School asking for flight details after unauthorised term-time absence abroad

[PersonalData]

We went abroad mon-thu last week, ds (10) was in school the week before and went back on Friday. We let them know and obviously knew it would be unauthorised. As it was 8 sessions we don’t qualify for a fine. His attendance is usually 100%.

They asked on friday before and after for us to provide proof of the flights and other details for ‘safeguarding’ but he was back in school and clearly fine ?? We declined as this is private personal data. They replied back that we must submit the evidence by the end of tomorrow?

Is this usual ?

So they are concerned that you could have been keeping your child off school for a reason which could indicate that your child is at risk. Perhaps there's a pattern of your child not going to school, regular illness, holidays etc.

There's nothing "personal" about giving them your flight details. However, if there are patterns or regular absences, you would be a fool to ignore their request, especially as it looks as though you don't value education.

Just tell them. Don't be that parent. It’s just not worth being difficult over this.

No they don't!
Children from cultures and communities where FGM or forced marriage is common, sure. Every child who goes on holiday? Don't be absurd. And how would flight details prove that a child hadn't been harmed on the trip? For goodness sake.

A form of power? Think it through-what possible reason would a school ask for this unless they had to? They have so much to do that ‘they’ take time out to do what? Be nosy?
Pathetic attitude - grow up!

Not usual no.
There must be a background to this story and the school are suspicious you didn’t go abroad, although I don’t know why.
leaving Monday and coming back Thursday is a quick overseas trip. Are they concerned you were doing something else?

Why would the schools want to check the flight? This is cheeky on another level. I am a teacher in lreland and would be appalled if l heard anyone doing this. Taking a child on holiday in September is annoying but looking for the flight numbers...no way!!

The crazy thing is, pictures of your children is actually way way more personal than a screenshot of a flight booking with passport numbers blacked out 😂😂

Why would you be MORE willing to send them photos of your kids in swimwear on the beach, than a flight booking?

I think some people are so obsessed with wanting to avoid giving the scholl what they want, they actually lose sight of whats rational!

Sara Sharif had an extensive history of social work and court involvement and physical signs of abuse! It's entirely different

OP I am married to a teacher and it’s sadly very common for abused children to be away from school for a “holiday”, or “visit family” when in fact the period was required for marks etc to heal from abuse. They absolutely need to know that you went away and to be able to prove it. Obviously it’s fine here, but many abused children are “fine!” after their “holiday”. The school is doing the right thing (yes it’s required), and doing it well. Don’t be an idiot about it.

I told my teacher all about my holiday when I was 7. I told her about the beach and the nice food. I hadn’t been anywhere near a beach and food was a weapon in our home. I was off because my father lost his usual restraint and left bruises in visible places.

I was very well coached. My teacher was asking questions because she was the first to notice that for a very very poor family we had a real habit of “holidaying” after bank holiday weekends.

Safeguarding kids can seem annoying or over the top if you’re a family that would never dream of harming your child. But patterns are a thing. Parents do lie that they’ve been on holiday when they’re actually hiding injuries. And sometimes it is the “nice” families where it’s an issue.

when folks say that schools should have “done something” when something horrific happens this is the kind of things schools try to do and then get grief for.

I think in some cases they are allowed to issue a fine for only 8 sessions instead of 10 - but I thought it was when people used a bank holiday at the start/end of the week - basically when the holiday would have covered a week (10 sessions) and the only reason it didn't was because of the bank holiday.

I don't know about the legal rights but when my daughter started school parents have to sign an agreement that they will follow the rules of the school.
This included evidence of reasons for school absences if required.
This included proof of going to a funeral (they usually asked for the service booklet thing) or for religious holidays sometimes a letter from the faith leader (Rabbi, Iman, Pastor, Priest or whoever) to show it was genuine.
They are just two examples.
If you signed the home/school agreement then if it says you need to show proof - you need to show proof.
Obviously I can't say if that's what the OPs school agreement says.
Such dramatic fuss though. Just show the details. They will probably glance at it and say "ok thanks" and tick the box on screen that says "evidence provided".

I think a lot of people misuse the word safeguarding. Some through a lack of understanding and some throwing it around to intimidate people. I’d ignore them

I've never been asked when my DC have been on holiday.
I've never asked or heard of anyone asking whist working in CP, with children who actually are at risk.
What a pathetic waste of time. How realistic do you think it is that a parent would think, I fancy abusing my kid in a couple of months, let's put a request into school for a holiday so I can beat them and leave marks in visible places and have them off for 4 days to heal. Yeah, 4 days will be alright, doesn't take longer than that to heal does it 🤔
Do you work in a school that has this guidance? Does no-one have the critical thinking skills to realise how stupid it is?

Thank you.
Common fucking sense application of safeguarding principles.

I’d like to see how they’d enforce that school agreement

Your Rights and Discretion

• No Direct Legal Mandate: You are not legally obligated under statutory law to share private booking confirmations or flight itineraries just for a standard holiday.
• Headteacher Discretion: While you can refuse to share flight details, headteachers have full authority to refuse holiday authorization and request proof of exceptional circumstances. Refusing to cooperate may lead the school to record the absence as unauthorized and potentially trigger a penalty notice or fine from the local council if criteria are met.

I would just give them the info. They may be asking for it to confirm it's not truancy.

Do you not understand that schools cannot and should not assume parents are abusing children with no evidence or cause?

Because some parents might keep a child off so that injuries could heal, you would be unlikely to wander through airports/hotels with a battered child? That might be the thinking behind a lot of the safeguarding rules that they use, force them to escalate then produce the evidence would be one route, but this would probably flag something on their system and you would get even more suspicion/hassle in future.

I'm so sorry what you went through @JustAnotherWhinger

I was abused regularly on holiday by my father. Food was a weapon too. Skinny, "spooked", or tired looking kids who can't make eye contact need checking up on.

This thread has made me wish all teachers were well trained in spotting the signs of abuse. And that safe parents didn't take it personally.

A lot of people asking why the school want these details when there is no safeguarding history. How do you know there is no history of abuse or anything? Maybe there is and that is why OP is worried and refusing to give the info over?

But whenever a case like that poor child comes up people say "why didn't anyone do more to help.....".
So when a school actually does do something that could potentially save children from harm you get the OP saying "wah wah invasion of privacy and what not".

You took them out for 8 sessions after a six week summer holiday!

Just give them the info.

It’s not exactly personal information is it?

Gatwick - Tenerife 16:45 12th September
Tenerife - Gatwick 08:55 16th September

It looks suspicious if you don’t. Not many people take the kids out of school after being back a week. They need you to prove you were doing what you said you were doing.

Our schools always have.

I really don’t understand why the school would need the info or how they can use it but I also wouldn’t have a problem in giving it.