Taking two days off school

[MayorGundersonsDogRufus]

We recently relocated from overseas and are current living in quite a difficult and stressful domestic situation. We had the opportunity to return to our previous home for a visit to see our and DDs friends, which would be immensely good for all our mental health. Unfortunately it's not been possible to plan this around the half term holiday, so had planned to go the weekend before. We out a request in to DD's school (she is 8) to take her out for two days (Friday & Monday) so we could go but they have declined the request. I'm absolutely gutted. Life is so hard at the moment and we were all massively looking forward to it. If we don't go then it will be February before we can get over there.

We are debating just going anyway, but understand we may get fined, and the whole thing makes me anxious. We just can't decide what to do. It's not like we're taking time off for a holiday. Any advice or experiences?

Just tell them the day before - ‘we won’t be in Friday and Monday’.

Schools are not allowed to authorise holidays. Government ruling, not the school.
They are allowed exceptional circumstances, which an example is , if a parent was coming back from active service, a day would be allowed.
It’s all about having a paper trail about the absence , which the attendance officer looks at.
Take the time off, it will be unauthorised , but it doesn’t mean you can’t take it. Don’t worry about it.

I’d just tell them your going. I doubt the teachers care that much unless it coincides with anything significant like SATS.

FYI head teachers decide what to authorise or not. They obviously have guidance to follow and have expectations about what they won’t authorise… but it is the head that decides what is authorised or not.

I doubt you’d be fined for 2 days. Most local authorities have a policy about when they fine. My la fine if a child is off for 5 days unauthorised.

In all honesty I find this level of stress around attendance is ridiculous.

Just go. A fine is unlikely and even if they do, it’s worth it.