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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask school to authorise absence for center parcs

178 replies

needabreak5 · 06/05/2021 15:01

We have booked the CP village near my parents (300 miles from us), for next month. Friday to Monday, term time so two days off school. It was originally booked for last year, before DS started school, cancelled due covid, rebooked for Christmas (then cancelled), re-booked for easter (cancelled). On this fourth re-book the only available dates were during term-time DC haven't seen grandparents for 10 months - we are desperate for a mini holiday after so many disappointments and cancellations. If you were the head would you allow the absence?

OP posts:
BabbleBee · 06/05/2021 15:37

Another No from me. We are all desperate to spend time with family, we all really need it. DC need to be in school - you can’t have one rule for one year group and another rule for other year groups.

Maggiesfarm · 06/05/2021 15:40

@SmidgenofaPigeon

I would but it’s not really relevant because I’m not your Head.
Same here.
BelleBlueBell · 06/05/2021 15:40

Unreasonable and a waste of everyone's time to ask for an absence that can't be authorised to be authorised. Go and accept the consequences, it's no more complicated than that. I'm sure everyone at the school will understand that you are in the unique position of not being able to have a holiday due to covid. Oh no, hang on that's all of us.

drspouse · 06/05/2021 15:40

He's not CSA and it's less than a week. They might not authorise it but they can't fine you.

FinallyFluid · 06/05/2021 15:42

In contrast to the HT at his primary, he was going on rugby tour to represent our town, I wrote and asked for half a day, she denied, I turned up and took him out anyway after registration, she blocked the door, I told her that I had kept him in long enough to keep her figures straight and then stared her down, she moved to the side. Grin

Only ever took him out twice in his whole school career, both very different experiences.

Hoppinggreen · 06/05/2021 15:42

Unlikely to authorise but you may not be fined.
Unfortunately that’s the chance you take when you book holidays in term time. I’m judging as I have done it myself but if I had been fined I would have just paid up

CirqueDeMorgue · 06/05/2021 15:43

@PlanDeRaccordement

No. If I were the Head I would not allow the absence. The rules are clear about scheduling holidays during term dates. It is irrelevant all the prior booking/cancel and so on. And 10months not seeing extended family isn’t unusually long especially given Covid. Most people are past the 12 month mark not seeing family.

Now, if one of the grandparents was terminally ill and it is “last time”, then I would approve it.

You sound like fun.
Heathofhares · 06/05/2021 15:43

when is your DS birthday - absence is only voluntary until the term after they turn 5.

Original poster
needabreak5 · 06/05/2021 15:43

Can you move the booking to half term week or summer holiday? There are 6 weeks of holiday out of the next 16 weeks and children have missed so much school already, if I was the head I would feel a bit hmm that you hadn't booked it during the holidays.

there is no availability - when we tried to re-book the CP village was fully booked for half term and for any time in the summer holidays

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 06/05/2021 15:45

Surely if they fine you... well the refunds and money off from CP will mean your holiday is practically free anyway by now (ours was only £220 for 4 days due to all the refunds!)... so will it really matter?

Macncheeseballs · 06/05/2021 15:45

Just phone them in sick

SnackSizeRaisin · 06/05/2021 15:46

Why is everyone assuming the child is under compulsory school age? If his birthday was between September and Easter he is compulsory school age. Only a third of reception children aren't 5 by Easter.

SnackSizeRaisin · 06/05/2021 15:47

(but I'd still go anyway)

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 06/05/2021 15:50

Head can't authorise. It's also not their decision to fine someone. Just tell them he'll be off and why. Even if unauthorised, two days should not trigger a fine, especially if his attendance so far has been good . Don't lie, there's no point.

pipsqueakbollock · 06/05/2021 15:51

You can't be fined as it has to be 10 sessions although they can be over 100 days (if you did lots of mini breaks then eventually you reach 10 sessions - a session is a registration period usually morning and afternoon)

If your DS is turning 5 late in the school year, you can't be fined either (the term after 5th birthday)

Be nice to your head. Write a letter. Admit to a mini break, give brief reasons why and confirm the dates your child won't be in school.

You will (should !) receive a stern standard letter warning you of a fine in return - you can file the letter wherever you like but don't moan at your head for sending it.

Hallyup6 · 06/05/2021 15:52

I've done similar. I'm taking my 13 year old out of school for a week due to having to rearrange a holiday from last year/no suitable dates available out of term time (her primary aged sisters are on half term). We got a letter saying it would be unauthorised, nothing about a fine yet but I'll just take it on the chin when it inevitably shows up. We've never taken any of our children out of school for holidays before and I was going to lose money either way so what do you do? I wouldn't worry too much for a reception aged child, just pay any fine and forget about it.

TheDamnFoolThatShotHim · 06/05/2021 15:53

DS only turned 5 last month

When exactly is his birthday? Children are not Compulsory School Age until the term after they turn 5. If his birthday was April, then he is not CSA until the first of September so you can't be fined and it shouldn't go down as an unauthorised absence either. It should go down as an 'X' code on the register.

For those saying call them in sick, honestly don't bother. They come back, we say 'lovely to see you back, are you feeling better?' And they reply 'I went on holiday!!'
Just be up front.

Enjoy your holiday Smile

newnortherner111 · 06/05/2021 15:53

If I was the head, no I would not.

Personally though I disagree with fines, in almost all circumstances. If parents were repeatedly taking children out of school for holidays, I would take away passports or have points on driving licences, but only after a court appearance. It would not be for the school to decide on prosecution though.

andivfmakes3 · 06/05/2021 15:54

Of course YABU

Just take the fine

motherloaded · 06/05/2021 15:55

@needabreak5

No, they shouldn't authorise them all and Covid is the reason why not! They've missed so much school already that they don't need toe disruption of children disappearing off on holidays left right and centre.

for young DC, there is so much more that they have missed that is as equally as important as a couple of days school at 5 years old. Time with elderly GP, holidays, swimming, change of scene. May sound selfish, but we as parents also really, really, need this too.

I don't disagree about taking your kid off school for a holiday at all.

But you have 6 weeks of summer break coming, plus the next half-term, so you have plenty time for holidays, GP, change of scene...

so being with friends whilst they can IS important too.

Schools cannot start to authorise absence when kids have missed so much, it's hard enough for the entire class to play catch-up.

I am sure that the age is irrelevant, once you put them in the school system, the same rules apply to everyone.

Brightbluebell · 06/05/2021 15:56

I’m a headteacher of a primary school. We have made the decision to authorise all holidays for this and next academic year. Families need to catch up on missed holidays. I remember the wonderful early years of my headship when I could authorise 10 days a year without anyone questioning me.

Fines only start from 6th day of unauthorised absence so, unless there are any other unauthorised absences, you will be fine.

Enjoy and have a great time with your family.

Hallyup6 · 06/05/2021 16:00

Just noticed he's under compulsory school age. They can unauthorise it but cannot fine you. Go and have fun.

camaleon · 06/05/2021 16:00

@BelleBlueBell

Unreasonable and a waste of everyone's time to ask for an absence that can't be authorised to be authorised. Go and accept the consequences, it's no more complicated than that. I'm sure everyone at the school will understand that you are in the unique position of not being able to have a holiday due to covid. Oh no, hang on that's all of us.
The time will be wasted anyway. She needs to report the absence one way or another. Perhaps instead of asking for authorised leave the family can just notify the absence so the school does not need to follow up why the child is not at school.
Fcuk38 · 06/05/2021 16:01

Just ring them in sick not hard and you’ll get away with it.

LM20 · 06/05/2021 16:01

If your child is under 5 you don’t require permission. I don’t think any headteacher are authorising any absence requests - my school issue a fine if a child has missed 10 or more marks (5 days as you get 2 marks per day). If you can provide evidence that it was booked originally during school holidays they should be lenient when deciding whether to fine.