Is this extremely petty of my children's school?

[PumpkinSly]

I went to the school office today to tell them I would need to collect my two children at 15.05 rather than 15.15 because my ds has an opticians appointment. They asked for proof of the appointment which I don't have. They said that without it, it would go down as an unauthorized absence. I haven't been given an appointment card, or been sent a text or email to confirm the appointment. I went home and rang the opticians who said that the confirmation email has to come from customer services, and they aren't able to do it from the branch. So either we are late to the appointment or, if I pick my children up 10 minutes before the end of the school day, they will get an unauthorised absence for the whole afternoon session.

Aibu to think that this is an extreme level of pettiness from my children's school over them missing 10 minutes at the end of the school day? It's the end of term and I would bet good money that there won't be a full day of teaching and that they will be watching films and playing games etc. This response from the school is bizarre to me, it's 10 minutes at the end of the day!

Yes it's pathetic in the scheme of things

Sweat the small stuff surely

I've withdrawn my kids at random times of day on just the strength of my word, never been questioned. It isn't an absence on the register

Ridiculous, once afternoon registration is done, its not normally an issue.
I would just print my own letter, copy their header / logo.

I've got a bit of a situation at the moment where school have marked my DD as unauthorised. They threatened me with it and if I'm going to care. At the end of the day they make so much fuss about any type of absence it really doesn't matter if it's authorised or not. As it is I'll be challenging it as it is incorrect to call it unauthorised in our circumstances and I won't put up with being threatened with it.

By-pass the reception on Monday and hand the copy of the email to the head and explain you found being told that the children would be marked with a UA ridiculous and unfair. The head will put a rocket up the receptionists arse.

Genuine appointments do happen but you wouldn't believe the amount of appointments that are on a Friday afternoon in May-July. Especially bank holidays. We don't ask for evidence but had 18 children leave today from 1pm-3.15. One class we had to call 4 times and ta (if there is one) has to bring child down. It's incredibly disruptive. Of course many just say they are going camping or whatever but it really really is hard work . It's not just your little poppets. The planned ones aren't too bad , we can arrange those , it's then that people just turn up . Especially lovely is pulling them out of the end of term assembly, lovely . We are trying to get letters /newsletters out , answer everyone ringing with stuff they need before the holiday and info that you need for 1st week back too. I hate it, I wish we could refuse, but of course we smile and say have a nice time.

They really won't

It's the last day of term, I suspect quite a few children have "opticians or dentist" appointments so they have got wise though for 10 mins I don't know why you would be lying! You may be honest but not all parents are.

My friend recently retired from being a primary school teacher, last year a child was supposedly off sick for 6 weeks, the class even made get well cards, turns out they were in Pakistan on holiday! (The kid told them when he came back). The school hadn't pushed for proof as it appeared the kid was properly ill and parents stressed about it. She was so annoyed and it wasn't the first time it happened at her school

Well ours has called a meeting of all the parents of one class as we're sick to the back teeth of children missing lessons and then giving us the blame when their progress isn't what it should be, so don't bet on it.

She's also emailed all the parents saying given that we are coming to the last part of the year, nobody unless they're ill is going home early, and if there are appointments which have been made before this email went out, the school needs an email with the proof at least one week before the appointment.

@ASighMadeOfStone I bet the WhatsApp groups are in meltdown!

Take a passive aggressive selfie with them at the opticians and send to the school.

it matters at her age because unexcused absences mean any work for the day is recorded as a zero.

That's terrible!

I think this is very dishonest of the parents and I hope they get a fine

I'd take my kids and worry later - take a picture of the kid and said optician and immediately send it to the head teacher and move on.
It's petty and unnecessary but that's what happens when you don't home school them

I didn't think they were allowed to refuse a parent collecting their child for whatever reason unless there was a safeguarding concern (and even then the police or SS should be involved)? They can of course report the absence, but can't refuse the parent their child. It is a worry that pops up on here now and then that abusive NRPs have the right to collect their DCs during the school day and refuse to return them to the RP. The school have to release the DC even if they know what is happening if the parent has PR.

This is crazy OP. I get it looks suspiciously like an early BH getaway, but if attendance is otherwise good the school shouldn't be fussed as they have the attendance mark already for their overall figures.
As for the schools that have lots of DCs leaving say 30-ish mins early on a particular day, I'm surprised they aren't collected up in a one group and sat with a reading book in reception awaiting their parents. It doesn't have to mean lots of disruption and back and forth along the corridors.

I love this idea - maybe a series of photos? Outside the shop snapped in one of those mid air jumps, in the chair with the crazy glasses, looking indecisive in front of sample frames, Mum crying whilst holding the receipt?

Livestream the appointment and send the Head a link. (Joking)

Just let them mark it how they want - attendance matters more to them than it does to you.

Who cares? Let them record it unauthorised. Unless they are missing days and days of school one unauthorised absence is nothing. I couldn’t even tell you how many my kids have. Nor do I care

Schools don't own your kid. Just take them out and they can unauthorise it all they want

Some great suggestions here that I really wish I had done 😂. We were 5 minutes late to the opticians but my ds was still seen, so no harm done. Thank you for everyone's responses. I don't blame the receptionist at the school, it is definitely coming from the headmaster. He is a real piece of work. Think used car salesman who styles himself on being an extra in Peaky Blinders. A message to him wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference as he ignores communication from parents anyway.

The other thing you could say @PumpkinSly is "I have no legal obligation to send my child to school, please remind the Head he will be asking for yet more voluntary contributions soon".

Have you thought about writing to the Chair of Governors about constructive relationships with parents who are expected to raise money for the school.

Maybe they think you're petty for not making the appointment 10 mins later.

You can read it either way.

Afternoon register will have been taken at 1pm or whenever afternoon lessons start. They are being weird and stupid. Ignore them and go to the appt. If put as unauthorised contact governors.

You don’t need to ask to take your kids home early. You just tell the school. They can mark the absence however they wish, that’s their problem to deal with.