This is clearly unreasonable but what do I do now?

[Flexibilityofapavingslab]

DS has a problem with his ear, we’ve been to the GP and it hasn’t resolved.

I’ve managed to get a hospital appointment but it’s some 45 minutes away, with hindsight I know what work are like about time off and I should have called in sick. But I thought because it was health related and for a young child I’d be granted the time off.

They have said no, it’s a school. They just keep saying to rearrange in holiday time or after school.

I think if I lie it could be a disciplinary - I feel so conflicted.

I think it’s awful that they’re not letting you take time off for the appointment.

I work in a school and had to take a day off for ds appointment. They do prefer that you book things in the holidays but we had been waiting for a specialist referral, that had already taken 9 months, so there was no way I was going to miss the appointment they gave us. I told school straight away and, even though we had 21 members of staff off with COVID that week, they bent over backwards to cover my day so I could make the appointment.

A child in pain for 2 weeks is awful and I wouldn’t wait even a day longer than I had to to go to an appointment.

Are you for real??? Try telling a hospital appt you can only do school holidays. Or once school has finished.

And how do you know the OP is not a single parent? And if you have grandparents who can help them wow. It’s not that common nowadays.

I think you need a reality check.

threatmatrix Have you read that the OP is a teacher? We can't take holidays FFS! Talk about your own agenda?!

OP, whatever school you're in is ridiculous. If you're non-contact what on Earth is the issue? This would never happen in Scotland: we have agreements in place to protect us and strong unions. My union rep would be tearing up the corridors over this. You and your colleagues must work under such a terrible atmosphere if this is how your head treats you. Speak to your union.

If I were you and this isn't resolved I'd be working to rule from now on: arriving exactly on time and leaving on the bell!

Could you just arrive 30 mins late? Would they still see your DC?

I understand why they’d prefer you to do it in holidays. But don’t they understand that lots of people request appointments out of school hours or term time etx. Where do they think the NHS has all these spare non- term time, no school time appointments?

@Flexibilityofapavingslab

It is at the end of the day but because it takes a while to get there I’d need to leave about 30 mins early.

I think it's very unfair if you will actually only have to leave half an hour early.

When I was a child I had an ear infection that didnt get properly investigated, and my eardrum perforated and I was off school for weeks. It was agony. Luckily I didnt lose my hearing.

If your child gets more unwell, you'll be off school caring for your DC potentially for ages. I'd point that out to your head and say you cant control the timing of the appointment and you will make up the 30 mins on another day.

Depends how ballsy you are - I’d be tempted to insist that his health is too important to worry about 30mins but head teachers can be vindictive arses so is it worth it?

I'm a teacher. You're entitled to 6 weeks unpaid parental leave. Take it unpaid for that last period. It's shit. But you are entitled to it.

Never do anything above or beyond for the school again. Do everything exactly as stated. It works both ways. Don't run any clubs. Offer any support or help above what you have to. They don't give a shit about you. Return the favour.

If it’s not dealt with and it perforates then corrective surgery will be 2 weeks off school not 30 minutes.

They are being incredibly unreasonable. Perhaps they thought it was a routine check not an urgent appointment? Escalate. Ear pain is the worst, don’t leave it any longer just to appease a jobsworth manager.

I would go.

Just get a warning.

They're being unreasonable and next time, call in sick

@Whatelsecouldibecalled

I'm a teacher. You're entitled to 6 weeks unpaid parental leave. Take it unpaid for that last period. It's shit. But you are entitled to it.

Never do anything above or beyond for the school again. Do everything exactly as stated. It works both ways. Don't run any clubs. Offer any support or help above what you have to. They don't give a shit about you. Return the favour.

This.

Ludicrous behaviour by the school.

Bloody hell this thread is really making g me appreciate my boss....l mean she has her moments but would never in a million years not accommodate this request.

I would do as pp have said and take my child and accept the consequences.

Your head isn't trying to get rid of you is he/she op?

I once asked about being able to take my child to a medical appointment and my school gave me a form for leave. It might be unpaid but I've never heard of people having requests refused for things like that. It's an urgent hospital appointment, not a routine Dr one.

@Flexibilityofapavingslab

Two weeks is quite a long time when you have a child in pain, though, as you can probably appreciate (especially when they sleep badly because of it!)

Exactly .

And if that was a child in your school and the child's mother was not prioritising their health appointments the school's Safegarding lead may well be raising it with the mother that she was allowing the child to remain in pain and not being able to focus on their education .

The school's stance on this is shocking.

I work in a school and im sure u can get leave of absences for this sort of thing although may be unpaid.

This is why I stopped working in a school. My children come first and any boss not understanding that is not going to keep me for long. I was part time but when I moved to full time I agreed (after being begged) on the basis I could flex my hours as I have 3 dc and there’s a high chance I will need to take to appointments etc. dh and I share the appointments and my boss appreciates that. He also gets 100% from me. Parents treated well are dedicated employees ime. Teachers are needed so I’d be inclined to request unpaid leave but stay looking for a new school with a better ethos.

@Flexibilityofapavingslab

That wouldn’t be a whole staff meeting though *@FairyCakeWings*, that would be easy enough to rearrange.

In fairness to *@FairyCakeWings* I don't imagine they are psychic, and this is the first time you have said anything about it being a whole staff meeting.

Why is your husband abroad that week? I think it might be time that he stepped up to the plate and came back, if you've been the one to have the time off so far.

@threatmatrix

It’s your job, they count on you to work to your contract. Appointments should be made out of work hours or taken as holiday.

Nonsense. She is entitled to leave in law.

Schools run on goodwill. This HT has just lost yours, haven’t they?

Take your child. Ultimately your child is your priority.

I’d be making it clear that people don’t leave bad jobs, they leave bad managers. Look for another job ASAP as I suspect this HT will now have you on their hit list.

Do they really want to have to hire someone else over something so petty?! Utterly ridiculous of them.

@PinaColada123456

Why is your husband abroad that week? I think it might be time that he stepped up to the plate and came back, if you've been the one to have the time off so far.

What? Her husband should fly home because her employer is being ridiculous? What if she was a single parent?

@PinaColada123456

Why is your husband abroad that week? I think it might be time that he stepped up to the plate and came back, if you've been the one to have the time off so far.

Maybe because that's where he works that week?