AIBU? DS was ill and the school have marked it as an unauthorised holiday and are threatening to fine me!

[WeAreEternal]

A couple of weeks ago DS (7) had an upset stomach, he D&V over night and most of the next day.
First thing in the morning (a Thursday) I called the school and let them know he was ill.
He was feeling better by the evening but as he had D&V school policy is 24 hours off, so I kept him off Friday too.

I received a letter from to school yesterday saying that those days have been marked as an unauthoried holiday as "although we received a phone call from you stating that (DS) was ill, we are led to believe that DS was in fact on a holiday to XXXX on these two dates"

The letter goes on to say that if he was genuinely ill they expect me to provide evidence such as a doctors appointment card, a prescription, a medication receipt or something simmilar that can "verify my version of events".

I am a medical professional, I know when when my DS needs medication or to see a GP or when he just has a bit of a stomach bug and needs rest and fluids.
Who would take a child to the GP or buy medication for D&V anyway?

How on earth can I prove that DS was ill?
And why are they even querying this?
AIBU to think this is bloody ridiculous?

Anyone have any ideas?

yes funny it has because lots of MNetters warned that the changes made by Gove would start making bonkers decisions happen and here is just one of them. it drives a wedge between parents and schools where none previously existed. now the OP is on tenterhooks next time her DC is ill. take him to school, spread to everyone else, risk looking like a horrible mother who doesn't care or keep at home and risk the school telling her she is a liar. I am all for clamping down on regular offenders who take their kids out once a week because they cant be bothered to but this is just plain daft. hope the Head is a MNetter reads this and realises the issue.

Sorry if I've alarmed anyone!

I was on the train the other day near some school girls. I think they were about 12. They were gossiping about someone who had been sick on the Sunday, and had gone to school on the Monday, which they think is "EWWWWWWWWW DISGUSTING that's GROSS". "Everyone knows it's 48 hours!" so there you are. Everyone knows.

Do you think you could find them to act as 'expert' witnesses youretoastmildred

Yes I did make note of Yellowdinosaur's correction. Thank you.

I've still had no contact from them, I think it's clear they are not intending to discuss this with me.

What, so they think they can call you a liar, slap a fine on you and expect you just to roll over and cough up?
they clearly have no idea of the power of MN

Is it posted? Will they get it tomorrow?

Oh my goodness. The arrogance of the staff is outrageous.

I can't believe they're fobbing you off like this after accusing you of lying!

I'm afraid I'd be in the sitting outside HT's office refusing to budge camp now

You're bring treated so badly op and I'm fuming on your behalf

I don't finish work until 6pm so I will be posting the letter in the morning on the way to work.

If I could have I would have stood in the reception and waiting until someone came to talk to me, but the reception is in a tiny room and there is always a huge queue of parent waiting to talk to the reception staff, and there are no seats so I would have felt like I was massively in the way. I suspect the room is designed that way for that purpose.
Also I had to get to work.

In the way is exactly where you want to be now is say. Although I appreciate you need to get to work. I would imagine that the receptionist would try a darn sight harder to find someone for you talk to if you stood there in earshot of everyone explaining what's going on.

Keep fighting op. This is an outrage!!

the reception is in a tiny room and there is always a huge queue of parent waiting to talk to the reception staff, and there are no seats so I would have felt like I was massively in the way

Good, so you have an audience. Position yourself in the most awkward place, then apologise loudly to each parent, 'sorry I am in the way, but you see the school are accusing me of taking my DS on holiday when actually he was ill at home. It must be a massive misunderstanding so I am waiting to see the Head, apparently he is busy but I am happy to wait here, yes sorry again for being in the way but I am sure you understand I can't just let this go...' Each and every time to each parent who comes in. Bet the receptionist would be doing something then.

I agree with Stanley Lambchop, it's not your problem that the room is tiny and the queue is long.

That's actually better because you have an audience and can refuse to move on until someone stops hiding and comes out to speak to you.

Do it. Stand there and say that you can't help but feel that the head teacher and attendance person are deliberately avoiding you because they know they have misrepresented the facts and and threatened you without reason and that this has gone on long enough.

Let the queue build up, let the receptionists get annoyed, force the head to come out and speak to you.

Something about saying "I agree with Stanley Lambchop" has cheered me up no end tonight

Logged on to see if there was an explanation from the school yet, like so many here who are outraged at the school's arrogance. Where have all the posters school staff gone who early on seemed so convinced that you really had gone on holiday or there was a back story? The only back story being that in Feb the HT didn't think that the death of a close friend who had saved your DH's life in Afghanistan was close enough in his/her opinion. I'd sign a petition to get that fine repaid from the HT's own pocket - absolutely furious I am about that. Maybe the HT could go do a stint in Afghanistan on a soldier's pay and get a little perspective on how hard things really can be.

If you do not get any joy OP redraft the letter and cc it to the secretary of the board of governors. This is a very effective way of ensuring a matter is dealt with by any formal organisation as correspondence is always on the agenda of any meeting and the secretary is obliged to bring all correspondence to the attention of the board. The school have handled this situation really badly.

This is unbeleivable!! And I don't believe that it is a blanket ban on holidays in England. My HT has authorised 1week hol for a friend in May and a fortnight for myself next November. I don't understand why people's experiences are so different. Sorry to steer away op. I know you will get this sorted, it is the inconvenience to you that is annoying!

*next October.

Having checked the rules in our local authority, our school cannot fine for unauthorised absence unless you have 5 days in a six week period. I checked the government website which said there should be a code of conduct (words to that effect) then checked LA website and found it. I would check where you stand but remain polite and calm....despite being furious, I would be livid. ??

Maybe it's in the Government's interests that there's such confusion about the whole thing. It may well be that fines are only enforced after a certain period of time, but if the misinformation and fear of such a fine deters people from keeping their sick child at home taking term-time holidays then great. For them!

I'd advise sending the arse-kicking letter recorded delivery so you have proof that it was reeived. Otherwise you are giving them another opportunity to fob you off and avoid dealing with the issue.

Hmm, posting Tues morning with recorded delivery means they won't get it until Wednesday... how about printing two copies and barging into reception again after drop-off and getting the secretary to sign and date where you have printed "Received on..." at the bottom of one copy? Then it should be on the attendance person's desk on Tues morning and you can still insist on taking up the appointment slot on Wednesday to discuss. (And no doubt the sarcastic lady's own name will jump out at her off the page... bonus).

Also, would you like to add something like this to the end of the letter, hinting at negative consequences/publicity for the school: "You will appreciate that as a medical professional I am obliged to take extremely seriously any attack on my integrity with regard to my statements about my own son's health. It is in everyone's interest that the situation be resolved speedily without further escalation. To that end, I expect to hear from you by ..."

Always glad to help, SarahAndFuck