Page 2 | Can you take your child out of school for sporting events?

SilverTapz · 2025-05-09T06:21:34+00:00

Wondering what the law says about this. My local council website isn't that clear. My son has qualified nationally for the sport he takes part in. The sport takes place over 6 months, once a month fri-sun. Would I potentially be able to take him out of school on the Friday? Does anyone else do similar?

MigGril · 09/05/2025 08:19

Lordofmyflies · 09/05/2025 07:42

In my DC's school it goes down as 'unauthorised' absence. The headteacher said he cannot ok it, even though it was a national competition. As it was only 3 days there was no fine but it did seem unfair, especially when the school then used DC achievement as promo on their blog / newsletter!

They can approve it if they want to it's down to the school.

DS recently had a day off for a national competition and school approved it and he's in Year 9.

northernballer · 09/05/2025 08:24

My son is allowed - County level.

PaganOfTheYuleTimes · 09/05/2025 08:26

My DD's school approved 5 days off for her in Yr 6 and they authorised her little brothers absence too as we couldn't leave him behind, this was for the world championships in her sport in Greece. I do think the rules are stricter now though, this was the last academic year. (She did take gold so school were pretty impressed!)

Original poster

SilverTapz · 09/05/2025 08:29

Thanks all. Gosh, didn't know it was bad to say your child is promising at something though! He struggles hugely with social friendships and finds school exhausting. Just got EHCP but he still really struggles. I'm working on building his confidence and the fact that he's come first in his last few regionals in the one thing he loves I think is brilliant. It is promising to me and I want to encourage it!

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Thatcannotberight · 09/05/2025 08:46

SilverTapz · 09/05/2025 08:29

Thanks all. Gosh, didn't know it was bad to say your child is promising at something though! He struggles hugely with social friendships and finds school exhausting. Just got EHCP but he still really struggles. I'm working on building his confidence and the fact that he's come first in his last few regionals in the one thing he loves I think is brilliant. It is promising to me and I want to encourage it!

It's only bad to say your child is good at something on Mumsnet. People in the real world would be pleased for him, and you.

NannyOgg1341 · 09/05/2025 08:48

I'm in a big secondary comp and we've always allowed it, we've had students compete in cheerleading, football, sailing etc., and we've even run fundraising events to support students to pay for fees. Speak to the school and explain, and if they say no then take it to governors.

arethereanyleftatall · 09/05/2025 08:48

It’s lovely that he enjoys it and it’s good for his confidence, that alone is the reason.

Regarding promising, id caution saying things to him like ‘you’re the best in the region’ though, as at 6, it’s meaningless, as will just depend on his (and other 6yos) physique and opportunities. Especially if is niche, the vast majority of 6 yos won’t have even tried it. Because the worry is there, in 8 years time, when he’s not winning any more, he feels like a failure; when he was never actually winning, just the competition weren’t there yet. Especially if he’s adhd. I have seen it time and time again in sport, the winning under tens are rarely the winners in the end (though they sometimes are). And then the crash is harder to take.

Original poster

SilverTapz · 09/05/2025 08:56

arethereanyleftatall · 09/05/2025 08:48

It’s lovely that he enjoys it and it’s good for his confidence, that alone is the reason.

Regarding promising, id caution saying things to him like ‘you’re the best in the region’ though, as at 6, it’s meaningless, as will just depend on his (and other 6yos) physique and opportunities. Especially if is niche, the vast majority of 6 yos won’t have even tried it. Because the worry is there, in 8 years time, when he’s not winning any more, he feels like a failure; when he was never actually winning, just the competition weren’t there yet. Especially if he’s adhd. I have seen it time and time again in sport, the winning under tens are rarely the winners in the end (though they sometimes are). And then the crash is harder to take.

I don't think he'd even know what the word promising means. He won't win at nationals. He knows this. His coach knows this and is good at managing expectations. Saying that, might as well give it his best shot and we will celebrate whatever happens.

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arethereanyleftatall · 09/05/2025 09:07

It’s such a tricky balancing act, because you want to booster their confidence without the pressure iyswim. I think I made a mistake when my girls were younger talking about them being ‘the best’ at whatever, because it relies on others being ‘worse’. I’m not articulating this well. Just think you have to try to big your kid up without putting others down, which ‘you’re the best’ kinda does.

Original poster

SilverTapz · 09/05/2025 09:12

arethereanyleftatall · 09/05/2025 09:07

It’s such a tricky balancing act, because you want to booster their confidence without the pressure iyswim. I think I made a mistake when my girls were younger talking about them being ‘the best’ at whatever, because it relies on others being ‘worse’. I’m not articulating this well. Just think you have to try to big your kid up without putting others down, which ‘you’re the best’ kinda does.

100%. The club he's in is what makes it for us. They celebrate really well, not just the winners. They give children medals for their first event. If they don't finish they still celebrate. There are people taking part who have been doing it for well 30 years and are still doing incredibly well. It's a competition, but it's very friendly one. The social life it's given both of us is amazing.

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Br1ll1ant · 09/05/2025 09:37

As everyone says, it will be school dependent and sounds like an amazing opportunity. You do need to think that, if they miss every Friday for six months, they may miss every science lesson, for example, if that is only taught on Fridays.

Original poster

SilverTapz · 09/05/2025 10:20

Br1ll1ant · 09/05/2025 09:37

As everyone says, it will be school dependent and sounds like an amazing opportunity. You do need to think that, if they miss every Friday for six months, they may miss every science lesson, for example, if that is only taught on Fridays.

I've just had an email response from the school and they've said absolutely! Friday is PE day and more relaxed day for year 1. They've asked that we take pictures and once he's finished he is welcome to bring his kit and do a presentation in assembly. What a relief!

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Purpleturtle43 · 09/05/2025 11:13

SilverTapz · 09/05/2025 08:29

Thanks all. Gosh, didn't know it was bad to say your child is promising at something though! He struggles hugely with social friendships and finds school exhausting. Just got EHCP but he still really struggles. I'm working on building his confidence and the fact that he's come first in his last few regionals in the one thing he loves I think is brilliant. It is promising to me and I want to encourage it!

It isn't, some people are just dicks and use any opportunity to be unkind.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 09/05/2025 11:47

My DC leave lessons once or twice a week for music lessons, and are authorised out of school for 2-3 hours once or twice a year for music exams. DS has been authorised out for a full day for a national event that involved travelling to London (from Yorkshire) and back.

I don't see why being out of school for a formal sports tournament should be any different, but I am surprised that a sports tournaments for a 6 year old is not on a weekend, which has been my experience of several sports and several dc.

itsgettingweird · 09/05/2025 12:37

SilverTapz · 09/05/2025 10:20

I've just had an email response from the school and they've said absolutely! Friday is PE day and more relaxed day for year 1. They've asked that we take pictures and once he's finished he is welcome to bring his kit and do a presentation in assembly. What a relief!

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That’s great news.

id also look at getting it into his EHCP that he needs support with his sport for mental health and social reasons. Then get now that’s met through competitions etc so he misses it as part of his EHCP!!!!

BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 09/05/2025 14:40

Whataninterestinglookingpotato · 09/05/2025 07:47

If it’s something official then it should be authorised.

my dds used to do ballet and when they had to be taken out of school for exams it always went down as being “educated off site” rather than an absence.

Yes, this.

Tessasanderson · 09/05/2025 15:01

My daughter travelled the world with her sport when she was younger. It was anything from a long weekend like yours to 2 weeks at a time. She was 13-16yrs old travelling with her team mates doing her schoolwork in the back of minibuses and hotel rooms. She actually got lots of help from the older girls on the trips who were extremely clever and had fresh first hand knowledge of the work she was doing, like private tutors. She didnt let her schoolwork suffer (She wasn never going to be scientist but she worked hard).

We presented a timetable to the school at the start of every year with the competition schedule on it. Showed them the training she did outside of school to show how hard she worked for it and assured the school she would put the work in to maintain her standards with school work. They agreed to everything and even agreed to let her be collected from school early on Thursdays to allow for travelling time to a training venue instead of doing PE at school.

The school worked with us because we were honest, hardworking and asked their permission on everything.

itsgettingweird · 09/05/2025 15:59

Yes - many of the people ds trains with use PE time to do homework as they train 21 hours a week in the sport!