School refused to authorise absence

[Windybananas]

Hello everyone, looking for some insight into whether IABU.

We live rurally and about 45 minutes from DD's primary school. There are closer schools, but she was settled in when we moved here, so decided to keep her there at her request. The driving is a pain, but we work over that way too, so it fits in usually and she is adamant she wants to stay there.

Her attendance is excellent and she received a certificate last term for outstanding attendance. She loves school and always has fab parents evenings etc. Anyway, due to where we live, we are really suffering from the storm. We have lost power. Where we live is surrounded by (extremely bendy!) trees and a ford, too. I am also heavily pregnant (40 weeks) and also have a 19 month old. We currently have 78mph winds according to Met Office. I imagine in reality, it's much higher too, given we are on an exposed hill. As I say, it's pretty rural... think barren hill land.
Anyway, I rang the school office this morning to explain the situation and that I didn't feel it was safe to do a 90 minute round trip with DD in these circumstances. The office then refused to authorise the absence. I'm really angry as her attendance record is excellent as stated earlier. I appreciate it's not their problem that we live far away, but surely a bit of understanding and common sense is needed here.
Also just before anyone says it's unfair to keep DD in this school, I would love her to go to a closer school (I'd even say the closer schools are actually better...) but she really wants to stay where she is and we have respected that.
I am also a teacher myself (secondary) so I understand the attendance push and keeping on top of parents who are lax etc. But we never have been.
AIBU to contest the office's refusal to authorise the absence?
Thanks.

It is for the Headteacher to determine that based on individual circumstances. Y2 may also apply. DfE provides the statutory guidance on recording absences. The statutory guidance does NOT state that code C can only be used in whole school closure situations.

Code C: Leave of absence for exceptional circumstance 346. All schools are able to grant a leave of absence at their discretion. A leave of absence should not, and from a school maintained by a local authority or a special school not maintained by a local authority, must not be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances. 347. Schools must judge each application individually considering the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind each request. Where a leave of absence is granted, the school will determine the number of days a pupil can be absent from school. A leave of absence is granted entirely at the school’s discretion.

Code Y2: Unable to attend due to widespread disruption to travel 376. The pupil is unable to attend the school because of widespread disruption to travel caused by a local, national, or international emergency. 377. This code is classified for statistical purposes as not a possible attendance

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bf300da44f1c4c23e5bd1b/Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance_-_August_2024.pdf

See Chapter 8 for the legal definitions of register codes. Schools are required to follow these - they are defined in regulations (secondary legislation) and the statutory guidance also forms part of the law.

they do though. there is a whole host of codes available to them for authorisation of absence. And disruption to travel is one of them.

That's not quite right. The Headteacher is accountable in law for the register markings. They must follow the law as set out in regulations (eg. use the definition of codes as described in legislation). They must also follow the statutory guidance which describes how the law she be applied, unless they can show a court they have a very good reason, by exception to depart from it.

But thisnisnt disruption travel. Thisnis 1 parent refusing to drive because she chose to move 45 minutes away from the school. Therefore it does not meet the criteria for authorisation

I think take your teacher hat off. You are the mum, you know the risk, you make the call. Why does the attendance descriptor matter? Not your circus.

I can understand them having to put it as unauthorised as ultimately this is an issue based on choices (living so far away from the school, the school being open and not affected by extreme weather). It could also be argued that if you have no power maybe your DD would be better in school to get a hot lunch at least.

I don't know how old DD is, but although she might be adamant she doesn't want to move schools you are the grown up. Driving 45 mins each way is tough, and soon you will have a baby, a toddler and your DD to battle with in the mornings to do this. Unless she is going into year 6 I would be moving her.

https://theeducationspace.co.uk/what-are-the-new-requirements-for-school-attendance/

I mean personally I would email the office and copy in the head and state your child could not attend and the applicable code is Y1 or Y2 and then see what happens.

Firstly, did the HT even come into the equation?
If you feel strongly end a simple email explain why you're disappointed it has been classed as unauthorised and....then move on. (School office staff have to follow guidelines, they literally have no say)

Secondly, NO teacher is making a judgement on any child for a 1 day unauthorised absence. Yes judgements are made when it's obvious parents are not fulfilling their roles, but this is most definitely NOT the case here.

Enjoy the day at home .
our kids went in and school decided to shut at lunch time so another trip to pick them up!

It’s their own stats they’re messing up. As your child’s attendance is so good generally, it’ll have no impact on you. So let them have at it and just let it go.

Next time, though, just lie and say she’s ill and don’t feel guilty. They’re conditioning you into doing so, after all, with this ridiculous system.

Meh... honestly, let them. It actually has no bearing on the decision you've already made (which sounds sensible imo). I'm curious though why has it triggered such a strong response? Why does it matter to you?

You could contest as someone has highlighted with the y2 code. I've just read your 'concern owing to experiences on the other side re safeguarding'. Sounds like this experienced impacted you deeply, I'm also aware that at 40 weeks pregnant with 2 young children, the storm etc, you probably feel vulnerable? So decisions like this can just feel very personal. Interesting you said the tree came down which would have supposedly blocked access to the school anyway? Or made it harder to access? Sometimes we have this uncanny ability to sense things and I absolutely believe this is enhanced when you are pregnant because you are biological vulnerable. Regardless of all this - I hope you had a nice day cwtched up inside 😊

I also believe it's easier to move a child in primary than expecting them to manage going to a secondary where they don't know anyone!
We had to make a decision for our son, then going into y4, and although we didn't move far it (daily travel would have been fine), it would have been he'd have to go to a different comp than all his primary friends due to county boundaries (both over subscribed).

Quite. It takes a hell of a lot more parenting to care for a disabled or chronically unwell child who needs a lot of medical appointments and has had to be gently nurtured through their 85% (or 35%) attendance than it does to smugly collect a 100% attendance certificate.

Hate the system which rewards good luck and suggests it might be down to virtue or hard work.

Clearly the OP who is a teacher is making this kind of judgement about attendance.

Op is 40 weeks pregnant, and has a young toddler, on top of the storm! Some posters are forgetting that. She has a lot on her plate. No need for the mean comments.

I hope you're okay @Windybananas and that you managed to have an okay day. The most important thing is that everyone is safe, healthy, and hopefully no damage to property.

Wrongly. Very much so. Perhaps you need to have a close look at your own prejudices? One day's unauthorised absence says fuck all about a child's background. Fuck all.

Seems a bit mean, when we've had weather related lateness (flooded roads all over) it was put down as exceptional circumstances. Overall it won't really matter but it would bug me.

No one is being mean but OP expressed her prejudices to parents such as myself whose child couldn't get 'good' attendance due to circumstance completely outside of our control, calling us 'lax' or 'not caring'. I'm sure her children will already feel the effects of her ignorance and coldness towards people who can't keep up with perfection, without a few people on the internet calling her up on it, having an adverse affect on her mood.

I think you were right not to avoid the journey today but I wouldn't fight about it. Just one day unauthorised in a generally good record isn't a disaster.
But maybe it isn't practical to live so far from the school. Sadly this storm will not be a one off, and it will be difficult for all of you if she has to keep missing days, whether or not the school is understanding about it. DD's wish to stay the school certainly deserves respect, but as parents you need to decide whether it is manageable for her to stay, or whether a move maybe at the end of the school year would serve her better.