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Original poster

Childs school asking for flight details while out during Pandemic

159 replies

confusedwithschool · 08/03/2021 11:52

hello

pls posting here for traffic and NC for this. I need your opinions please. So I had to travel out with my kids on Dec 20th to my home country (my partner is there and immediate family)due to come back on 2nd January to attend to something urgently with some of our properties.

Now because school wasn't opening on 4 Jan , i extended my ticket to get help with childcare while working from home (my uk employer was aware i was working from abroad due to chilldcare)., planning to return when I was sure schools were open.

now I'm back and called my 7 yr old's school that today is the last day of quarantine so she will be in tomorrow.

Her school is saying her being away is almost like her taking leave of absence when going to school physically. im like no, she was logging in every week to do her school work and they can see that too. I didnt see how her location was an issue

Now they are asking for her flight ticket going out and coming in?

im not sure why this is needed. im puzzled because if i had known it had to be disclosed she was out of the country during the pandemic i would have happily disclosed it. Does anyone know the take on this?

Thanks for your opinion

OP posts:
Sleepdeprivedmama1 · 08/03/2021 12:27

Ask them why they need the details. If you think they have a valid reason (checking to see you've completed the full isolation period to not put others at risk is valid in my opinion) then share. If they don't come back with anything you feel is valid, ask them to provide the guidance from DfE and in their school policy dated to when the lockdown started. If it keeps going on, say you'll involve OFSTED as you feel its an infringement on your personal privacy and you don't feel their reasons warrant sharing of information.

You've proof she attended all assemblies and done all the school work. They are up to date with their learning so not sure what the issue is on their part other than ensuring isolation has been full and no risk to others.

goodbyelenin · 08/03/2021 12:28

because someone went to Spain without telling school, came back without observing isolation then kindly spread covid to 4 more children in the year group

you don't need to go to Spain for that

People having sleepovers, mixing between Tiers, and using the "childcare bubble" card are enough!

Racoonworld · 08/03/2021 12:33

It'll just be to check you have completed the isolation period before returning to school. I'm glad they are checking. Just send them the details they want and think no more of it.

LadyHedgehog · 08/03/2021 12:33

I think this might be to do with legally having to remove a child from the roll when they are taken out of the country. It's a bit ridiculous in the context of remote learning, but I think it is a legal thing.

peak2021 · 08/03/2021 12:35

Asking why, what details they require, and if this information is going to be passed on to anyone outside the school, is a reasonable response.

Lochroy · 08/03/2021 12:36

I think they've got enough going on that they wouldn't ask for extra admin unnecessarily. Just give them the info or just ask them why they want it without getting huffy.

lurker101 · 08/03/2021 12:37

On top of everything already mentioned, it will be so the school can be prepared to defend you to other parents. Once your child returns to school and tells their classmates they’ve just returned from XYZ country and not telling the full/accurate story, you can be sure some parents will contact the school querying why your child was in school and whether there is a risk to their child/vulnerable family members etc. It’s muvh easier for the school to cut the conversation there by saying I’ve spoken to the family concerned and can confirm that they re-entered the country in time to comply with required rules, rather than being caught “on the hoof” and have to contact you then. On top of this, they have their staff to think about and may want to reassure them that they have carried out enough checks.
I wouldn’t be too worried about this, it’s irritating, but if it quells anyone’s worries worth doing.

VaVaGloom · 08/03/2021 12:42

@listsandbudgets How did you know the schools wouldn't open on the 4th? The announcement was only made the evening before they went back so you obviously intendend to miss some school for the isolation period anyway

Good point. Secondary schools were due to remote learn for 2 weeks in January but primaries did stupidlyget reopened by the Gov on the 4th (other than Tier 4 London, where an INSET was scheduled or emergency closure because of staffing) so you should really have been back in the UK then?

tigger001 · 08/03/2021 12:47

What personal details is it infringing??
You already disclosed you were out of the country, to your home country and the dates?

They are obviously checking your isolation dates, just provide them the info.

fassbendersmistress · 08/03/2021 12:48

Send the flight details and close the matter. You don’t want to send your child into school and be subject to questioning by staff or embarrassment of being refused entry at the gate in front of friends.

I witnessed a parent challenging a lone child (old enough to be waiting at gate by themselves) outside of school this morning, demanding to know what day they had returned from X foreign country. Poor kid didn’t know what was going on and when I politely asked this parent to step aside she fumed that the child had “ only returned the day before from overseas”. But instead of notifying head/school office, she chose to challenge the poor kid in front of his friends on the street. Don’t subject your child to dicks like this.

ZoBo123 · 08/03/2021 12:52

I think it is for safeguarding. Worryingly did they not pick up that you were out of the country during any welfare calls? Have you had zero phone contact with the school since December. Also the fact you intended to miss some school in January as you wouldn't have had enough time following the announcement in the inset day to change flights. It all doesn't add up and that is what the school will be checking

Dyrne · 08/03/2021 12:53

Leaving the country throws up a complete minefield of legal complications - for example my employer has been clear that no one is to “work from home” abroad due to all sorts of tax implications.

I agree with a PP that it may be that the length of time you’ve spent abroad may be in danger of triggering some sort of “habitually resident” clause which impact funding/right to a school place etc. Hence why they want both tickets to check how long you were actually out of the country and compare it to the regulations/guidelines/whatever.

thesunday · 08/03/2021 12:56

what's the problem giving them your flight details?

RamblingFar · 08/03/2021 13:04

I'd be very careful giving them the details. If they can prove she was out of country for several weeks, then you may well lose her school place.

Normally school places cannot be held when children go abroad.

RedBlackCandle · 08/03/2021 13:15

Could be welfare as they haven't seen the children at all as you've been out of the country. I know our HT sent a letter out at the beginning of January saying the school staff needed to either see or speak to your child regularly for welfare reasons so they've been calling us fortnightly and DD has spoken on the phone a few times. They also visited her here once (they did see her in town with her dad once too), apparently pictures of the child aren't enough as they can be faked. So they might be making sure you intend to return the child to school/covering their backs as they've not seen them,

IndecentFeminist · 08/03/2021 13:16

Yawn. How on earth is this in any way personal to you?

Frazzled2207 · 08/03/2021 13:18

[quote VaVaGloom]**@listsandbudgets* How did you know the schools wouldn't open on the 4th? The announcement was only made the evening before they went back so you obviously intendend to miss some school for the isolation period anyway*

Good point. Secondary schools were due to remote learn for 2 weeks in January but primaries did stupidlyget reopened by the Gov on the 4th (other than Tier 4 London, where an INSET was scheduled or emergency closure because of staffing) so you should really have been back in the UK then?[/quote]
Yes this. I don’t think it’s unreasonable of them to ask when you left or returned to the UK though they should have clarified why they wanted to know.

stablefeet · 08/03/2021 13:23

Honestly - it's the first day after the end of home learning. They don't need to be arguing the toss about small stuff like this. Just give them the information.

Soontobe60 · 08/03/2021 13:31

You say you left the country on the 20th and we’re due to return on the 2nd. But didn’t because of lockdown. Primary schools were only notified of lockdown on the evening of 4th, 2 days after you were due to return.
Sounds like you had no intention of returning on 2nd, and lockdown made it easier for you to stay away. Schools have a duty to follow safeguarding concerns. This could be one such concern as your child has been out of the country for 2 1/2 months without school knowing where she was.
You need to show them your flight details!

PleaseStopExplaining · 08/03/2021 13:38

To everyone saying lockdown was announced last minute, I’m sure some areas knew schools would be shut before Christmas.

goodbyelenin · 08/03/2021 13:39

@PleaseStopExplaining

To everyone saying lockdown was announced last minute, I’m sure some areas knew schools would be shut before Christmas.
and most parents had planned for it.

The actual surprise was schools opening on the first Monday, not the lockdown!

goodbyelenin · 08/03/2021 13:40

This could be one such concern as your child has been out of the country for 2 1/2 months without school knowing where she was.

Is that any of their business? No one informs schools when they go away during the summer holiday - even if they are ridiculously short.

Frazzled2207 · 08/03/2021 13:42

actually tbf I think schools in London knew before Christmas that they wouldn't be reopening in Jan. Which makes sense. But I still think it's best you just come clean with the school.

ineedaholidaynow · 08/03/2021 13:51

I wonder if it is due to being out of the country for so long in term time

ItsMarch · 08/03/2021 13:52

I’d give them the return flight details to reassure them re the quarantine period. That’s all though.