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.

This.

You clearly haven’t read they do and can fine for one day.

Yes they do! They can fine for One day.

To add, I have been told by a teacher friend that they'd actually prefer you to call in sick if it's just for a day or so as the admin caused by requests is such a pain in the arse

Ive done the last day of term before and I just phoned in sick, it genuinely felt like the kinder thing than having to make the school process an absence form that would need to say unauthorised but would do bugger all as you don’t get fined for one day. Genuinely seemed the easiest way for everyone, when we’ve taken them out for longer or beginning of term I have stuck to official holiday absence procedure.

My local authority do not fine for under 5 days, it’s in their policy published online (unless it’s changed in the last year since the rules have changed, I don’t need to know now as mine are in high school now and I don’t take them out any more).

The best thing is to be honest. My sister was visiting the uk once, she was living in America at the time and I hadn’t seen her in years, and she hadn’t seen my daughter since she was a newborn, so I emailed the school and explained that this would mean me taking my DD out of school for a day. I had a lovely response telling us to have a great time and how important family is. The more honest you are now the better the trust is between you and the school for the future.

I used to teach year one and had an habitual absentee who was always ‘ill’. However child used to talk, draw and write about Eurodisney after every absence!

Don’t lie. Just email the school.

Exactly. They’re not monsters. It’s a family wedding and it’s one day. They’ll appreciate the honesty.

Don't lie about being sick...teachers and office staff see right through that one and you just lose credibility for when they are sick.

Ask the office for the absence form and fill it in. I got 3 days authorised for a family wedding abroad when DS was in year 2. 2 for travel and 1 for the wedding day. Although we took longer off as the wedding was in Australia.

You have to hit 10 missed sessions (5 days) in a 10 week rolling period for a fine to be sent.

Honestly, take them - call in sick or tell the truth it doesn't matter. It's one day, they're not going to fail their GCSEs because of it.

There's so much angst about absence, I think it's easy to forget that family is most important, live your life.