Time off in term time.

[jmh740]

My best friend has booked her wedding the first week we go back in Sept 2018 I naively told her I would be fine to take a day off. I'm a 1:1 ta been at the school 3 years, only ever taken time off for a court case and a funeral. She was looking at wedding on weekends or school holidays but they have had to book early September the wedding is on a Wednesday 100ish miles 3hrs drive away from where I live the plan was to camp over on the tues and wed night I've had to tell her dd won't be able to go because it will be her first week in high school which also means my husband can't go he will need to stay with dd. I'm stressing over the wedding now. I went to talk to the head because I didn't want to spend the next year worrying about it. To be honest I expected the head to not be happy but to authorise the 2 days off. She instead told me I would have to write to the governors to ask for the time off. I feel really upset how likely is it the governors will authorise 2 days of the second and third days back after the summer holidays. I can't imagine not being able to go to the wedding this is one of my closest friends she is God mother to my children. What do I say in the letter the the governors?

[Pud2]

It's not really a matter for the governors as its operational which is the responsibility of the head. I think authorised, unpaid leave would be perfectly reasonable, especially as you are giving lots of notice.

[temporarilyjerry]

Where I used to work, it was policy that unpaid leave requests were made by letter to the governors. However, they were never refused.

[user1955]

Making up the time isn't really possible where I work. 1:1s are there for specific needs so if they are off we have employ someone extra to fill that role.
All our staff have to apply in writing for this sort of leave, as even if it is unpaid it still leaves us out of pocket as the agency staff we'd need to replace you with cost us more. It doesn't mean they'll automatically say no.

[jmh740]

Yes it will be the same child. I currently work with a child in year 6 who is leaving next Friday and have in the last month had to interview for a new post and will be working with a child going in to year 4 in Sept so he will be going into year 5 next year. There have been a lot of people having the day off to attend their child's graduation recently and I know one member or staff had the day off to go to her friends dad's funeral the head apparently told her that some times friends are closer than family and none of these have had to apply to the governors I've been upset about it all day. I've had 5 days off since I started Sept 14 once to visit my aunt in hospital and the week after for her funeral. 2 days off in Feb to go to court and once when they sent my dd home because she was ill.

[LockingJay]

Write a letter to the Governor's and it will be unpaid days would be the response from our head.

[jmh740]

I work 9-3.30 everyday or I would have been happy to make the time up.

[SavoyCabbage]

Will it be the same child that you are with now? As that might help,your 'case'. If it's a new child then it will be really disruptive to have you then someone else then you again right at the start of school.

[Flisspaps]

I wouldn't have expected the head or the Governors to authorise it.

DH is a teacher and it's pretty standard that you'll get time off for funerals but that's about it.

[NeitherNowtNorSummat01]

Do you work full time? Of pet time, could you offer to do some extra days instead?
All you can really do is tell the truth in the letter. Say that it's your best friend/ mother of your daughter and how much it means to be able to go. Also say your attendance record at school.
I work in a primary school and 2 of the teacher have been allowed to take days off for a holiday (though these were at the end of a term so slightly different) so it's not unheard of for them to say yes.
Good luck. I hope they say yes.