Would they let my children leave an hour early due to a weekend away?

[amy12464]

We have never done this before so I don’t want to bother ringing and asking if it’s totally the wrong thing to do. We’re going away to London tomorrow straight after school as we’re visiting family friends Saturday morning for an event. Thing is 3pm is peak traffic time and it’s going to be 4 plus hours if we leave then. I wanted to ask their teachers if they could let our children leave 1-1.5 hours early . Would they consider it? Has anyone done this in the uk specifically in a primary school. My children are under 8

Tell the truth. It’s much easier

You won’t be fined for missing a bit of one session.

OP as others have said, just say they have an appointment. I very much doubt they will bat an eyelid

For future though, all schools act differently on any leave during term time. We’ve had one primary school who supported me taking the kids out for a week for a holiday (I was close to a mental breakdown and was open and honest to them), our other primary was fine with any appointments but stricter on holidays, but both the high schools we’ve had have been a lot stricter and monitor any leave more closely - for example you have to provide proof of appointment times and dates. Forms for holidays and we’ve had a fine for one when my children’s dad took them out for a week. Basically - it’s all down to the school.

I asked for something similar once when DD was in reception and got an almighty lecture about how I should arrange “holidays” outside termtime. I just wanted a Friday afternoon to beat the traffic. Next time I would just keep her off school and tell them they could log it as unauthorised absence.

Much better for her to miss all of a day than you get a lecture?

You have parental responsibility. They can't refuse to let you have your kids. They don't have to give the kid an authorised absence, as such, but it doesn't mean you can't take them.

Do you think there may have been some sarcasm in that post?

It sounds ridiculously strict in England. I'm in Finland and I wanted my DD to leave school early recently because we had an appointment at the bank in another town and I wanted to leave in plenty of time so we wouldn't be rushed. Just messaged her teacher for that lesson and said she needs to leave early and she said fine. In primary school I took her out of school for two weeks and the school said enjoy and her teacher told me what they would be doing in those two weeks so she wouldn't fall behind (teacher was not obliged to but did it to be nice). She has classmates that go on a term time holiday every year and its never an issue. Would only be a problem if the child falls behind and doesn't catch up.

OP just be honest, inform instead of ask and if it's unauthorised it really doesn't matter for a one-off, especially as its after registration. Hope you have a lovely weekend.

So what happens on Monday when a teacher asks the children how it went?

Just say Dr appointment

Well, they said it would never be permitted again, so if I did want to do that again, that would be my only choice. I’m not an advocate of missing school and neither of my older 2 ever had any time out for holidays in termtime. But occasionally things happen and I do think taking a pragmatic view of the circumstances is more sensible. Kid who’s already got poor attendance? No. Kid with perfect attendance? I don’t see the issue, provided it’s not around exam time

I have enjoyed some of the responses to @niadainud’s posts. 🤣

They can’t stop you taking your own children and unauthorised leave isn’t the end of the world.

You have to have days’ worth rather than a few hours before they would even think of referring to the council.

Most primaries do the important learning in the morning anyway.

Our primary were very supportive when we took them out early a couple of times to beat the traffic for a weekend away. They hoped DC would have an excellent time in the caravan park and the once we did for family funeral they sympathised.

Did it once at senior school and they were just efficient and admin orientated about it. Couldn't have cared less about the reason. As they'll be marked in for afternoon session it won't be an unauthorised absence - it's whatever the leaving early version of a 'late' is. So might go to overall concern of attendance but not count to fines.

Personally would not want to lie about it but then neither of schools I've been involved with backed me in to that position.

Go in and say you need to collect the children. Say ‘it’s important’. Look serious. Raise your eyebrows in astonishment if they ask you for a reason.

You don't need to ask the school for permission to pick up your own kids. Just tell them you need to collect them early and go get them.

Unlikely! I’m sure teachers have more important things to worry about.

When the children return to school and talk about their trip away, the teacher is likely to say something like "I thought you were at the dentist?". The children will infer that OP lied and learn from that example that lying is OK.

God - it's like a police state! Why are we all so passive?

These are your children to do with what you will.

Do not ask - TELL them that you have to pick them up at x time on x date. The afternoons are often spent farting around on a field anyway.

Reclaim your children!

Our school make you fill out a form for leaving early due to medical appointments and you’re required to show proof - I.e. appointment letter.

Never a good idea to lie.

I don't think anyone thinks the school will actually stop someone taking their children early? That would be false imprisonment!

Just best to be honest about why for all your sakes I'd say.

I agree that lying is a bad idea in principle, but schools asking for proof of appointments is truly unacceptable. These are our children and we choose what we do with them!

The school is asking for proof to document the reason for absence, not to allow the child to leave.

I have to say I do feel sorry for schools, as they get all the flak but this stuff is forced on them. Yes, there is strong evidence for good attendance leading to good outcomes (although to what extent correlation=causation when other factors are brought to bear still makes me wonder) but this sort of stuff is just endless administrative burden for very little gain. Yet if they don't do it, they get panned in inspections, and the same parents who complain about all the attendance stuff will then say they've seen in the paper that the school has been downgraded and they won't send their kids there.

Tell the truth and just say it's a family event and want to get there before bedtime as they have a busy day the next day.

I’d just lie, my kids would go along with it so no issues there!