To think this is a weird set up

[crazylady321]

A girl who lives 3 doors down aged 5 lives with her mum and 2 older siblings she has a different dad to the others and ive noticed every fortnight she has Friday off school and he collects her about dinner time and then she returns home on a monday. Today ive seen him collect her again.

Im intrigued to know how they get away with this surely school must be concerned. I know them to say hi to and the little girl often plays with the kids Ive cheekily asked her a while ago how come she misses school on those days and she said she goes to Barnsley (presuming thats where dad lives). Not judging them as nothing is black and white but im so curious, I know as a parent I wouldnt be happy about a child missing school so much. She turned 5 in the sumer hols noticed the birthday banners so now shes at an age where she must attend school you would think school would be involved?

Maybe the family have a formal flexischooling arrangement in place now she is five?

Sorry I didn't mean to be aggressive . I have a home educated child and the nosiness I have to deal with dressed up as "concern" makes me really prickly. I know most people who live near us wonder why ds is never at school and I would be pretty angry if I found out anyone had been questioning him. He has autism and it would scare and confuse him. I suppose I answered with that in mind.

wowee,you notice a lot about your neighbours

Maybe she's part time, as long as she goes for the times her parents have signed her up for, and her right to a full time education is being provided for, that's all that matters.

I only notice becaUSE the mum often walks home in front or behind me and I started to work out it was every second Fridays she had the little girl with her, and would notice then on the monday she would only take the older ones to school.
Im not 1 who stands at the window all day can assure you

Well considering the child is 5 this may be the first year she actually has to attend school/be educated by law and as they have only been back to school a matter of days then she wont have missed enough days to worry the school.

Also NOYB

she might be flexi schooled but if youre not close enough to the mum to ask, then its not your business

Ooo, do please tell us more about your own set up!

That sounds much more interesting!

The main reason for my curiosity is because I know after year 1 they legally have to attend. And I know the school are really strict they have made a fuss over my sons monthly appointment with a incontanance specialist even though explained she only works certain mornings at the clinic local to usand cant do early mornings due to the other children :/

I would happily tell you my life story but id need a long time to write it all out and OH is home anytime, he would start whinging at me about discussing my private life on forums again :)

And other people's private lives

To be fair to the op, I'd be curious about this setup.

waithorse - Thats all it is curiosity :) No beef with the mum or anything just want to know how they get away with missing the school really think its only right she goes spend time with her father and if he lives an hour drive away then think hes doing a cracking job

But last year she was not of legal school age and this year they haven't been back a full week.
maybe she goes fro a medical appointment every friday.

Isn't the whole point of Mumsnet is that we are ALL curious of what other people are up to

I didn't read the OP as judgey. Maybe now test the girl is 5 the arrangement will change.

Maybe she was 4 last year and didn't need to be in school.

I can't imagine knowing or caring about the childcare arrangements of people in my street. Really there's no way any of us can tell you what's going on- surely the only way to assuage your curiosity is to ask the mum - and I'm sure you'd get the response you deserve!

It may be that this year, they do it differently, because of school requirements. You are asking too soon. Continue observing, but for gosh sake dont ask the child. If you are going to be nosey, BE BOLD and ask her mother. Or flag the dad down in the street one Friday and ask him. No sense being subtle.

In my experience, for the first year at least, and maybe the second, missing all or part of 2 days a month can easily be made up. And its possible she is one of those kids who picks up all the first year lessons so easily that even missing every other friday still leaves her ahead of most of the class.

I'm nosey and curious

I wouldn't ask, but secretly I'd like to know.
Not to judge, just to satisfy my need to be a stickybeak.

Surely they only went back to school this week? So maybe things will change this week?

My DD misses one Friday a month with the full support of the school. She's currently off school since yesterday and won't be back until Tuesday. Again, with their full support and knowledge. She is also due to be away from school for almost 2 weeks in October.

Your nose would be killing you if you were my neighbour.