Unauthorised absences.. please help

[KLou30]

I recently received my childs attendance sheet. 16 unauthorised absences.. i knew DS wouldn’t be skiving and I always contact school to reports sickness etc.. so I contacted them an they told me even though I’ve rang they still an go down as unauthorised shock so I left it for a few hour.. but then I was like nope, this isn’t right.. after doing some research into school policies and procedures it clearly stated I should of been informed about there intentions so then I could provide proof such as docs app etc. (They never did this) After revealing this to the attendance teacher she told me she would inform the principle and they would change them to authorised.. today I received an voicemail stating they will only change three back to authorised.. however I have proof of me contacting school on every occasion even call history of contacting the doctor and pcr test results.. I really have no idea why there being like this, the school isn’t the best an are seen as inadequate by ofsted an have been taken over by an academy.. I’m already concerned about teaching standards aswel!! Sorry it’s so long but what can I do about these unauthorised absences that are actually authorised. Thank you I’m advance x

Where are you? Principle/ attendance teacher not England?

What do you mean they are authorised? That’s not up to you unfortunately. Schools can only authorise absence in specific cases. That is a lot of time off. They will be concerned about that many sessions being missed.

Maybe ask to get this moved to the education section?

Why is this in childcare? Schools aren't childcare?

@KLou30 I would either ask for this to be moved to Secondary if your child is in secondary which it sounds like. Report your own post and ask for the move.

This is childcare which covers childcare providers not schools so you will get more relevant replies in Secondary education.

If a child’s attendance goes below a certain level no more absences will be authorised-for whatever reason. However, the school should have informed you if that threshold had been reached. I’m assuming they were for illness? Obviously if they were for other things -eg a holiday-the school does not need to authorise in any case.

Yes I’m England..I’ve just been reading so many government policies and they all say principle

Yes all due to illness, in fact some of the unauthorised absences are when they asked me to keep him off school, my problem is they agreed to remove them then when the head has spoke to star academies.. who run the school they said they will lingo authorised 3, I’ve attached the government procedures, as I know this technically isn’t allowed as I’ve contacted on every occasion and not been informed of their intent.. also his attendance is still above 90% the threshold is 89 % . Thanks everyone I didn’t realise I couldn’t post on here I’m a newbie

@Wolfiefan they are authorised if the headteacher isn’t following the government guidelines and informing me of his intent.. I rang, they have know right to mark unauthorised with out informing me! Especially when mainly covid related an I have proof of this

@Wolfiefan also can I just add its 8 missed day in total but as they class afternoon it amount to a total of 16 absences.. not that many day when you are isolating awaiting results is it ?

You contacting the school doesn’t authorise absence.
You contact the school and they then decide whether to authorise the absence or not. Obviously in this case they haven’t authorised it. And you’ve now been informed.
That is a lot of absence and school have to do their best to ensure attendance.

I’m aware it’s 8 days. And yes that’s a lot of absence.

@Wolfiefan this was at the start of term in September we are now In February and I’ve o pay noticed after receiving his report.. your argument is invalid.. how can I possibly send my child into school poorly with covid symptoms.. I know my point in this matter is right and I’m asking how i can take this further not your opinion. The school ofsted report is inadequate says it all really

@Wolfiefan

I’m aware it’s 8 days. And yes that’s a lot of absence.

In normal circumstances it is but it's more common ATM (or was up until nowish) with people having up to 10 days isolation with COVID. That's 8 days off school right there.

OP I find this strange. My kids school class an authorised absence as essentially a reported absence before their cut off on the day.
Unauthorised is not turned up with no warning or not letting them know before the morning cut off.

DS has also had about 8 days absence due to covid but this is all down as authorised.

@Wolfiefan

I’m aware it’s 8 days. And yes that’s a lot of absence.

It's not unusual this year. I teach primary and in the last week alone had about a quarter of the class miss 5 days (10 sessions). Lots of children have had PCR tests at a couple of points in the year and had to wait for results.

Medical appointments, eg hospital, that are allocated by the hispital are classed as medical. Illness, gp apps for ciughs, colds etc, are nit authorised, they are illness and will add up on yoyr childs absrnces.

Illnesses, and you ringing school to say your child is ill, dorsnt make an absrnce authorised.

And if you want to kniw how the pricedure to chalkenfe tjis and not opinions dont come on a chat forum , use the internet to. Look up the process

My opinion doesn’t matter. Clearly the school doesn’t believe the absence should be authorised. And you said it’s not all down to COVID.
You can follow complaints procedure but I’m not sure what outcome you want. If it’s an inadequate school and you are deeply unhappy then look for alternatives?

Was he off for 8 days with covid or had it been lots of days here and there?

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea yes well it’s very all over the place on his report as in one week it will say for instance.. on the Monday (covid related) up until Thursday where it changed to unauthorised.. then goes back to covid related on the Friday.. an I wouldnt mind but since the time of in September he has full attendance.

@sirzy he has has 11 days altogether 4 authorised but I’m the middle of the authorised there odd days in between and after where they are unauthorised.. all are when waiting for pcr results am being poorly with temp ear infection which I have proof off from doctors, his only year 7 I’ve never had this problem with primary school.

Am I missing something? Why does it matter how they've recorded them?

My daughter had a bit if time off for mental health issues last summer. apparently the school aren't allowed to record mental health absences as authorised by the department of education. It's disgraceful in my opinion.

@thesmallassassin you can get fined for persistent unauthorised absences. Fortunately it didn't happen to us.

@JoyOrbison all i have done is research, my research had the school agreeing to remove them then changing there mind after the head spoke to the academy.. I have proof of his illnesses my issue is they never asked for proof or I would of provided And still can provide.. but I’m not getting anywhere with them, so I’m asking where my next option is, citizens advice? Council? I don’t know that’s why I’m here