What consequences do schools give for truanting?

[LesAnimaux]

DS decided not to go in to school of Friday as it was sports day and he was not participating. He thought there was "no point" in spending the day spectating. (I don't want to drip feed, but he has aspergers, and was finding it difficult to decide what to wear. If sports day was on, he needed to wear something in his house colour, if it wasn't on he needed to wear school uniform. at 7.30 it was drizzling very lightly and he was confused. I told to wear uniform and take a change of clothes, so I can understand he got overwhelmed) But this is no excuse! Also, he is normally very good at leaving the house exactly on time. It did vaguely occur to us he hadn't said goodbye, but what with rushing around trying to get ourselves and the other DC ready, we missed he was still in his bedroom. DH and I are stunned that we let this happen, and have completely learned our lesson.

DH and I both got a text from school at 2.30pm informing us he wasn't in school, cue frantic searching for DS, (school double checking he wasn't at the athletics track) who was merrily in his bedroom, but funnily enough not answering our calls or texts.

We have made it extremely clear this is never to happen again.

What is the school likely to do? He's in Y9.

I would think that under these circumstances they might rightly do nothing much.

• he's not done it before
• he has aspergers and it was the sports day clothes issue that caused it
• you have spoken to him

I'll count as one day of unauthorised absence.

I doubt very much it will lead to any further consequences, especially if the school know all the extenuating circumstances.

I was going to email head of year, mentioning the clothes issue (DS didn't used to go to school on non uniform days at primary school as he just couldn't cope) knowing that I should have put more effort in to making sure he was OK, and knew what to wear.

I'm thinking of not saying anything to the school though, as I'd like them to re-enforce this is not acceptable.

A telling off, a detention or maybe put on report card? Can't imagine anything else would happen.

It's not truant in the normal way.

I think a day of absence will be enough. It's not like sports day is going to come around again anytime soon and his reasons, given his SNs, are perfectly understandable.

He has been given an after school detention.

This will mean a hour + round trip in the car for the younger 2 DC, and DS2 will miss his music lesson.

Shame about the impact on the others, but at least it is settled now.

It is a shame about the impact on his brother, but as DS2 is due to go to the schools in 2014, and I suspect has an idea DS1 "bunked off" it will be sending a clear message to everyone.

I emailed the head of year thanking him for giving him a sanction, and saying hopefully if we work together making it clear to DS this is unacceptable this will never happen again.