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?

I don't think it's about medical proof of absence. They're not saying they don't think he was ill. They are saying someone has accused the OP of lying, and taking him on holiday.

Might be worth asking for their policy on taking unsupported allegations at face value and fining without any attempt at checking the facts :)

The attendance policy is on the website. I have printed it out , it says nothing about proof.

Was it the Thurs and Fri before half term? Presumably that is why they think you were on holiday. We flew to Fuerteventura the Weds before half term (before anyone says anything mine are 3 and 5 months) and the plane was full of "poorly" children. It was actually cheaper to go for 10 days from that Wed than for 7 days from the Saturday!

However, that is not the point. The point is that you are being accused of lying - you need to put in writing that he was I'll and ask for the proof otherwise.

were yes, true, I had forgotten that bit. Still think its because they allege shes lying, though, rather than they would expect it normally.

as a fellow hcp with primary age children I would write a letter detailing their symptoms and duration and sign it with pin number or gmc number
We have had a school wide letter saying proof is required but I have never sent any as gp visits/prescriptions were not required.

LOL Matilda sending in literal D & V evidence.

They need to prove you were on holiday.
Its the same as if you are caught by a speed camera you can refuse fine
if it wasn't you driving. They have to prove it was you.

Some one is being jobs worth.

I think they owe you a huge apology.
They need to change this procedure of writing to parents accusing them of allsorts.
Wow this is such bad PR

The strange thing is - aren't the school's attendance figures better if they do record it as illness rather than unauthorised? They must genuinely believe you have been on holiday

Can't believe someone didn't ring to discuss it with you rather than sending a letter - what a poor way to handle it.

Is it possible they've got your son mixed up with another child with a similar name?

As a school governor I'm highly suspicious that there is more to this than meets the eye. A fine for one day of unauthorised absence - really? Going through that process is a pain in the arse, the schools get no financial benefit from it, and it tends to be threatened after persistent problems.
Write to a parent alleging that they were on holiday when they claimed their child was off sick - they wouldn't do that unless they felt very, very confident of their facts. The Head at my school has just done this, because when the child in question returned to school, they were nattering away about what great things they'd been up to.

Surely the 'proof' that your child was ill is the phone call the school received from you, stating that your child was ill?

This was not the Thursday/Friday before half term, it was the week before that.

DS has only been ill once before this occasion (this year)
Although we have been fined for a rejected Holliday form application to attend a funeral in February, we didn't lie though, the school knew this was a funeral of a family friend but the head didn't feel that DS needed to go, which he didn't, but we has nobody that we could leave him with for three days.

It is my understanding that it is unlawful for a school to insist you provide evidence (medical or otherwise) if they are not entitled to request it.

This is based on a meeting I had with ed welfare where they requested permission from a parent who did not wish to cooperate to obtain copy's of her child's medical records.they did not get the records and could not force her to provide them as they had no need to see them or any communications from any HCP's. but it was a few years ago.

OP that is awful about your friend's funeral. The head sounds like a very unreasonable person.

OOOOH sock have you had the baby yet?

I would return the letter, and write on the top 'I think you have sent this in error.'

I'm making a mental note to take photos of any future D&V episodes DD might have in case I need to supply them to some tosser as evidence. That will learn them :)

I wouldn't be taking a child to docs for D&V either unless it was very serious and 111 advised me to do so.

How strange!

is there someone in his class with the same or similar name, and they have confused the 2? I can't see any headteacher "accusing" a parent like this, just on the say-so of somebody tittle tattling or plain shit stirring!

is it linked to something he has said in "show n tell" or a written task eg "when I was off school we went to XYZ" and some twerp has not realised he is talking about the school hols??

Not helpful but would be very funny.Send them a specimen pot with poo in it and tell them there's there evidence!

No, DS is the only child in his year with his name, so it's highly unlikely that there has been a mix up.

What a mean HT. Who doesn't allow time off for a funeral or understand there will be child are issues as a result. Heartless.

Please report back what "evidence" they claim to have.

This proof thing is a load of crap, most childhood viruses and illnesses require no dr appointments. You treat at home with OTC meds. No one should be taking their kids to drs with CP or d&v

Good luck op

This is beyond belief. Fucking idiots.

Send them a link to this thread.