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.

My GP texts you a reminder a day or two before so I’ve always had proof.

We’ve had a few last minute hospital appointments which were arranged via phone due to cancellations and have always been asked on arrival if we need a letter to take away for school so they obviously know lots of schools now require this.

I’m sure if you asked they could send something over by text or e-mail.

Edit: Spelling

Btw if you keep your child off because they have a nasty cold, that will also go down as unauthorised.

Utterly ridiculous. The suggestion to take a photo of the check in screen is good though, that ought to be enough.
But so glad I left the UK for a country where both schools and parents are trusted - parents trust schools to teach, and schools trust parents when they give a reason for an absence. I just have to put a message in the school app to say DD/DS have an appointment at X time and will be leaving early or arriving late and they never question it (and DD does not have great attendance at all)

It is pretty standard. Take a photo in the consulting room.

Yep, I would just say ok and let me mark as unauthorised. Happened with my children occasionally and there were no repercussions for doing so.

Thing is there are so many parents belly aching about the rules who are actually just massive piss takers and don’t value education at all.

I find it massively frustrating that we live in a country that provides free education and therefore opportunities and some people treat it all as an inconvenience. Those people and their attitudes are why the rest of us aren’t trusted to do simple things like not lie about routine and non negotiable appointments.

Rant over.

Didn’t at any of my son’s schools. Unauthorised was only used for failing to call to let them know of sickness, every single day! Or appointments that didn’t have proof.

For most children it won't matter if it goes down as unauthorised as they're not off school enough for anyone to start issuing fines.

So I wouldn't break your back trying to provide "proof" unless your child might need regular appointments during school hours.

I just screenshot the text and if I don’t have any evidence just tell them to feel free to ring the dentist / doctor or whoever to confirm if they wish. Believe me or don’t I don’t care.

What a fucking world we live in where being in school for an afternoon is more important than a health check for a condition that when unmanaged can be fatal.

I fucking hate how this country constantly rules everything down to taking our own child to an appointment.

it utterly grates me as I’ve been on the receiving end of unauthorised absence with my now top 3 student now adult child who is currently half way through a masters.

it’s a fucking joke

I'm sure most schools find it infuriating too

We had an email last week from school reminding us to book appointments out of school hours , do they not know how hard it is to get medical appointments ffs.

Take a photo of your kid with the nurse at the appointment and today's paper standing under a clock. Also ask the nurse to display her credentials. (The school might question if it was a fake nurse) 👍

Yes - I honestly pity the staff who get a backlash over such a simple request. It’s clearly not for the benefit of the rule abiding with otherwise good attendance. It’s a blanket rule to target those whose attendance is poor.

and OP, to add, that’s no criticism of you, I mean more generally, I think you probably got in a fluster because your keen to satisfy their requirements rather than being a piss taker.

Well it shouldn't! It should go down as Illness. Sounds like some schools aren't playing by the rules here...

At our school they do register after lunch break and that gives the mark for the afternoon. If your child is there for that they’re marked as present for the PM session and then collection after that doesn’t change the code. Maybe your child’s school is the same? If not send the photo as previous posters have mentioned. Either way your school know your child’s health conditions so it shouldn’t be marked as unauthorised for such things. My daughter used to have speech and language therapy during school hours and the school were aware so even if she missed registration it didn’t go down as unauthorised just as M (for medical appointment).

Schools have policies and processes to adhere to as part of quality measures.
Don't take it personally

It has got completely ridiculous, I had to pay £27 for a doctor's note so my teenager with a gluten intolerance could get a bathroom pass.

that

Imagine having to apply all these ridiculous rules. Dont' blame the schools.!

What time do you need to collect them?
Save yourself the trouble and collect just after afternoon registers?