Absence, 10 mins early pick up??

[MerlinFromCamelot]

Having to pick up DD 10 mins early from school today. (3.10 instead of 3.20) she is in year 5 and it is the first time since she started reception that I have to collect early. It is a genuine case where I really have no choice. School are now saying that I can collect early at 3.10 but that it the afternoon session will go down as absence as a result. I don't understand how they can mark the whole session as absent for the sake if 10 minutes? Am I being unreasonable?

No the school are being ridiculous. Assume they will put it down as an authorised absence though so I assume it won't really matter.

Tell them you'll pick her up at 12 then and see if that changes their tune. I'm a teacher and that's ridiculous- and wrong!

YANBU
And I'd ignore. Chances are they'll see her at afternoon registration, mark her present and forget about it.

DD1's been in and out of school for Orthodontists appointments for two years (just finished ) doesn't seem to have bothered them much.

The school are being very strange. A child who is present for afternoon registration should be marked as present.

If they leave the school early, they need to be properly signed out (fire regs etc) but the register shouldn't be amended.

It's similar the other way round - a child who is late and misses registration must be marked as absent, even if they are signed into the school later in the session.

Bloody hell how petty.
DS1's head let me get his attendance mark and take him to the zoo for the day!

That sounds cutting of their nose to spite their face, unless they do the afternoon registration just before home, which seems strange.

Though we have the silly system that our schools the only time that matters is the registration time.
So dd1 had a piano exam at 8:30 am, got into school at 9:00 (after registration which is 8:45-8:55) so got an absense mark for that morning for missing 15 minutes.
However her singing exam which is further away was at 11:00, so she was away from 10:15 to 1:20 (as she then had lunch at home because bringing them back during lunch causes untold confusion and panic!) but was there for registration at 8:45 and 1:25, so got no absense mark despite having missed over 3 hours.

"absence", why is my phone changing it to absense... it can't spell!

I feel as if the school are trying to make life much harder than it needs to be. I understand that DD leaving 10 mins early can be slightly disruptive for the teacher and that school are under pressure to reduce absence where they can but this is a few stations to far IMHO. Wonder if the lady at the school office is having a bad day or if this really is school policy?

just say 'ok fine'

I occasionally (once every six months) have to pick my dds up 10 mins early to get to the dentists (long story but I genuinely can't take them any other time). School has always said it's fine as they're there for afternoon registration. Also I think they take the view that as some schools close at 3 (ours is 3:30) that extra half hour shouldn't count as absence.

YANBU the school are being ridiculous, the last ten minutes is less disruptive than at other times as the class will already be packing away etc... The register should still stand as she was present for the register.

The rules are around the registration of pupils and that registration takes place at the start of each session, that is after dinner. It is ridiculous to be saying you will be marked absence on the basis of having to leave 10 minutes early. The register system has a whole host of different letters to signify whether your child is attending a medical or on holiday etc. For 10 minutes you collect the children from the reception area and sign them out.

When I have to take DD to hospital appt she is often in school by 9.15 but as it starts at 8.30 she is always marked down as 1 session authorised absence which I was surprised about but understood as she wasn't at registration, but your situation is different and just sounds petty....

That's ridiculous. We are picking DS up for a family wedding at 1.30pm but since he will have been marked present for the afternoon session at 1pm his attendance won't be affected.

Got at the school at 3.05 pm yesterday with the view of picking up for 3.10 only to be told by the receptionist lady that she was going to get DD from her classroom. Dd finally appeared at 3.18.... (normal finish is 3.20) Ended up late for our appointment. Asked the school office if Dd was still going to be put down for afternoon absence to which the office lady replied; " I need to check with the HT". What a cheek!! So pleased it is the weekend.

Very very odd. Most schools don't want absences- bad for attendance figures. I've never heard of this. She should have hot her afternoon mark and just been signed out at the office.

Jobs worth receptionist I reckon....