To ask if school prefer authorised absence or don’t care?

[crocodilesnaps]

Going to be away for two days the last week of April. Dc is five so compulsory school age.

Would the school prefer me to say he’s unwell, so the absence is authorised? Thinking what looks best for them as I know OFSTED are due. I know we won’t be fined so it isn’t that. Just don’t want them to have unauthorised absence if it causes an issue.

The consensus from teachers seems to be just tell the truth. Simple.

Yes, got it thanks 👍🏻

However stressful something is, it doesn't justify lying.
If you really care that much about the impact of absence on ofsted just move the holiday

The truth is always better and the point about schools needing to know the statistics on illness absence and holiday absence is useful. They need to be able to separate the illness stats and holiday stats for several reasons. Lying muddies the waters apart from any other consideration.

A Gdd was recently invited to go away with her cousins, but would not be returning until 2 days after the start of the summer term.

Dd did first consult the head (state primary) - but she was fine with it. I dare say quite a lot may depend on usual attendance records.

Just be honest. We always know anyway! Children naturally want to come and share their holiday news and it’s unfair to ask them to lie!

They definitely prefer honesty. I have worked in a few secondary schools and one primary and in none of them would they prefer you lie and say your child is ill when they are not. There were always a few who left for the holidays a few days early and if they said they were sick their friends would usually dob them in accidentally anyway. If your dcs are wiley (dishonest) enough not to let on to their teachers, there is zero chance they will maintain a lie to all their friends.

Just tell the truth. The school will not care unless you do it often. They will most likely wave you off with a smile. You may get fined but that is nothing to do with the school

Editing to fix type

We took ds2 out of school in year 9 for one day. He had 100% attendance up until then despite having spent time in hospital in resus and hdu. I asked permission and it wasn't granted. We took him anyway. It was just as well we didn't lie really as we met one of his teachers in town that weekend and my youngest cheerfully told her where ds2 was. So I'm glad I didn't lie.

Personally I have only taken one child out of school for one day for something fun. My younger child has had a lot of absence due to multiple operations though so we are always getting letters about his unacceptable attendance.

Why do you care so much about their ofsted visit? Schools are so corrupt and lie to make themselves look good for ofsted. Don't be part of the deceit! Also. As others have said, your kids will land you in it for lying and then you lose respect from the staff.

Last term a mum lied about a yr11 going away, when he got back he was asked about his holiday, he smirked and said "is that what my mum told you?"

That is not my experience. If you know this is happening you should report it. Edit: I'm referring to the corruption bit.

How did he have 100% if he was absent through illness?

My son's head teacher was going round rubbing out answers in the SATs exams and correcting them . I did report it. So did another mum. Nothing happened. This head has had a great career based on her miraculous ability to improve SATS results. ..

who did you report it to?

Initially I reported it to the LEA, then they asked me to report it on to somewhere else (sorry to be vague. It was a few years ago now)

Be honest. Submit the absence request and go with it. Absence is monitored so when they are doing the monthly reviews they take this into account.

That's not typical of all schools which is what you implied.

Where did I imply that? I just told an anecdote

My apologies it was @MyLimeGuide who said schools were all corrupt.

She said. Why do you care so much about their ofsted visit? Schools are so corrupt and lie to make themselves look good for ofsted.