My only option is to take dd out of school for a week. Please help me, what do I tell the head teacher?

[mosschops30]

I know he wont authorise it, I took her out one day last year to see a concert close to xmas and he said he's authorise it as a one off. They are notorious for not allowing leave in term time.

So I have decided I wont lie and pretend she's ill for a week (it will be the week before or the week after May holidays). But will write to him and check they have no tests or exams.

Any ideas what I can say, other than I hope to be 4 months pg by then, so no option to go later in the year, we cant afford to go in summer hols. Thats about it.

Any advice would be good, oh and if you dont agree with taking your children out please dont post and tell me because Im of the other school of thought

[MOrticiaAdams]

That was me, Moss, in my drunken state on Saturday night, saying it was a nothing year!

[mosschops30]

Sorry have only just come back to this, been working nights.

frisbyrat, i ask about the tests because we can go either the week before or the week after the May holidays so if they had tests before the hols then obviously we could go after.

I never mentioned Year 8 being a nothing year, I do believe that every year is important but also believe time together as a family having fun is important too.

I think I will write to the head and explain. We went in August this year and have no problem going in summer holidays another year, Im just hoping I will be big and fat by then next year

[scaryteacher]

That's because it's GCSEs in year 10 and 11 witchesve, and there is little time to cover everything on the syllabus, so attendance in year 10 and 11 is crucial. I had 1 hour per week per class to teach GCSE, and if they weren't there, they missed it, there was not time to go back and do it again.

[witcheseve]

Mo, don't stop posting late at night when you've had a drink, please!

[witcheseve]

We always had a 10 day authorized leave. I often took DD out for a weeks holiday. She has told me that they won't authorize any this year. She's year 10 btw. Is this a new thing? Not planning on going anywhere but might decide to end June beginning of July.

[Saggarmakersbottomknocker]

I'm very impressed kiddiz.

I work in primary and we are soooo under pressure wrt unauthorised absence.

[MOrticiaAdams]

Sorry people, I was being a bit cavalier last night, when I said Yr 8 is an nothing year. I know, that actually Yr8 is a bit of a dip year and its important to keep them on the right track. I think what I meant was, that compared to the other school years, there is slightly less preasure because there are no SATS or GCSE's to have to really concentrate on.

In an ideal world, no-one really wants to take their chilren out of school, for any reason, but I still feel that 1 week out of the year won't make a world of difference to a child that is generally there all the time.

The comment I made about the fines, well I stand corrected. Although, I have to say, the lady at our Education department, did say that fines were not being issued. Again, a local council thing, I think.

Apologies for getting anyones backs up. Not my style generally. I'm a good guy and try to be diplomatic wherever possible. I really should stop posting late at night, after I've had a drink!

Still, I've got my Halloween hat on, so with a bit of luck, you won't know who I am!

[cory]

Whatever you do, don't put your dd in a position where she has to lie; this is really not good for her. Imagine how entangled she could get in the whole web of lies with her schoolmates. It could seriously mess things up for her, both socially and emotionally. She would be found out and would then have to live everyday with adults and friends who thought of her as a liar. No holiday is worth that.

If you decide that this holiday is worth it, then go about it openly, tell the school what you are doing, don't put the burden on your dd.

They may well send a Welfare Officer round (our school would!), you will offer her a cup of tea and chat to her pleasantly. Once she has explained the importance of attendance to you and you have convinced her that this is going to be a one-off, that will probably be the end of the matter. Fines are for serial offenders, but the home-visit is to check up that there isn't a real problem.

But don't for heaven's sake go telling the school that Yr 8 is not important: they are not going to take kindly to that.

[gagarin]

The unauthorised absence is a problem for the school not the familes.

Just be honest. Tell the school why and where you are going. You will get a letter saying they do not approve. You will go anyway.

And most importantly you will not set up your dd to lie if she's asked why she was away.

I did this recently (to visit an unwell relative abroad) and the head sent a letter saying it was unauthrosied and would be on her school record but that he hoped all would be well with the relative concerned and thanked me for letting him know.

[kiddiz]

Saggers...I'm guessing from your name that your from the Potteries! My dd is at Thomas More. They have said there will be NO authorised absences from now on except for a family bereavement or for serious illnes of a close family member. They have said not to book holidays during termtime as the absence will under no circumstances be authorised. Not sure what they will do if you do though. My dh works in the potteries (he's not a saggar maker or his bottom knocker though but I hope you are impressed that I know what one is!) so I fear family holidays, term time or otherwise are about to become a thing of the past given the current financial situation!

[seeker]

Interesting concept, Anna888 - serial family holidays!

[Saggarmakersbottomknocker]

Mosschops - the head may have no choice but to not authorise. At the moment the dfes are being very tough on attendance and LEAs often have a blanket ' no holidays ' policy.

I wouldn't worry about a fine, it's unlikely if your dd's attendance is otherwise good. If you go on to your LEA's website you can usually find something on their fining policy. Usually it's 20 sessions ( a session being a half day ) before it triggers a fine and I think they have to send a warning notice first. You may well get a call from the EWO; it may not be something you can avoid as most LEA's have a % trigger after which you get referred. They are unlikely to visit though - too busy number crunching for the Dfes these days.

[needmorecoffee]

ds2 has various weeks off school for camps. Not affected his academic learning and its never been mentioned by the school.

[Anna8888]

Why don't you go on holiday without her, and then send her on a holiday on her own later in the year during the holidays?

[SqueakyPop]

Year 8 is a great year!

Going to school is not just about doing tests.

[seeker]

"year 8 is a nothing year".......why send them to school at all then?

[seeker]

And if you lie about it are you expecting your dd to lie about it too? She won't be able to talk about her holiday to her friends, she'll have to lie every time a teacher asks her if she's better.......

[frisbyrat]

Just curious - why do you need to know what tests she'll be missing?

[Quattrocento]

I know I was told not to post (being of the school of thought that teaching children to flout the law is wrong) but just had to correct this absurdity:

"but afaik, they can't actually enforce it."

DH regularly prosecutes parents who do not send children to school. It's the law you know ...

[TinkerBellesMum]

I doubt they'll fine you if she's normally got a good record.

I was bullied at school and never got above about 80% attendance, I'd either run off from school or just not go - I'm also autoimmune and had a throat infection every six weeks, literally wake up with it Monday morning, you can imagine how well that went down I wasn't diagnosed until three years ago.

I do get cross about attendance records and awards for 100% attendance because some children don't have a choice about not attending and I find it discriminatory. It's awarding a child who is fortunate enough to never have a days sickness and to go to a good supportive school and not be bullied. Whoopee.

[MOrticiaAdams]

We had a fab time thankyou. DD learnt to scubadive and she thought it was brilliant. We had a private villa and pool. Beautiful, beautiful place.

[Bramshott]

Argh sorry, didn't mean to traumatise you!! I haven't read the whole thread, but if you read the first few posts, forevercleaning has useful info on fines etc!

[mosschops30]

Oh wow, was it fabulous? Did your dd enjoy?