School Holidays Help

Valli

It sound like they are verifying she is safe and cared for. That she is not at risk of any 'treatment' which is not perceived to be in her interest for example, if you are of one of the ethnic groups in which FGM sometimes occurs they could be checking that is not the reason she has been taken abroad.
Once they are satisfied you should be ok, this is why the EWO will have been involved, the council would issue the fine if they decided the absence was unauthorised.

Guest101

ps124 wrote: »

Thanks all for the replies.

Yes my daughter, wife and son are still abroad (staying with my in laws).

So I had a scheduled meeting with the head teacher this afternoon to discuss my daughter's absence and my frustrations of dealing with the school admin staff. Here's what has been requested of me:

1. On one or two of the hospital reports the nurse(s) have spelt my daughter name slightly wrong. The headteacher asked me to have all these corrected and re-sent so there is no ambiguity and that the school can verify it is correct - Irrelevant, remember take control: "No, I wont be doing that. My daughter is receiving treatment abroad and I am not going to get into pedantic arguments with the medical professionals handling her care. Tell me Headmaster how exactly would you go about verifying these records anyway?"
2. Provide any pictures I have of my daughter in hospital as proof that is to be submitted to the education officer :think: - "Are you mentally unstable? I'm not going to take perverse pictures of my daughter in hospital for your convenience. I will be going to the papers with this"
3. The hospital invoices too so they can also be submitted to the education officer - "The officer does not require proof of the cost of treatment."

Basically all the evidence I have to prove my daughter was in fact admitted to hospital and that is the reason why she has not returned to school. They did not request any flight details or tickets.

Confused...I asked why I need to provide the invoices and pictures seeing as I have already provided enough evidence.

Apparently, any unauthorised absence from school for a significant amount of time needs to be reported to the education welfare officer - Correct, but pictures of her in hospital or proof of charges for treatment don't have any bearing on this. (the earlier the better) and especially as the fact is she is abroad, not in the UK under the care of a GP or UK based hospital. - total nonsense. Ask them to put this in writing! The school has a duty to ensure the welfare of the child - not in the way their describing! - she is not in any sort of danger and that she will be returning to school safe and well as soon as possible - which is why I am being asked to provide this information. - I'd be questioning if I wanted my child at this school!

If they want to ensure the welfare of the child and that is there only motive, then I have no problems with that...in fact, it's pleasing to hear. - It's a box ticking exercise, nothing more.

But would I still be expecting some sort of fine or further questions from the education welfare officer?

Please take this the best way possible:


Man up and deal with it! For goodness sake.


"Questions from the officer"?? - seriously. This is a school, not the secret police. They're ticking boxes

Guest101

Valli wrote: »

It sound like they are verifying she is safe and cared for. That she is not at risk of any 'treatment' which is not perceived to be in her interest for example, if you are of one of the ethnic groups in which FGM sometimes occurs they could be checking that is not the reason she has been taken abroad.
Once they are satisfied you should be ok, this is why the EWO will have been involved, the council would issue the fine if they decided the absence was unauthorised.

She's in another country, not really much the school could actually do about it...


Not saying it is, but this box ticking nonsense overwhelms common sense!

ps124

Haha...thanks Guest101. You are correct...I am panicking because we (Me and the missus) worked so hard to get a house in this catchment area and get my daughter into this school and hearing people's horror stories about removing children from the school roll for absences etc just got me panicked.

Man of steel from now on! :-)

I thought the photo's request was out of order. Anyway, i'll tell her tomorrow during my follow up something along the lines of the points you've mentioned below and just to get on with it.

Thanks again all, appreciate the advice.

susancs

I suspect the reason they are asking for so much evidence is part of the Prevent Duty (Prevention of children from being radicalised) which is in the counter terriosm and anti-security Act 2015 that came into force in July 2015. Under this new law the school/local education authority have extra safeguarding duties to investigate absences when children are out of the country for some time.

Also in regard to young girls, there are medical safeguarding issues that may need extra attention as in some cultures and countries medical staff will perfom female genital mutilation. I am not sugguesting that this has been done, but just wanted to make you aware of safeguarding considerations and how they cannot just assume this has not been done.

Valli

Guest101 wrote: »

She's in another country, not really much the school could actually do about it...


Not saying it is, but this box ticking nonsense overwhelms common sense!

Yes, if it were the case it's a bit late now but it might impact on other children in the family, now or in the future.

Guest101

susancs wrote: »

I suspect the reason they are asking for so much evidence is part of the Prevent Duty (Prevention of children from being radicalised) which is in the counter terriosm and anti-security Act 2015 that came into force in July 2015. Under this new law the school/local education authority have extra safeguarding duties to investigate absences when children are out of the country for some time.

Also in regard to young girls, there are medical safeguarding issues that may need extra attention as in some cultures and countries medical staff will perfom female genital mutilation. I am not sugguesting that this has been done, but just wanted to make you aware of safeguarding considerations and how they cannot just assume this has not been done.

These regulations apply to the schools, not the parents though.


Whilst it may seem prudent to facilitate their investigation, often it's totally unnecessary.


(frankly this terrorism nonsense is beyond a joke)

susancs

Guest101 wrote: »

These regulations apply to the schools, not the parents though.


Whilst it may seem prudent to facilitate their investigation, often it's totally unnecessary.


(frankly this terrorism nonsense is beyond a joke)

Yes the legal requirements do apply to schools, which is why they are asking for all the information from the parent. I agree that often it is not necessary as the child is safe, but if the intention is to try to safeguard children better and not make assumptions, without investigating situations, then that has to be a good thing surely?

It is not just the issue with radicalisation, in some cases primary and secondary school girls have been taken "on holiday" and not returned and of course the concern is that in some cultures young girls are forced into marriages in other countries with much older men. If this is part of the family and extended family culture then other girls in the family will be at risk and need protection.

Guest101

susancs wrote: »

Yes the legal requirements do apply to schools, which is why they are asking for all the information from the parent. I agree that often it is not necessary as the child is safe, but if the intention is to try to safeguard children better and not make assumptions, without investigating situations, then that has to be a good thing surely?

It is not just the issue with radicalisation, in some cases primary and secondary school girls have been taken "on holiday" and not returned and of course the concern is that in some cultures young girls are forced into marriages in other countries with much older men. If this is part of the family and extended family culture then other girls in the family will be at risk and need protection.

But in this case there is already plenty of evidence - and frankly not a damn thing the school can actually do about it.


So instead of letting the father get on with arranging for the family to come home they want him to tick some more boxes.

susancs

ps124 wrote: »

Thanks all for the replies.

Apparently, any unauthorised absence from school for a significant amount of time needs to be reported to the education welfare officer (the earlier the better) and especially as the fact is she is abroad, not in the UK under the care of a GP or UK based hospital. The school has a duty to ensure the welfare of the child - she is not in any sort of danger and that she will be returning to school safe and well as soon as possible - which is why I am being asked to provide this information.

If they want to ensure the welfare of the child and that is there only motive, then I have no problems with that...in fact, it's pleasing to hear.

OP, has already stated that he does not have an issue with providing the information requested, as long as it is as the school has stated to ensure the welfare of his child.