To be P****d off with the school over this.

[Mumsgotaheadache01]

So my YR R child has an appointment tomorrow with their asthma nurse. As I rang the surgery to book them in, I have no written evidence of the appointment (and I've checked my NHS app and no appointment is coming up for them on there). I let the school office know at drop-off that I'd need to leave work early and collect them after lunch tomorrow, and the school asked for the appointment letter or written evidence of the appointment. I said that isn't something I have unfortunately. And school said that unless I have written evidence then they can't authorise their absence and it will be put as unauthorised. Is this standard? It feels like they're questioning/doubting the reason for their absence. Attendance is overall grat but they do have medical conditions so do need time off occasionally for clinics, consultant appointments and treatment etc. Aibu to feel a bit perturbed about it.

Ask the surgery for a little appointment card with it written down.

It’s becoming ridiculous. We had to complete a form asking for authorisation for an extra curricular exam (academic) during lunch hour.

I agree it's ridiculous as these days you often don't get anything in writing unless it's an advance appointment when I might get a reminder text.
The only thing I can suggest is that you ask the surgery if they can write it down when you attend and take that to school and ask them to change the absence coding to authorised.
Schools should work on the basis of trust - if you have a history of lots of absence it seems more reasonable to ask. If you don't, and you explain why you can't get written proof of appointment they should accept it. It hardly looks great for them to have unauthorised absence that are clearly legitimate. It really pisses me off when schools do this, I have had issues in the past and have had mixed luck in questioning their absence coding for legitimate absences.

Does your surgery have an automatic check in screen? I’d take a photo of that, with your child’s name and ‘please go to red wait two to see Dr X in room 9’ and send that to school.

That’s

That is ridiculous and I’ve never known it to happen.

You could ring the surgery and ask them to send you something by email or text though.

That's a great idea ! I'll email admin the picture. Thanks for letting me know

I'd be at school to pick them up for the appointment and what the school chose to record it as would be their business and none of mine. You do not sign your child's life away when you choose to send them to school. You're the parent and if they need a medical appointment, then you'll be taking them to it.

To add, until your child is of Compulsory School Age, which is the term following their fifth birthday you can technically take them in and out whenever you like, I found. Because they don't have to be in school legally. Keep that up your sleeve if you need it, if they're not yet 5.

I once took a photo of my daughter grinning with braces on view next to the orthodontist sign and emailed that to school, after they refused to accept my word that she had an appointment. My youngest is now 18, A levels done and just finished. I am delighted to be washing my hands of all this shit!

It's not the school's fault. The local authority puts pressure on them.

Just ask for a little note or appointment card and hand it in. Help them out. They have a hard task.

I've had this in the past - but usually when you are at the doctor they can give you something like an appointment card, and I just take that in when I've lost the paperwork!

Or, in the 24 hours before if you get one of those automated text messages, you can just show that to reception - I've done that a few times, no problem.

It's a check box exercise for the school they have to do but I find they're seldom difficult on HOW you prove it!

Yes I do understand that it's the Local authorities pushing this. It's just frustrating. But thank you for the tips. Very very helpful. I always have paperwork but I rang up and the had a cancellation so it's tomorrow.

What a waste of trees

Sadly, yes. But (even though I am currently quite annoyed with my son's secondary school over their handling of a bullying case) I do feel sorry for school staff and the hoops they have to jump through and the bullshit they have to put up with. It's an often thankless job which isn't paid enough.

So I don't begrudge them the odd tree if it helps them out. Or you can send a screenshot of a text message.

Write to your MP. This is coming from central government.

It's just that your OP specifically said you were annoyed at the School.

I'm not picking on you or being pedantic, just a gentle reminder that the school don't have a lot of control over what they have to ask for regarding attendance.

It really doesn’t matter if it goes down as unauthorised

Get a friend to text you a "confimation" and change their name in your phone to "Doctors"

I get text reminders for appointments. I also have them for my elderly DM. Is this something you can have? I get them on a regular basis (I assume to try and reduce missed appointments)

This.

What does it matter if it’s unauthorised? Will you get told off by the headteacher and given a detention?

its not just schools either, I had a manager who did this - asked to see appointment letters. In the end, I just gave up with him because he got confused when I mentioned two different types of appointments, and I just took the flexi hours instead of the credit.
Fortunately current manager is a bit more relaxed.

I have had this nonsense. I take great delight in taking a montage of photos of the whole outing, putting it into a PowerPoint and sending it to them as a slideshow. The more comedy moments in it the better!! One time, the Doctor and nurse both posed with a thumbs up sign 😂 Treat it with the utter contempt it deserves. .

Im so pleased i dont have anything to do with schools.
They have gotten worse over the year's.

This.

It's only a problem if your child has regular unauthorised absences.