Taking child out of school 1 day early?

[anotherstory81]

First time parent to a year 1 child. Have never even considered taking my child out of school for holidays, however, we have a family wedding abroad and in order to make it we would ideally need to travel on the last Friday before half term holiday in May.

My child is in Year 1. They would therefore miss one day of school. Is there a procedure for this? I’m aware we might be fined? I’m not sure how it works, or whether to just phone in sick for child? I feel a bit guilty about it too, but we will miss the whole thing otherwise.

Sorry if my questions are daft- it’s all new to me! We are in England btw.

Phone in sick.

Just fill in the form, they say its unauthorised... and then nothing else happens. Its only a problem if you do it a lot, or for more than a week.

Ok do all schools have a form? I could mention it to the class teacher a few days before I guess

It’s fine. I would just call them off sick.

I have taken mine out for holidays. And if it’s several days, I’m always honest with them. But it’s one day just before half term. It’s no big deal, just take it as a sick day.

It’s one day, it will literally have no impact on them. There is usually a form to fill in, it will be ‘unauthorised’ but zero repercussions for one day off. Some would just phone in sick for one day but I’d tell the truth personally, not sure it matters either way for one day though.

i Imagine every school is different.

for primary we’d just send an email to the office to let them know

for secondary we log it on an app

Just tell the truth! Get in touch with the teacher and explain. Absolutely no need to call in sick or lie about it, and no consequences for one day. Yes it will be an unauthorised absence but one day really doesn't matter.

Just fill the form in and tell the school they won’t be in. No need to pretend your DC is sick. We’ve had a wedding authorised before and one not. In both circumstances the school didn’t care. There was no fuss or drama the teachers just said ‘have a lovely day’ the day before we went.

Just be honest with them. I am in the same situation and the teachers were very understanding.

I’m taking my Year 3 child out of school for a day for a family wedding.

I filled in a ‘leave of absence’ form the school gave me asking for the date & reason with any exceptional circumstances. It got authorised.

The exceptional circumstances were that it is a family wedding so no childcare is available. And the wedding is too far away for anyone to collect him from school at the end of the day and take him to the remainder of the wedding.

Don't lie to the school- they really won't care much about this. They won't fine one day. Let the teacher know and ask if they need you to fill anything in.

You won't get fined for 1 day. I'm not a fan of holidays in school time in general but this is fine.

I would be honest not call in sick. But you won't be fined for one day.

Tell the truth. Set an example to your children.

Probably the first thread about holidays in term time I have read where there is a valid reason to do so.

Yea you can do it and I definitely would for this kind of reason.
We are in Wales where things are a bit more chilled so would just tell the school (they allow up to 5 days a year for holidays).
In England I don’t think you get fined for one day but it will probably be down as “unauthorised” which isn’t a big deal unless you make a habit of it.
You could just call in sick but I don’t really agree with making children lie to teachers (and not talking about an exciting trip abroad it quite hard for a year 1 child!)

A wedding is a one off, it might, just might be authorised.

Don't lie, it will just make you look stupid and your child will tell everyone anyway.

Probably won't be fined as you're not in the habit of doing it and just 1 day might be fine, just be civil.

Good luck.

Or be an adult and tell the truth?

I took mine out for 10 days to go to Florida. You will be absolutely fine for one day

(also it was absolutely worth it)

Can’t agree more!!

Just ask the school office for the form for a leave of absence. Fill it in truthfully and you may get it authorised. If it is unauthorised it will just go down on the system as that. No one will parade you in front of assembly shouting shame at you. It shouldn't be a fine for just one day either. I would be very surprised if it did.

Don't lie and call in sick because your child will no doubt tell everyone he is going on holiday, they are too little to remember to keep a secret. It will then call into question any other time you call him in sick. Teachers are not stupid. So many parents call their child in "sick" in the last 3 days of term.

I wouldn't lie. They do authorise in exceptional circumstances and that may apply in this case but even if not, it's just one day and you won't get fined.

I got a week back in October authorised for my son under exceptional circumstances so it can happen for things that aren't just simply holidays.

Just be honest and use whatever system for reporting absence that your school uses.

For 1 day, 2 sessions, I highly doubt you will get a fine. If you did it every last day of half term and term it might be a different matter.

Be honest, dont teach your child its ok to lie to school. You can only be fined after 5 consecutive days.

Chances are one day sick before half term could go down as unauthorised anyway without medical evidence (due to the lying

eitjrt way it is 5 days so fill in the form and go

Just tell the truth. You’re not going to miss out on a family wedding because of one day of school. You won’t get fined for one day.