Problem with clash of holidays! what to do

[PinkChick]

my dd starts reception thursday.
we've just got back from hols and booked again to go with friends(one of whom works with schools an dhas lists of the forthcoming hols) at end of may next year....
just rang school to double double check and it turns out due to bank hol in march this yearm they have alterd school hols and WILL NOT behaving two weeks(may/june? and wll instead have two weeks in april!..argh!

Paid for the holiday already

When speaking to school they said as this was all last minute(their hol descision) she expects there will be a good few people in mour position and if it did want to take dd out for the week, they would be ok about it but have to mark it down as un-authorised absece..Shit!

She's very bright and i dont see a prob with her missing anything, but they were very vocal about 'no unauthorised absences' in pre meeting!

[MrsSpoon]

Suppose it depends on the School, so far my DSs School has been fine about requests for holidays (we have only ever asked for a couple of days but I know others who have asked for whole weeks off). In your shoes I would write to the headteacher now, explaining that you had booked the holiday in accordance with the information you had at the time and get your permission now. As far as I understand it (although someone more knowledgeable may be able to advise better) the "unauthorised" bit doesn't particularly affect your child but it reflects on the School.

[charliecat]

If they are OK with it surely thats authorised absence?

[themoon66]

I wouldn't worry. I don't see how they can say it's ok to be off, but then say it's 'unauthorised'. Surely it's one or the other.

[PinkChick]

yeah i thought if they said ok, surely tbats them 'authorising' it?, but spose it looks bad on them to say yes you can take your child out of school for a week?..i did say to secretary about already booking and tbh she sounded cool about it, dp says he doesnt have prob with taking her out for week, just wanted to check i am not being totally irresponsable

[ladymuck]

Um, won't the "unauthorised absence" just be an own goal for the school, not for you? I kow that in theory they could try to claim that you are harbouring a truant, but any court would laugh at them (or complain about the wasted taxes).

[amidaiwish]

i wouldn't worry about it.
the "unauthorised absence" levels is just a target for the school, no reflection or impact on your DD's record AFAIK.

[PinkChick]

thanks, just speaking to a dad while out and he was furious that they had said yes its our fault mucking with hols so we'll let you take her out but 'say' we havent reaally agreed!, hes right, but TBH, i cant see it being detrimental to dd anyway!

[TwoToTango]

I thought if you got permission from the school it was authorised absence?

[KTeePee]

Some schools around here have got really strict about holidays and won't "authorise" any during term time - as was posted below unauthorised absences make the school look bad so don't really see the logic behind this - maybe a teacher will come along and enlighten us....

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Put it in writing and enclose a copy of your booking slip showing the date you booked - and point out that you made the booking before they changed the holiday.

To be honest, at reception age it is much less important than in later years, although I can appreciate that it could be disruptive for the teacher.

It should be an authorised absence - if you feel that strongly you could always copy in the Chairman of the Governers?

[MrsSpoon]

At my DSs School you get a letter saying that they have noted the dates of your holiday and will inform the teacher that your child will be off (ie they have given permission) but the absence will be noted on their records as "unauthorised".

[saggarmakersbottomknocker]

You need to ask the school for a holiday form. The head usually has discretion to grant up to 10 days absence for holidays. If they grant it then it's 'authorised'. If they don't and you still go then it's unauthorised. Bit mean to not grant it in this case bearing in mind the change from the 'usual' holiday arrangements. Easter is very early next year and some LEAs have changed the timings on the terms.

Your council website (or the school's) will have a policy about holidays in 'term time'. The DFES give schools targets on absence and we have to report both authorised and unauthorised.