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 think some head teachers have lost the plot over this.

I had a drink with a teacher friend last night and she was telling me about a child in her class whose step father (since she was 1yr) was terminally ill and the mum had put in a request last week for 2wks off leading into the christmas hols so they could have a last long family holiday. HT has said no, it will be unauthorised because it is leading into Sch holidays and ht believes those 2wks should be enough.

I was stunned when friend told me. Of course for most people those 2wks would be enough but if you're dying and it's your last chance to spend quality time as a family then I can totally understand why they want to go for 4wks. My friend is really embarrassed and said the family have said they are going anyway and are saying they'll also be writing to their local paper and MP. I don't blame them frankly and wouldn't be surprised if we all see it on the national news.

DS's attendance is fine.
Since September this is the second time he has been ill, the first time he was only off for one day.

Last (school) year he had the three days off for the funeral and maybe a couple of sick days but nothing abnormal.

What the fuck has happened? Have all headteachers turned into power crazed maniacs??

Do headteachers really require proof of evidence of a funeral before making a decision on whether they think it's acceptable for you to take YOUR child?

I havent lived in the UK for a while and don't have school age children yet but what the fuck has happened!? I'm standing here shaking my head in disbelief.

I think 3 days off out of the half term is around 10% absence - may be that is some sort of trigger point at the school.

But they should not be expecting you to provide proofs or accusing you of lying without any kind of warning before the absence.

You haven't uploaded any old holiday/days out photos on Facebook have you that some busybody may have seen?

Or maybe it was your DS handing around Blackpool rock whilst wearing a "kiss me quick" hat that made the school suspicious?

Seriously, what a joke though. I am annoyed for you. Hope you get it sorted out.

PMSL @ Euph

Thirty years ago my DCs would have a whole week off primary school if they were ill, so when they went back they were completely better, not sitting there looking washed out and feeling unwell.
That was normal procedure then.
Teachers didn't want wilting kids in the classroom.
Being a SAHM helped too.

Hope you get it sorted OP.

As far as I know you can't be fined for less than 4 days. I recommend letter to Chair of Governors with a copy of the letter from the school asking for answers to where they have their information from, where in sickness policy it says provide evidence, and asking for an apology for the implications that you are lying.

This is bloody outrageous!

Ok well a couple of points
1 In thus country you are innocent until proven guilty.you do not have to , and shouldn't run round trying to collect evidence.It is up to them to prove he was not ill on the thursday night.
2 they have to prove this beyond all reasonable doubt, to be successful.this is virtually impossible for them to do.

from now on only communicate about the matter by email so you have a record of what you have told them and when.Just email back saying simply that he had d&v and in accordance with school policy you kept him off on x and y dates.That's it do not enter into any further discussion on the matter

Plus I'd be interested to know that in the case of the terminally ill parent, would that parent still be fined even if by the time the lea got around to it, the parent had died? I just can't believe such a lack of compassion in the case of my friend's pupil. HT has told friend her hands are tied so there is clearly different interpretations if exceptional circumstances.

How bizarre!

This one really takes the fight them OP or they will be pulling this kind of stuff on everyone. And they should have let you go to the funeral too!

Sorry, OP, so shocked by what I heard last night that I forgot to say that if course, YANBU. I just think its all being interpreted badly since sept.

So bizarre that there isn't a uniform approach as our HT is still authorising holidays as he authorised a day tagged on to half term for dd and five days for her friend. So long as child's attendance is otherwise good then it isn't a problem here.

A long shot, but do you have any receipts for transactions on the day in question? Or a bank statement with them on? (Even better if they prove you were in your home town.) If you do, make an appointment with the HT and go in and present them, then sit back and wait to see what they have to say. If they insist on carrying on, tell them you'll see them in court.

We received a letter today from our head teacher, I shall give you some extracts! The new law gives no entitlement to parents to take their child on holiday during term time. Penalties are applied by the local authority and are not at the discretion of the head teacher. The educational social worker attached to each school checks the registers regularly for any unauthorised absences. 10 sessions (5days) will trigger these fines! Op your school must put down the correct reason in the register, the fines are ridiculous. £60 per child and for each parent in the family, which would make a family of 4's fine £240 and must be paid within 21 days or it doubles.......

Wow, how unpleasant being accused like that and then no one being around to even discuss why they've decided that you've lied. Ugh.

Beginning to see the appeal of home education!!!

It is very odd indeed. I wonder if your ds could have been telling some fantastic tales?

I don't have any receipts as we were home all day.

I like the idea of emailing but they are a nightmare and never acknowledge or respond to emails.

The HT or whomever decided that a holiday is authorised or not on the HTs behalf is known for being impossibly tough, the mum of a girl in DS's class had a holiday form rejected last year that was to attend her the girls dad's wedding abroad (all the mum had for evidence were the emails from her ex and the boarding passes for the flight he booked for them, he wouldn't send her anything else.) the HT said that insufficient evidence was produced so the application had to be rejected.

I'm annoyed that nobody at the school bothered to call me back too.

Cath: Those fines are mad and so badly thought out.
They could end up spiralling out of control - like bank charges could.
I wonder if they send the bailiffs in for non payment or could a parent end up in prison for non payment.

It's not really going to help child poverty.

Not many people have a spare £240 knocking around to pay a fine, let alone £480.

The consequences of these fines could be catastrophic.

Parents of kids who truant are in for a rough time.
I speak as someone who was sent to school everyday, but on the odd day, played in the park all day instead.

One of the children may have said he was 'on holiday', because they knew he was going to go somewhere soon. Children can be very "helpful " like that .

You need to find the complaints procedure on the school website and follow it to the letter. It's the only way to progress this properly, and it will make sure it gets noticed by the correct people.

I think the whole business stinks, tbh. Our Head willingly grants leave when she thinks it necessary, including weddings, funerals, holidays etc. We're still okay with attendance levels, and have just been through a very very tough Ofsted inspection which was absolutely fine with attendance and the Head's attitude.

OP- why didn't you ask for the head when you went intoschool? You need to meet with head, go to governors LEA etc because his is not right.