Reasons to record unauthorised absence

[Parkmybentley]

There's been a bit of discussion recently about the changes to fines for unauthorised absence.

I'm reading through the updated school policy and it says : "Arrival more than 30 minutes after registers close will be recorded as unauthorised
absence."

Does anyone else think this is completely ridiculous and misses the point? For example car breakdown, family medical emergency, public transport not arriving on time due to roadworks, etc. Something that happens on the morning and is unavoidable.

It also says "Waiting at home for a repair or maintenance work" will be recorded as unauthorised. What if it's the central heating that's packed up in December, or something else urgent that puts the child at risk?

It seems incredibly heavy handed.

AIBU to think these two rules are particularly harsh and ultimately counterproductive? Or am I BU, these rules are needed?

You're not getting fined for every single individual time your child is absent though? It's if it's consistent. I know a parent at DCs school who is late almost every day. Soo it's to discourage people like that

My daughter has a few unauthorised absences... due to council organised transport being late.

But if you rang up and said you are late because your car has broken down it's not an unexplained absense and they can out it down as authorised.

Unauthorised absense 30 minutes late is for those who just rock up late because they slept in because ...... well just because.

Absolutely spot on.

So if you aregoing to be half hour late then you might as well not bother to rock up at all? Makes no sense

But an odd late/absence because the car broke down will barely ever happen?

If you know you've got a plumber coming, surely the child's other parent takes to school, or you ask another mum/dad who lives near by if your DC can walk with them to school? The vast majority of children will live near their school.

Or you don't book the plumber to come til 9.30!

Loads of people are late because they are rude and disrespectful. A friend of mine just hated getting to school gate in time for elder daughter to be on time, then waiting around for younger daughter to be allowed into playgroup which started later, so would only turn up at playgroup opening and just have her 6 year old be late every single day. No joke.

This.

They know who are the ones who genuinely aimed to get there on time but unforeseen circumstances happened (usually with transport) and who are the pisstakers who ‘wouldn’t put their shoes on/got up late/couldn’t find their PE bag etc’

I can't recall my child being late for school during his entire school life. Saying that, I was only late for work in extreme circumstances eg car accident.

I used to work in a school office.

The same kids were constantly late. It's disruptive to the rest of the class when kids are coming in and the flow is interrupted. Also if it's a primary school then the dinner numbers have already been placed, so the office have to phone the additional orders through, sometimes the whole class has already left for swimming/forest school/other off-site activity and the child has to join another class.

Most parents experiencing an unforeseen emergency actually phone the school and let them know child is going to be late.

It's the ones that are habitually late with no contact that cause the problems.

So if you aregoing to be half hour late then you might as well not bother to rock up at all? Makes no sense

Most people are keen for their dc to go to school for other reasons than their registration mark.

I was thinking more of the older teenagers. If you going to get marked absent for being late then might as well take the day off. As you likely to get a telling off from your parents anyway

We've had a letter from school today saying our LA is implementing the rule as late at all. Our classroom doors open at 8.40 for 8.45 start, if you arrive at 8.48 you have to go through the office and get marked U on the register. Its ridiculous.

We went through reception and year 1 with 100% attendance, literally never late or through the office. Something has gone on with starting year 2 that means there are days I'm literally having to carry DD in crying because she doesn't want to go. There have been 2 mornings she's fought going so much its been 5 to 9 when we've got there. But she's there. I now know that they are actually on the system as unauthorised absences, despite the fact that I've been speaking to the pastoral support officer and her teacher and we're all trying to get the bottom of whats causing this complete change in attitude towards school. So if we carry on with this horrible heartbreaking morning battle we're also going to get a fine from the LA 😡

No. If your child is regularly late due to emotional distress, then the lateness would be due to mental ill health, which is included in the DfE's definition of illness. Hopefully she is receiving support from school and by building relationships of trust with adults at school, and school showing flexibility so that she can remain within her tolerance, the anxiety will pass. But if her distress continues, it will be important to involve the SENCO/consider seeking advice from Educational Psychology or the LA inclusion team, and consider if a CAMHS referral is needed?