Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taking kids out of school for hols - unauthorised absence or ring in sick

115 replies

SPARKLYSTARSHINESBRIGHT · 30/03/2019 22:13

So we have a holiday coming up which will require primary DD10 and secondary DS14 misssing the last day of term at Easter. DD hasn't missed a day this year, DS has missed about 4 registrations due to dentist appointments.
Should I ask for permission to take them out, (unauthorised absence) and risk a fine or should I ring them in sick on the last day. Do schools actually prefer you to ring them in sick as the figures look better than unauthorised absences? I've never taken them out before.

OP posts:
EluphNaugeMeop · 30/03/2019 22:23

Tell the truth. They probably won't fine for such a small infraction and it is really important to demonstrate to your kids that its good to be honest even when the truth is a bit more expensive or inconvenient than a lie. You will need them to believe its worth telling you the truth even when the truth will get them in trouble within the next few years.

WorraLiberty · 30/03/2019 22:24

Tell the truth

They can't fine unless you've missed so many sessions per term/half term and from what you've said, they haven't.

thewinkingprawn · 30/03/2019 22:25

You’ll be told to tell the truth but honestly it’s one day at the end of term - i’d Call them in sick. Far less admin for the school and trouble for you. No one will even ask once the hols are over

trebless · 30/03/2019 22:27

It's the last day of term...both dcs are at different schools. I'd call in sick. I'd go with saying a sickness bug and explain to each school that your other dcs are off too. Then I'd bugger off on holiday and have a great time and not worry about it :-)

Fraula · 30/03/2019 22:30

They can fine you for one day. It depends on the LEA though.
I'd call in sick: just say it's a virus. It's a stupid policy so don't feel bad about it at all!

Drum2018 · 30/03/2019 22:31

As long as the kids are comfortable carrying on the lie if asked on their return to school, then ring in sick. However if they are shit liars then maybe just tell the truth.

WorraLiberty · 30/03/2019 22:33

Actually Fraula is right. They can fine for one day but it's quite unlikely ime.

ATrainSeat · 30/03/2019 22:34

Literally no one will ask them why they were off for one day before the holidays once they go back. Ring in sick.

TheGrey1houndSpeaks · 30/03/2019 22:35

Schools prefer you to say they’re sick? Where on earth did you hear this?

ASauvignonADay · 30/03/2019 22:36

Just ring in and say that's where you're going. It isn't anymore work for the school (unless it's enough for a fine) and we'd respect you more for being honest. It's so obvious when people call in fake sick on the last day of term.

DailyMailSucksWails · 30/03/2019 22:38

Lie. Had this decision last yr.

Thehop · 30/03/2019 22:40

They won’t fine for a day.

Matilda15 · 30/03/2019 22:41

I’d tell them the truth. I always think things like that make you look so silly if the truth comes out in the end, plus it’s the last day of term so I doubt they’d even miss anything, I took DS out 2 years ago on the last day before summer holidays and the head signed it off no problem.

sagradafamiliar · 30/03/2019 22:42

Call them in sick.

womandear · 30/03/2019 22:51

Our LEA fines £60 per kid per parent per week or single day in that week. So I’d call them in with a tummy bug rather than pay £240 for the sake of a day. A week and I would suck it up and pay the fine and tell school but deffo not for a day.

anniehm · 30/03/2019 22:53

My DD's school sent a letter a few years back saying all "sickness" directly before or following a scheduled school holiday should either be backed up with a drs note or you should bring your dc to school and they will send them home if too ill for lessons. But there had been a major problem with kids being "sick" for a week or two prior to Christmas only for the kid to let on they were in India (usually)

Ribbonsonabox · 30/03/2019 22:55

Ring in sick. They wont even notice when you come back. It's just one day and if you try but fail to get the absence authorised then they may end up having to fine you... which no one really wants do they for just one day.. I'm sure the school dont want to do it anymore than you want it done... so I'm sure even if they do find out somehow the sickness was a lie... they wont actually ever comment on it.

ilovemilton · 30/03/2019 22:56

I'm in this situation for the summer holidays. Stupidly didn't check, thinking I knew when the six weeks holiday would start. Except they start on he Tuesday of what would normally be week one 

CremeEggThief · 30/03/2019 22:57

Definitely call in sick!

womandear · 30/03/2019 22:58

You don’t need a GPs note for one day and if our school asked for one i’d Tell them where to go! It’s ridiculous that the Head’s discretion of up to 10 days has been taken away from so many state schools when Private schools and church schools can do what they like.

Bobbycat121 · 30/03/2019 23:01

call in sick, I wouldnt hesitate tbh!

Original poster
SPARKLYSTARSHINESBRIGHT · 30/03/2019 23:02

I've told DD10 we are going on the Saturday, the day after as she has told her friends about the holiday, so will just tell her the flights have been brought forward. Thanks for your replies, I understand schools are judged (not sure if it's Ofsted) on how many days unauthorised absences they have. Our primary had charts on the hall wall as a competition against all the classes which class got the least!

OP posts:
Lou898 · 30/03/2019 23:06

Check your local councils policy on fining but it’s unlikely you’d get fined for one day although this will remain accrued. The school I work in you need to accrue or take 10 sessions am/pm as holiday in term time to receive a fine.....unless your child is already a concern with a ttendance which doesn’t appear to be the case reading your post.

Lou898 · 30/03/2019 23:14

Don’t lie as these kind of things have a habit of biting you on the backside. I have worked in attendance and have had our EWO wanting to do spot visits and have seen parents posting on Facebook holiday photos when children were “ill”. Plus it put pressure on your kids to lie too which is never a good idea......as they are much more likely to slip up and what is it teaching them? Honesty the best policy in my opinion. A day is not the end of the world ....a 2 or 3 week term time holiday does have an impact.

redtulip12 · 30/03/2019 23:22

When my two were at primary I asked the school if they would rather they were off sick or I requested leave and was told that them being sick would be better!
I think the school records look better etc. It was only one day like the OP's situation

Swipe left for the next trending thread