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?

Ahhh yes prior knowledge. I was confused as we were doing training recently and there WAS prior knowledge in the example. Hence why some governors were exempt (complaint taken informally to governors before teacher or head)

Is it likely the head was involved in the original letter? Could it have been an overexcited office manager? If the head, surely she should have approached OP first and talked to her about the suspicions? Would a head be this incompetent?

Lots of questions and few answers really. I found it incredible that the receptionist didn't know about the OP's letter... Yeah. Right.

Really shocked at the schools lack of response. I am more shocked at the fact when OP tried initially to discuss matter with the school they were defensive and blocked any opportunity to discuss it. She had no choice but to contact them in writing as they never returned any of her requests to discuss it.

The school have proved themselves as just plain shit on so many different levels.

Please dont get worn down by it all Eternal. Keep at it. Dont let this just slide by, it needs to be dealt with.

Fannydabby, I would advise clerks to governors to make sure that every now and then governors are reminded that when approached about any operational issue (like a parent nobbling them in the playground to talk about something they aren't happy about) they should always stop them and tell them they need to speak to the Head. Not being nasty about it, even possibly escort them to the office to make an appointment. But they should realise they have to understand their role just in case they do need to get involved later. I know they do it, but parent governors shouldn't be nattering about governance issues in the playground.
If you want my take on this then whatever the truth, whoever sent that letter would have felt very sure of their facts. They may have been wrong, but letters saying that don't get sent out lightly. We have no idea of the background really, only Op's account (which I'm sure is true obviously!). We don't know the history of absence, or of applications for time off during term time for example. So really nobody here can decide whether or not the Head was incompetent because they didn't speak to Op first before the letter went out.
What is indisputable is that the school management have handled the subsequent complaint badly. Therefore Op has correctly escalated her complaint to the school governors. (See? Talking about "the school" and "the governors"... they are one and the same thing, but operating at different levels). They key thing for Op to do is get that bloody complaints procedure out of them, and the letter I drafted earlier would be a good way to tackle that.
If there is an investigation under way, and I'm sure there is as the letter from the governing body says so, it can't happen overnight. Nor can a panel hearing that has to call in unpaid volunteers who are quite possibly in employment. So expect an update after the Christmas break. Yes, the original letter was in October, but Op initiated the formal complaint some time after that.
Oh, and of course the receptionist said she didn't know about Op's letter. Even if she did, it wouldn't have looked good to acknowledge that it had been discussed all around the office would it? It was presumably addressed to the Head!

As a former parent governor can I advise you to talk to one of the parent governors and check that this issue has been communicated to them, because from my experience sometimes things that go the chair of governors/headteacher stay there! I am sure any parent governor would be appalled by the way you have been treated and will make sure hat the issue resolved.

You should ignore nettie's advice. Parent governors aren't there to be parents' advocates (contrary to what many think). They are members of the school governing body - a corporate body. Op needs to keep doing what she's doing. As I explained above, after the latest letter she has received there will be a period of time to wait now. The complaints procedure sets out how long. The most any governor should do if approached at this stage is pretty much give the advice I've given here already.
Nettie - any parent governor who got involved in talking to Op about this issue would "taint" themselves and immediately be unable to serve on the complaints panel if asked. Not very helpful, particularly at a time when governing bodies are getting smaller.

Sorry, I wasn't implying that they would "act" in any way in the OPs favour, just that some governing bodies do not have very good lines of commmunication. As I understand it so far the OP has only contacted the headteacher, at least if she mentions she has a problem to a parent governor and that the head teacher has not responded the parent governor should advise her how to contact the chair of governors and will be aware of the problem, so can make sure it is not swept under the carpet.

I know from experience that some issues that make the school look bad or the head look bad are not communicated to all members of the governing body. Governors can' t make proper judgements or act the critical friend if they are not all given the full and correct information, you can't have a two tier governing body.

Sorry for the rant, I am no longer a school governor, much better for the blood pressure that way.

It's hard to keep track of this thread isn't it?
Op has a letter from "the governors saying they will look into it". Unfortunately this means she needs to give them time to investigate. I've suggested she gets the complaints procedure to know how long is allowed for this - they should have sent it with that letter.
Therefore she shouldn't mention anything to a parent governor. This is not suggesting that there is a "two tier governing body". A process seems to be in place and governors should steer clear in case they are called upon to act impartially on a panel.

If - and it's a big if - at the end of this Op finds that both the HT and governing body have failed to take her complaint seriously, or that she is unhappy with their judgement, I'll be only too happy to help her take the complaint to the DfE.

Sorry again.

Missed the post that said governors were looking into the complaint .

Blimey don't apologise! We're both trying to help.

Wow, it's so depressing how this kind of thing is made worse and worse by the way it's handled and what could have been a discussion has now become a full scale complaint and investigation. How frustrating for you OP...

Double it is depressing and sad that some school's do like to bury their heads in the hope that difficult matters go away.

Peeking regarding your comment about taking a complaint to the DofE. I may have to do this - would it be o.k to pm you for some advice please?

Argh! Taint has nothing whatsoever to do with prior knowledge, in a school community it is almost impossible not to be aware of an incident. What it actually means with regards to a school panel, is that you approach a meeting with no pre-conceptions and therefore give it a fair hearing.

Sadly taint along with the role of parent and staff governors is one of the things that people misunderstand.

And for those who do not agree, I suggest you speak to Governorline who will confirm that it is correct.

I agree, if they're investigating, unlikely to get a resolution this side of Xmas.

In practice, if a governor starts talking to a parent in the playground they will almost certainly get more information than they should hear. Therefore there is a real danger of them being tainted if a panel needs to be formed. A governor can be tainted for a variety of reasons, including prior knowledge.
The right thing for a governor to do if approached by a parent who has a complaint, is to make sure they get a copy of the complaints procedure and ensure that they are able to follow it. (In other words, that they can read or write, because if not they should be assisted).
If the parent is concerned their complaint is being ignored again, no need to get details, maybe an email to the Chair checking they are aware.

Antique, I am about to go away so not a lot of use to you for a couple of weeks (I might surf a forum every now and then but mostly I'll be sunbathing!). So quick advice - if you need to go to the DfE to escalate a formal complaint because you are not satisfied with the outcome -

"A complaint may be made to the Secretary of State for Education if a person believes a governing body or LA is acting unreasonably or is failing to carry out its statutory duties properly. The complaint should set out fully the concerns and reasons why the complaint is being submitted, enclosing all previous correspondence relevant to the complaint. The complaint should be mailed to the Department."

Secretary of State for Education
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3BT
Tel: 0870 000 2288
Website: www.education.gov.uk

You can ring them for advice about this as well. They investigate whether proper procedures have been followed, and can direct the school to re-investigate.

I hope that helps!

Thanks peeking - enjoy the sunshine

I have had a reply from the LEA, they have sent me a copy of DS’s register.
The days/sessions are all marked as ‘unauthorised holiday’.

I have still not received a copy of the complaints procedure, I am going to send a note in DS’s bag tomorrow.

One thing thought, I am friendly with a neighbour who happens to work as an admin at another local school and used to work at DS’s school a few years ago.
I discussed the matter with her over the weekend as I wanted her opinion, she said that she had never heard anything so ridiculous but said that unless I specifically requested the governors investigate they wont do an official investigation, it will just be informal. I showed her my letter from them and all it says is that they will ‘look into the matter’ she said this probably means they are not doing or planning to do an official investigation.

Can I write to them again to ask what they are actually doing?

Can't believe this is still not resolved.keep fighting op.

Yes! Peeking drated a brilliant letter for you to send them firther to - go and have a look. And put a timesacle on their reply

drafted

weare you need to obtain a copy of the school complaints policy - this will set out the steps that happen when a parent complains. This should be freely available so I would go into the office to request a copy and not leave until you have it. You can always start to mention Ofsted which may make them start to think about how serious this matter is.

Once you have this you will know the timescales that should be being followed. This school seems similar to one we had problems with who never provided a copy of their policy just closed the complaint down and refused to discuss it any further.

So the school are ignoring you but continuing to mark this as unauthorised. That is disgraceful. I hope you do follow this through and are able to resolve it.

Maybe you should just speak to the head and just ask him why it was marked as unauthorised holiday?

Just have it out with him. Then he can get the LEA to change it to illness or call you a liar.

Start kicking up a huge stink girl! No need to ask on here "can I write to them again" - you can write to them weekly or daily if you want, you can demand a meeting with the head for an update, and do whatever else it takes to get some answers... put them in a situation so it's easier for them to deal with you than not deal with you. This is completely ridiculous!

In fact, what school is it? I'm going to set up camp outside the head's office untill I get some answers on your behalf. Anyone else coming?

As they break up next week my guess is that you will hear nothing. In the New Year they will hope that you have forgotten about it and continue sticking their heads in the sand - shameful!