request authorised abence or calling in sick for DC

[sunnyfriday]

I need only one day. DC is not a UK citizen and passport needs to be renewed. DC must come along to embassy. there is no way around it... that is a legal requirement. we are in Yorkshire, embassy is in London.

appointments are difficult to get. nothing available during the school hols.

I read so much about parents not getting absences authorised or being fined. now worry that head will not approve.

would you just call in sick?

No, because your DC is more than likely to let the truth slip out. Just explain the situation.

my child has severe autism and very limited speech. this would not really be an issue.

i worry that the head will turn us down. we would be really screwed then :-/

If he has to go and there's no appt in the holidays he has to go during school. He HAS to go so it's an exceptional circumstance. I'm sure the head will ok it and if not, you'd be perfectly reasonable to take it to an appeal or whatever the process is.

We are in the same boat and I wouldn't call in sick. This is exceptional and should be the same as medical appointments etc.

It does sound as if this should come under exceptional circumstances and therefore approved by head teacher. But even if not no one is going to get too excited about a single day of unauthorised absence, especially has you have a good explanation for it.

We had a similar situation and the school approved it.

Even if the absence isn't authorised, you may not automatically be fined - check your LA policy.

Don't ask for permission, just tell them. "X won't be on xday as he has to attend an appointment in London which unfortunately is not available on any other date. He will of course make up any missed work at home."

Our Head said that she understands that people have lives outside the school (Joanna Moorhead, I am looking at you!). She said that noone is automatically fined. They look at your child's general attendance and as long as it is reasonable (above 80%) and no other concerns are raised, no action is really taken. They may have a word with you privately and then you can explain the situation, but the LA only starts proceedings under 80% attendance.

Publicly our Head only ever says you are never ever allowed to take your child off even for a day.

You have to go whether or not the school approves it.
If the head doesn't approve it you would ask in what possible way this does not count as an exceptional circumstance.
But even if they were arsey you would go anyway.
you will feel better not lying. That's always stressful. And you shouldn't need to lie either.
Good Luck!

"i worry that the head will turn us down. we would be really screwed then :-/"
Why? If she turns you down, you shrug and go anyway.

I am in exact same situation, OP. Commiserations!!! 3 of mine can be trusted to lie & the other one will have forgotten by Monday. It's not exactly an exciting day out, is it?

ps: if you are going to same embassy as me, they supposedly announce when they will release dates for appointments on twitter, so you can check twitter twice a day for months before to make sure to be ready to pounce on appointments in the school holidays when they come up.

Wish I had known that before.

pps: IF it IS the same embassy as me, the child is supposed to be interviewed to verify identity. Will they be sympathetic about his difficult speech?

Agree with clam. If the head doesn't approve the day you go anyway. It is very unlikely you would be fined for a single day if attendance is otherwise good. And if you were fined in these circumstances there is a good chance you would be able to get the LA to overturn it.

According to the government site, they can only fine after 10 sessions of unauthorised absence which is 5 days

Any head with an ounce of common sense is going to give you authorised absence in these circumstances.