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?

Some of these schools are getting ridiculous.

I thought it was the accepted thing to stay away from the GP with a D&V bug as they spread so quickly and nothing can be done for them?

I wonder if they are suspicious because it was Thursday & Friday - making them think you went away for a long weekend. Anyway, that doesn't matter - you can't help what day your child gets ill on.

My daughter's school has a rather over the top attitude towards attendance - last winter there was a nasty flu virus going round, but because people are scared of having a day off they sent their children in. In the end so many children were unwell that they had 54 out if 90 children all off sick on one day (just in 1 year group)

I did not mean she should actually write to the school, and yay

Dear School

Fuck Off

But I do think she needs to vehemently protest, better????

I am really pissed off with DS1 school today as you can tell!!

I called the school but was told the person that deals with attendance and holiday is out at the moment, but will call me back later.

Its getting out of hand isn't it.

Its utter maddness and shows what this sort of policy can do in the hands of utter imbeciles and fools.

I would be kicking up such a stink about this.

I don't know. I'm going to go to the office before I collect DS and enquirer.

The place where they have accused up of going 'I'm holiday' is only 50 miles away, we do go there reasonably often as my bother lives there and it's the best shopping city in the area, but we wouldn't take a holiday there.

What/who/where is Kafkaesque?

Did you go to this place on friday, saturday or sunday and someone saw you?

Did you go there on the Saturday or Sunday? And someone saw you and has put 2 and 2 together to make about 68?

Next time, save them a bag of vomit?

Does he have recurrent D&V?

No we didn't go there at all that week.

Then they are talking a load of rubbish!

"led to believe" you were on holiday

I would write (politely !) and say that their information was wrong and you are concerned it might be a malicious misrepresentation, could the HT please set out the evidence which led them to believe this.

Cos I dont think they would fine you for having D&V, this is about being accused of lying. You need to know why.

So I went into the office, but was told the receptionist can not discuss it with me and I need to call the person who is in charge of holiday and attendance.

They are not helpful at all, she just said "I don't know" to every question I asked.

That's outrageous! They can't go throwing accusations like that about! I'd be bloody fuming!

If they can accuse you in writing tell them you want a full apology, in writing.

clearly there has been an accusation. you need to follow it up. They will be a bit worried if they think maybe it was malicious and they fell for it. if you show signs of being ncie about it they will probably confess all.

I would write (politely !) and say that their information was wrong and you are concerned it might be a malicious misrepresentation, could the HT please set out the evidence which led them to believe this.

I think that is the method I will take.

Other posts have made me wonder if someone has told the school that DS was not ill. It does seem like the most logical explanation, but the only people that knew DS was off are my friends, and I can't see them saying it.