Should ASD issues/meltdown/burnout be authorised absences ?

[Frizzi]

My dd school are marking her ASD related absences as unauthorised? Is that correct? I assumed that it would be authorised ?

Does your DD have an official diagnosis?

Yes

Of course. They're absences for illness. Ridiculous for them to be called unauthorised.

Of course they should be authorised.
Sadly many schools don’t agree and happily discriminate against disabled children.

I will ask them to change it then? It’s 3 days (separate not 3 in a row) I had let them know exactly how difficult things were and dd hadn’t even slept at all the night before one of the days I thought they understood

Yes, I would ask them to change it. And, if they refuse, say 'Could you explain to me what the absence policy says about differentiating between physical and mental illness as this feels discriminatory'. I think that would make them back off. Certainly would where I work but we're an independent school so if the parent says they're not coming in, it's authorised. Everything from life threatening illness to NT 12 year olds who 'needed a bit of a lie in today' - seriously!

My ds is diagnosed, he doesn't go into school on own clothes days or dress up days (world book day etc) this was agreed with the senco due to the anxiety it caused him. These are authorised days off

Yes it should be authorised. The attendance officer needs to update her knowledge!

I think you need to speak to the attendance team and your lA. It is not automatically authorised.

I didn't know ow that this was an option

I have such a nightmare with getting dd in when she's had a bad night due to meltdowns

I've felt like such a shit mum because of her school 🥺

Yanbu at all