Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

I am taking DD to Disney during school days. Help with a letter to headteacher please.

36 replies

sississy · 03/02/2012 13:32

DD is going to be 5 and we are taking her to Disney Paris for the first time.
In fact it is going to be our first holiday since she was born.
We can not afford to go during school holidays...and the park will be too busy anyway.
She will have to be absent for two days, Thrusday and Friday.
How do I write a letter to school, what to say?
Have anyone done that before?
Or am I such a bad parent, and should not be doing it at all?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 13:36

Is your DD in Reception?

Write a letter saying that you are taking your DD to France (not Disney) for a long weekend and that you are doing this in term time because you cannot afford to do it at any other time and this is the first holiday you can afford in five years. Say no more!

SandStorm · 03/02/2012 13:38

Do you actually need to write a letter? Our school has a form that you fill in requesting absence during term time.

Original poster

sississy · 03/02/2012 13:39

yes she is in reception.
thanks Bonsoir for your idea of mentioning France instead of Disney.

OP posts:

clarinsgirl · 03/02/2012 13:41

Check school policy on absence during term time first - ours is very clear that 'holidays are cheaper' is not a valid reason as this applies to all parents.

Gay40 · 03/02/2012 13:41

I usually put in something making reference to work and annual leave difficulties every year

Gay40 · 03/02/2012 13:42

Co-ordinating annual leave between 3 working parents is a genuine headache, though.

Original poster

sississy · 03/02/2012 13:43

ok I will check school policy and i don't know about forms as I never asked for it before...thanks

OP posts:

Gay40 · 03/02/2012 13:45

It should be on your local authority website as well.

Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 13:46

ASByatt · 03/02/2012 13:48

There will be a policy and there will be a form - ask at your school office.

By all means put 'France' on the form, but of course your DD will return home and tell everyone at school all about her trip to Eurodisney anyway........

Be aware that in some schools, it would be an automatic 'no', which means that they wouldn't autorise the absence - which in itself is not the end of the world.

I'm not a fan of taking children out of school for holidays, but in YR I can't see that a couple of days will be significant, even to the school's attendence data.

snowmaiden · 03/02/2012 13:52

School probably has a leave of absence form. No need to state where you are going, just that you will require 2 days leave for a family holiday.

amidaiwish · 03/02/2012 13:55

definitely don't write you are going to disney
it is not relevant that it is cheaper
simply state that DD will be absent from school for days x and x due to a special family holiday.
you will get a letter back saying that family holidays are not a basis for taking x out of school and it will be marked as authorised absence.
it is just a standard letter, do not worry about it, they are not saying no, just saying they can't say yes.

amidaiwish · 03/02/2012 13:56

sorry marked as unauthorised absence.

the only time we got given authorised absence was for my sister's wedding.

IndigoBell · 03/02/2012 13:57

Some schools do authorise absence for kids who could only afford a holiday once every 5 years and if it was during term time.

Some don't.

But it doesn't matter if it gets authorised or not - especially if you won't be doing it again for another 5 years :)

bananaistheanswer · 03/02/2012 14:02

Is, 'it's a gift from my parents, and I cannot possibly refuse' a valid reason for taking time out during term for a 'once in a lifetime holiday'? Sorry to gatecrash, but I've been mulling this one over for some time too, since my dad booked us a holiday in May. It's to the US won't mention The Wizarding World of Harry potter and as it wasn't me paying I couldn't really quibble with the dates.

EggyMcEggMcSandwich · 03/02/2012 14:25

Are you going by Eurostar? If so, you will pass some WW1 battlefields. Pass it off as an educational trip.

snowmaiden · 03/02/2012 18:01

Lots of schools allow 2 weeks authorized absence for holidays.

hocuspontas · 03/02/2012 18:05

I don't think they will not authorise it as she is not 5 yet and those attendance figures aren't used afaik. They might frown on it though! Schools normally have holiday forms.

TimeForCake · 03/02/2012 18:09

Our school no longer authorises 2 week holidays in term time & it is marked as unauthorised absence.

It's a hard one isn't it. But no one who works in a school gets the opportunity for cheaper holidays!

lilolilmanchester · 03/02/2012 18:10

depends so much on the school. I had to take my DD out for 2 days to travel to a "significant event" (don't want to say too much but a big deal...) and I had to fight with the school to get the absence authorised.. so you might not find it easy to get holiday authorised... not sure at which point an unauthorised absence creates a problem for you as parents?

StarlightMcKenzie · 03/02/2012 18:13

Oh FFS. I hate all this school absence stuff.

Aren't the Government proposing half days in London due to oversubscribed schools? Aren't they proposing free schools set their own flexible time tables?
Isn't flexi-schooling on the increase?

My ds always makes huge developmental leaps when we go on holiday as he has 1:1 attention pretty much constantly. He has a social commuication disorder but the teachers always say he comes back really chatty and interactive.

snowmaiden · 03/02/2012 18:36

ring in sick then

amidaiwish · 03/02/2012 18:37

the school is unlikely to "let" you
but does it matter?
it affects their stats... that's all, unless you do it regularly the school won't think any worse of you. honestly, don't worry about it too much.

5inthebed · 03/02/2012 18:38

We did tis last year, but as my dad paid for the trip that is the reason we put on. "Surprise trip paid for by relative for their birthday"

nkf · 03/02/2012 18:41

I don't understand the dilemma. What are you worried about? I think most heads would put that down as unauthorised absence. Nothing will happen to you. What is it you want from the school? I'm a bit puzzled.

Flip

1 2