can authorised leave/attendance experts help?

[MrsDrJohnWatson]

Just after some information. Unexpected trip back for a funeral to Australia. We have all the documentation (hospital records, certificates etc) for authorised leave, however that is capped at a maximum of 10 days. Which would be fine but with the way flights go, and the fact that coming back we cross the dateline so also lose a day, we're going to go over those 10 days and I can't find a way around it. However, on a previous trip we looked at having my children's attendance at a local school counted - our local authority does this apparently. The children are welcome to attend school with their relatives for a few days in Australia and are keen to do so. They've done this on previous trips and it is a fabulous experience for them. But I can't find the documentation we used last time - in the end we couldn't use Australian school attendance as it was during the UK school holidays. It would have to be during UK term time.

So the short of this long and meandering story is - can someone tell me what the rules and regs are on this, or point me in the right direction? Do I just need a signed letter confirming school attendance from the principal in Australia, or more than that? Is the local authority in the UK obliged to accept this or is it just something they can choose to do? Do I give the letter to the school or direct to the local authority when I return?

With four kids I really don't want to face a hefty fine when we get back if I can help it. The trip is costly enough.

There are no national rules on the questions you ask. You need to ask your school.

ok. I thought there was something on the local authority's website.

If you have an agreement for 10 days leave then as far as the school is concerned they will still have 10 days absence on your records, but just that it has been agreed before hand.
The attendance records are for the school concerned not any other school, so the idea of using time in an australian school to balance off the excess days is not going to happen in most schools.
You also have the added problem that you are going to really annoy the school if you take over the 10 days given as authorised absence as they will have to put that down as unauthorised absence. I would suggest that you speak very nicely to the school headteacher and tell them the tale of woe about the flights but don't be surprised if the 10 days authorised suddenly goes out the window.

I expect you cross the dateline twice. Once gaining a day, once losing a day, which balances out. You need to do a westwards or eastwards only loop of the planet to lose or gain a day.

How many days over will you be? You I have two choices, one ask for additional days. I have known children have leave for longer than this. 2 go and then have some difficulty whilst there meaning that you come back late and see if they are sympathetic.

If it's the matter of one day (dateline) then I should imagine it will be disregarded. Most LEAs fine only after several days unauthorised.

The fine wouldn't be that hefty, well, not hefty compared to cost of transporting 5+ people to & from Australia. (3k minimum?)

Half way around the world for 10 days, I think I'd go mad from jet lag trying to do that. DH spent 36 hours in bed each way, plus another 4 days of being a zombie, the time he went to Australia for a week (flew business class, no kids to mind either).

I am fairly sure that most councils have an unwritten policy of only fining repeat offenders. We took UA for almost 3 weeks this yr & nobody fined us.

If you have 10 days though, surely there are also weekends. That adds up to quite a long trip (and as has been said, surely you gain what you lose time-wise).

I would be pretty careful about going over what has been authorised. It sounds like trips to Australia are reasonably common for you, and you will need co-operation and understanding in the future too. I you chance your arm on unauthorised absence, couldn't they be less willing to agree future trips as exceptional?

Sorry for your loss.

MrsDrJohnWatson:

I think all you can do is formally apply - if you've already purchased the tickets copy the flight iternary.

The reality is that it is entirely down to the discretion of the Head Teacher - they'll say that the LEA has this or that policy - but frankly it's down the HT.

You may be fined £60 a day per child for any absences - but in general I find there's a lot of threats about this - but I've never really seen it.

One solution - which was very popular at St. Mediocre - is to apply for a shorter number of days - then ring the school saying that there are problems with flights/ child is ill/ etc...

I believe this was indeed the outcome that politicians were looking for. A nation of people who are economic with the truth and bend the rules.

Don't forget time away over half-term/ teacher training days does not count. If this funeral is quite soon - just go over half-term.

Depends on your local authority. It's £60 per child for each parent so actually £120 per child of you are in a 2 parent family. Not sure about the statement about it being a threat and not seen through. Lots of court cases for this in Somerset and Devon and I know my mil ensures families are fined in her school in Kent. You really need to speak to the head or chair of governors. Is there any way to link it to half term?

10 school days would also mean at least 4 weekend days wouldn't it? Which is a fortnight. Surely it's possible to fly to Australia and back in two weeks isn't it?

Past sell by date, the £60 is per absence per child per parent, not per day. So of off for two weeks, it is still £60 per child per parent

Surely 10 school days is 16 days - say, go the Friday evening, arrive sunday morning; coming back fly say Friday day, arrive evening. Is there a real need to go longer? The three times we've been, we have arrived sat night and gone to work on the Monday! Spend the sunday outside to get lots of sunlight.

Otherwise, it's likely the days will be unauthorised, with the accompanying fine a possibility though I don't think fines are common yet.

In my school, as many families are taking term-time holidays as ever, a fair few totalling well over 10 days across the school year. They're mostly unauthorised, but no one has ever been fined.

Heels

Ours is £60. Per parents, per child, per week! (5days)

Its still cheap.

I agree, i take out every year!