able to organise the hospital waiting list, right? .... )

Nicole1111 · 30/10/2023 14:32

Write back simply saying.
“I have received confirmation of your denial to approve my daughter taking time off for a much needed and long awaited medical appointment. Please can you provide contact details for the governors of the school”.
I’d like to think that whoever makes these decisions may then activate a brain cell but if not write to the governors and complain.

All2Well · 30/10/2023 14:34

I'd formally complain. They are attempting to deny your daughter medical treatment. That is appalling.

picturethispatsy · 30/10/2023 14:39

Just take her. Keep the letter but they can’t fine you for this. It’s just scaremongering. Just another crazy example of our ridiculous education system in the uk.

And remember, no-one has authority over you and your children except you 💗

megletthesecond · 30/10/2023 14:42

IME allergy appointments are long. In the early days we'd be at the hospital for almost 2hrd as they'd want to check skin prick results.

slopsan · 30/10/2023 14:44

Ignore school. The NHS is in crisis. You can't pick and choose appointment times.

Hamstermayhem · 30/10/2023 15:00

That’s ridiculous. They very well may refer you for a fine but I very much doubt the LA would follow it up. I would request a meeting with the head and the governor responsible for attendance, if you do want to take it further. I would also make the point that it could be classed as a safeguarding issue if you were not to take your daughter to a medical appointment as you are not meeting her medical needs and they would be very quick (and rightly so, if that we’re the case) to record it as such. Attendance is one of OFSTED’s crusades at the moment, putting more pressure on schools but you would hope common sense would prevail!