Unauthorised absence help please

[SandyBits]

My dd is in year 1 and has a good attendance record. About 4 days off this year for sickness I think.
I requested a day off for her to go and visit her dad for her birthday, who lives far enough away that it takes most of the day to get there. It was granted, but then he wasn't able to get the time off work, so I requested the day off for the following week, plus a half day before hand to allow for the travel so she woudl have more time with him.
Well, today was the half day, and despite the request being sent more than a week ago the head still hadn't looked at it. I have enquired at the office every single day this week. To complicate things, today was the day they all met their teachers for next year, but I only knew this after the request had been sent.
I arrived at lunchtime to pick dd up, and the head ran after me to say that she wouldn't have authorised today's absence as it was the day of the new teacher meetings. Well, how the hell was I meant to know? The train tickets had already been booked, and the women in the office, who I know didn't really have the power to tell me, had led me to believe there would be no problem. Fwiw, she was not the only one being picked up early either . This is the first day off we have ever requested and tbh I feel got at
So, do I chalk it up to experience? Or is this deserving of a letter to the head askign why the list of requested absences hadn't been looked at in over a week? Obviously i had no choice but to take dd anyway, it was the way she spoke to me that has riled me. Feel free to tell me iabu. I can take it

Glad you took her anyway...it will make no difference to your child's education at all so don't feel bad about it. If you write a letter the head will see it as a comment on her organisation so I doubt she will respond sympathetically. Put it down to experience,it's not going to be a common occurance.

Seems like a break down in communication to me. maybe headteacher's tone was like that as she was embarrassed about her oversight.

try not to let it get to you. Daughter is going to have a fab time and that is all that really matter.

The thing is scurry, it was the same when I asked for the time off originally- I waited for a long time to hear, though the request made it clear I needed to know asap so the tickets could be bought. I waited til tuesday night to buy them this time. I just object that she collared me when as I had just collected dd from her classroom, carrying her suitcase! I don't know what she expected me to say tbh. But equally, I don't want to let this fester. The longer I say nothing the crosser it will make me

I tend to view the leave of absence forms as merely a formality and take no notice of them being granted or not (rebel that I am).
I usually take 2 days per year to take advantage of cheaper holiday prices. It's always at the end of term when they sit and watch DVDs anyway .

Leave it - my head explained to me that if I don't hear it means you get the day - then he aslo said we can't stop you anyway so don't worry

I do what you do scurry - I inform them. I don't take the piss, just a couple of days a year. Also they are, luckily, rarely ill.

Thanks everyone. Maybe it was just poor communication, like telling me not to request it on days like that again. WHo knows. Not much she could do about it when I was already leaving though

In your letter requesting permission, did you request a decision by a certain date to enable you to book the train tickets? If you did and the Head did not respond in time, maybe next time (if there is one) you should word your letter in such a way that if you don't hear anything by X date you will assume permission has been granted. Ask for a reply by email so you are not chasing at the school office and that also gives an accurate record of the time the decision is sent. Would also suggest you email your request to the Head to prevent a letter going astray.