School Holidays Help

thorsoak

It proves that you journeyed to where you say you journeyed - although as you have already produced it, I am at a loss as to why they should still be insisting upon seeing it. It would appear that their record-keeping might not be as good as it should be. I would complain to the governors.

susancs

Considering the matter further I realised that I cannot see it mentioned that your daughters medical records showed that she was ill prior to her return date to school. If it was on or after the return date to school, the LEA may require evidence that you planned to return for the start of school and illness was the sole reason for her not being in school, so that they can void any "in school term time holiday penality charge". This obviously should not be required if your daughter's medical records show that she was ill before she was due to return to school.

If she was ill before the return date to school, you have IMO provided enough proof as to the reason why she was absent from school and from a safeguarding point of view there are no concerns.

If ill after the return date, you may get a fixed penality notice from the LEA of £60 per parent (rising to £120 per parent if not paid within 21 days and if no paid within 28 days, court proceeding) unless you can prove the intention was to return for school.

Andypandyboy

Op how many days did your daughter have off school in total in term time?

Are you from a demographic where there are issues such as fgm?

The answers to one or of both those questions could be what is underlying the schools's persistence.

susancs

ps124 wrote: »

thorsoak, Yes I mentioned this is an earlier post a few weeks ago...the headteacher spoke about the stringent checks they need to make on FGM and radicalisation etc. which is fine...but how will an airline ticket help in this instance? what does it prove?

What annoys me is it seems like they are using the 'concern for the welfare of my daughter' as a smokescreen for something else - No idea what...it's not like shes been regularly absent.

So does anyone know whether I should go to a Parent Staff Representative in the first instance or a governor? Even if I do, what is it that they can do/help with? Is it neceesary at this stage?

It may well be that the school do ask the EWO about it and they advise the school to authorise the time off with no further action. To have a complaint logged at this stage may just cause further investigations when it may have just been dropped. As your DD is back in school and there are no safeguarding issues it is just the "in school term time holiday penality fine" the EWO will be looking at, especially as you have stated your DD has usually got a good attendance record. I think the initial concerns in regard to your daughter's wellbeing is unlikely to be an issue anymore with the evidence provided and the fact she is ok and back at school, it is likely that they are now looking at the secondary, less important, issue of a child taking holidays in school term time.

ps124

So her discharge papers and documents show that she was admitted to Hospital on the 9th April and was discharged on the 11th April. Due weightloss and dehydration the doctors prescribed various oral medication, rest and a follow up visit on the 15th.

The school term started on the 12th April so she basically ended up missing 9 days - a combination of her recovery time and getting on a return flight we could take and afford. My wife was also travelling with my son (infant) so there is no way she could manage a half recovered toddler and an infant on a 9.5 hour flight and total 18 hour journey (with changeovers).

I have provided enough information. They seem to are focusing on my flight details, I get the feeling the safeguarding aspect is just a smokescreen. Not sure what they are trying to get at - maybe just get me a penalty. I'm thinking I send the letter (Which I've re-written slightly) and just basically say no, I don't need to provide those details, you have the medical evidence - end of. Is that the best way of dealing with this now?

Andypandy - No not from a demographic where there are known issues of this kind.

Mojisola

ps124 wrote: »

So her discharge papers and documents show that she was admitted to Hospital on the 9th April and was discharged on the 11th April. Due weightloss and dehydration the doctors prescribed various oral medication, rest and a follow up visit on the 15th.

The school term started on the 12th April so she basically ended up missing 9 days

I'm thinking I send the letter (Which I've re-written slightly) and just basically say no, I don't need to provide those details, you have the medical evidence - end of.

I would stay co-operative for the moment. If you get stroppy, it could escalate. By providing what's asked for, you keep the moral high ground and, if it's taken further by the school, you will look good and the school won't.

I would put all the information in a letter in a very calm objective way - although there's no harm in saying that you have already supplied the information to the school office. Also state that, by supplying all the details, you consider the matter closed.

You said in your first post that you had lied to the school about the holiday - I suspect that this is behind the Headteacher trying to make an issue of the non-attendance.

As your child is only in Reception, you will be dealing with the school for some years to come so you need to mend fences if you can.

janninew

But surely you can't provide what they want, proof of when you were originally coming back as you said yourself, you lied and were never traveling back when you told them you were! What a mess, as the saying goes 'what a tangled web we weave when we first practise to deceive'.

Mojisola

janninew wrote: »

But surely you can't provide what they want, proof of when you were originally coming back as you said yourself, you lied and were never traveling back when you told them you were! What a mess, as the saying goes 'what a tangled web we weave when we first practise to deceive'.

ps124 wrote: »

So her discharge papers and documents show that she was admitted to Hospital on the 9th April and was discharged on the 11th April. Due weightloss and dehydration the doctors prescribed various oral medication, rest and a follow up visit on the 15th.

The school term started on the 12th April so she basically ended up missing 9 days

I don't think the original travel date is relevant any more.

The family now have a legitimate reason for not returning before the school term started. I don't think they could be 'fined' because they weren't intending to return.

It would be interesting to see how a court would deal with this. Don't you actually have to have committed an offence before you can be issued with a penalty notice?

janninew

Mojisola wrote: »

I don't think the original travel date is relevant any more.

The family now have a legitimate reason for not returning before the school term started. I don't think they could be 'fined' because they weren't intending to return.

It would be interesting to see how a court would deal with this. Don't you actually have to have committed an offence before you can be issued with a penalty notice?

I genuinely don't know, the school appears to have a bee in their bonnet about the original return date. Clearly they have some suspicions, who knows why.

I don't have any experience, my little one starts school this time. I don't think telling lies is the right way though and as seen here you can become unstuck.

I hope the OP gets it sorted once and for all though.

ps124

Good advice all - thanks.

The last post is right...the return date is irrelevant now. She was genuinely sick so I didn't even get a chance to tell a porkie to the school.

Frustratingly enough...(and I couldn't believe this myself), a friend who also has a child in reception with my daughter requested a week off to attend a wedding abroad and this was approved by the same headteacher!!! :huh:

Arrgghh.