Would school follow up 4 absence before the summer holidays?

[Dontjumptoconclusions]

I've read a few threads about this question asked previously but our situation is slightly different so wanting to check what others would do.

We are off on a weeks holiday.
I plan to take out DS from school on the Tuesday before they break up for summer holidays on Friday. 4 days off.

Not asking DS to lie to school as we won't be here for the end of term anyway.

Grandparents are happy to call in sick it's just a phone "message service" so no one physically to speak to.

It probably looks pretty obvious we are going on holiday given the timing but realistically is the school going to do anything about it 7 weeks later in Sept?

I could just say we are on holiday but unsure on how this would be received given a recently appointed head teacher. And frankly I don't want the lecture of the importance of the last 3 days of the school year.

Just be honest with school.

Off sick end of term will raise suspicions anyway. Off sick with grandparents phoning in will be blatantly obvious!

Our school asks for absences on the last week of term to be made in person. Not done it myself so unsure what would happen if someone didn’t.

I’d just be honest. 4 days shouldn’t incur a fine and it will just be unauthorised (provided it’s your first offence).

Doesn’t make a difference that the head is new. There’s a real focus on attendance and it wouldn’t be authorised.
I wouldn’t lie though it doesn’t support a positive relationship with school.

Even if they don’t follow up, be mindful that the 10 sessions of absence within a 10 week period that triggers a fine does not include school holidays. So that 10 week period pauses when the holidays start, and recommences when school opens. So if your child has a one day absence in the 9 weeks from September, they’ll hit the 10 missed sessions in 10 weeks.

Just tell them you’re on holiday and save them the resources. If they’re unable to get hold of you (with grandparent calling up), it’ll be flagged as a safeguarding concern that the family cannot be contacted, then they’ll carry out a home visit and see you’re away.

They won’t lecture you, plenty do it. But you’ll save them some time.

I’ve had a governing body meeting tonight, and the Headteacher reported that there have been 53 absences tagged on to before/after school holidays since the last governing body meeting in February. They’re well aware of what families do, and this is something they monitor, so a grandparent phoning in won’t fool them.

You wouldn’t get a fine for four days but they definitely won’t authorise it. I’m not sure when they’d ’deal with it’ but it’s not going to go well.

Have you taken DC out before? If not it is not enough to trigger a fine so just be honest. You can't ask Grandparents to call in and lie as they are likely to be dubious and more likely to follow up.

Don't have the grandparents call in and lie!

OK this is helpful thank you.
And yes you're right, I won't be the only person taking their child on holiday.
It's my first DS in reception so still learning what schools accept and don't accept. Thank you all

I took my reception aged child out for a week in Jan (aged 4 at the time). I told the school in advance and obvs they didn't approve it, but said they appreciated the honesty.

Just tell them you are going on holiday and taking 4 days unauthorised. I really don’t know why parents lie about this, it just looks worse!

As it is reception, is your DS summer born and still 4 years old? If so, he doesn’t legally have to be in school until the term after he turns 5 so not sure there is an issue with attendance?

If you’re in England and your child is not yet 5, they shouldn’t fine you, because attendance is only mandatory after the age of 5.

Just be honest. I’ve taken mine out for 4 days on a number of occasions over the years. In some cases, it’s been an unauthorised absence. In some cases, it’s been signed off as special circumstances. But they are not going to be fooled by someone calling in sick and you’ll just look like a tool. Also all their books and art and belongings are cleared out on the last day or so. You will need to collect it all before you go otherwise it becomes a task for the teachers to have to do on day 1 in September and that will annoy them a lot more than a few absences.

It may also depend on how much time your child has missed through illness and his attendance percentage. Please don’t lie, just tell them you’re going and see what happens.

Don't lie about it. Just tell them he won't be in because of a holiday.
Is he actually over 5? If not he's below compulsory school age anyway.

What does that mean? Parent showing up with the poorly child? I work in a school and this sounds crazy!

exactly. no way would I be trekking my sick kid a mile into school just to prove I'm not lying

I just checked @SleepingStandingUp and @Bliiink it’s the last 3 days of term. I’ve attached the notice!

Believe me we know every time. Lots of people do it. And you need to hope your child doesn’t tell any friends. We recently had 2 siblings with Norovirus for a week, whilst one of them was posting pics from Florida. The attendance officer pointed out that the shouldn’t have flown to Florida with norovirus!