School Holidays Help

ps124

The plot thickens...and concludes...but I am not happy with the end result and I think I have legimate grounds for a response.

I only had 4 days to respond to the headteacher's letter and didn't do that and with half term, I was going to submit the letter on Monday. However, the headteacher has already escalated this and I received a letter this morning from the EWO.

The letter from the EWO is in reference to my child's "unauthorised leave of absence" and the fact that despite the school's attendance policy, I "chose" to take my daughter out of school without "authorisation" from the headteacher. They've attached the attandance certificate (Which is 89%), and hit me with a final warning (no penalty) and any future unauthorised absences will be treated using their legal powers and possibly penalty notices.

1. So it seems like they have not considered any of the evidence I have submitted and concluded this is an unauthorised absence
2. If they have, they obviously didn't believe they had a case because then surely I would have received a fine? A "final" warning seems a bit like a stab in the dark approach doesnt it?
3. So if she is unwell again, I have to send her into school no matter what because the school will again consider that as an unauthorise absence? Where is the general wellbeing of the child taken into consideration here?

My initial thoughts are to write back to the EWO, attaching my letter to the headteacher asking for clarification and a retraction of the final warning as it seems completely unfair in these circumstances...I have evidence covering my child's absence, but they don't seem to have enough evidence to suggest this is unauthorised.

Granted, I may be writing this post while I'm angry, but I think this is a legimate case. What do you guys think?

Mojisola

ps124 wrote: »

My initial thoughts are to write back to the EWO, attaching my letter to the headteacher asking for clarification and a retraction of the final warning as it seems completely unfair in these circumstances...I have evidence covering my child's absence, but they don't seem to have enough evidence to suggest this is unauthorised.

Granted, I may be writing this post while I'm angry, but I think this is a legimate case. What do you guys think?

I would send all the information you have sent to the school to the EWO along with a letter asking why your child's hospital stay and follow-up medical treatment is being counted as an unauthorised absence.

It may be that the school has been economical with the facts when referring this to the EWO.

Regardless of whether the EWO removes the final warning, make sure your daughter's attendance is exemplary for the rest of the school year.

ps124

Hi, please see attached an outline of my response to the EWO.

Appreciate any comments/suggestions all.

Thank you for your letter dated xxxxx in relation to [DD’s] absence during term time.
I have attached a copy of my response to Mrs Headteacher requesting airline ticket information for your reference.
With regards to this case, I would like to bring to your attention that I have followed the school’s attendance policy by carrying out the following:
· As per the policy, I telephoned the school on the first day of absence (date) before 9.30am to inform them of my child’s absence. I then personally visited the school office and spoke to Mrs.Admin clerk to inform her of the circumstances surrounding my daughter’s absence. I was asked to provide various pieces of evidence – all instructions were followed and I was forced to take time off work to make multiple visits to the school office in order to try and provide evidence that was being requested. I was told to keep the school informed on her progress and likely return date – Again, this request was followed as per the bullet point below.
· I arranged a personal meeting with Mrs. Headteacher to provide an update and likely return date. I was asked to provide information which I stated has already been provided
· I provided the following evidence in relation to my daughter's absence:

1

I believe I have supplied ample information and cooperated as best I could in the stressful circumstances my family were in at the time. So, I am very surprised to hear that this has been considered as an unauthorised absence.
I can only conclude from your letter that the school is not satisfied with the evidence I have provided - However, they have failed to clarify why or attempted to resolve the issue.
I have requested the following information from the school:

· What is the process to determine whether an absence is authorised or unauthorised if the parent(s) has provided adequate evidence in relation to that absence?
· Who is involved in this process?
· What steps are taken in this process to ensure impartiality is maintained and each parent/child is treated equally?
· Confirmation/evidence that for all absences, parents are required to provide location evidence of the child in addition to any other evidence they have provided.
· Confirmation that if the parent(s) is unable to provide location or information on the whereabouts of their child during an absence, the school deems this as an unauthorised absence resulting in escalation to the school welfare officer


I feel this final warning is unfair and unjust considering the information I have already provided to the school.



Therefore, I request for this formal warning to be withdrawn on the grounds that DD’s absence cannot be deemed as unauthorised as I have followed the School’s Policy.

susancs

ps124 wrote: »

Hi, please see attached an outline of my response to the EWO.

Appreciate any comments/suggestions all.

Thank you for your letter dated xxxxx in relation to [DD’s] absence during term time.
I have attached a copy of my response to Mrs Headteacher requesting airline ticket information for your reference.
With regards to this case, I would like to bring to your attention that I have followed the school’s attendance policy by carrying out the following:
· As per the policy, I telephoned the school on the first day of absence (date) before 9.30am to inform them of my child’s absence. I then personally visited the school office and spoke to Mrs.Admin clerk to inform her of the circumstances surrounding my daughter’s absence. I was asked to provide various pieces of evidence – all instructions were followed and I was forced to take time off work to make multiple visits to the school office in order to try and provide evidence that was being requested. I was told to keep the school informed on her progress and likely return date – Again, this request was followed as per the bullet point below.
· I arranged a personal meeting with Mrs. Headteacher to provide an update and likely return date. I was asked to provide information which I stated has already been provided
· I provided the following evidence in relation to my daughter's absence:

1

I believe I have supplied ample information and cooperated as best I could in the stressful circumstances my family were in at the time. So, I am very surprised to hear that this has been considered as an unauthorised absence.
I can only conclude from your letter that the school is not satisfied with the evidence I have provided - However, they have failed to clarify why or attempted to resolve the issue.
I have requested the following information from the school:

· What is the process to determine whether an absence is authorised or unauthorised if the parent(s) has provided adequate evidence in relation to that absence?
· Who is involved in this process?
· What steps are taken in this process to ensure impartiality is maintained and each parent/child is treated equally?
· Confirmation/evidence that for all absences, parents are required to provide location evidence of the child in addition to any other evidence they have provided.
· Confirmation that if the parent(s) is unable to provide location or information on the whereabouts of their child during an absence, the school deems this as an unauthorised absence resulting in escalation to the school welfare officer


I feel this final warning is unfair and unjust considering the information I have already provided to the school.



Therefore, I request for this formal warning to be withdrawn on the grounds that DD’s absence cannot be deemed as unauthorised as I have followed the School’s Policy.

I think your letter needs to be more to the point and leave out the questions.

Dear X,

Re: XXXXD.O.B. xxxx absence from school due to illness incorrectly recorded as unauthorised by school.

Thank you for your letter dated....

I dispute the information provided in the letter as my daughter's absence due to illness should have been authorised by the school.

As the school and you are aware I provided medical evidence as proof that my daughter was ill from x to x and followed the schools attendance policy in full in regard to notifying the school and even providing evidence in the form of photos which is not usually required. I communicated on a regular basis with the school.

Due to the wealth of evidence provided in regard to the illness and the fact we fully adhered to the schools attendance policy, I expected my daughters absence to be authorised. If my daughter's absence is not authorised I will have no alternative but to lodge a formal complaint with the school's board of Govenors and the L.E.A about this matter.

Please find enclosed copies of the evidence of illness that the school received.

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Yours..........

ENC: 1..........
EN2

CC Mrs X Head Teacher of xxxxx

OP, how did they arrive at 89% attendance as this would be 20 days absence (4 weeks) from school in 8 months?

Spendless

Why would you have to ask for permission from the HT to go on holiday when you set off during the school hols? It's news to me, that anyone does this.

Secondly does everyone book a package tour/ return ticket? Is it not possible you bought a single because you knew that there was going to be a sale whilst you were away and thought you'd grab a bargain for a one way ticket and it'd work out cheaper, or you didn't have the funds to pay for a return because payday fell during your time away, so you were going to book then, or your ILs said 'just pay for the single fare, we'll treat you all to the return fare, sort it out when you're here' or it was possible that you might have gone to meet another relative towards the end of your stay and wasn't sure if you'd be flying back from another airport or country nearer to where this relative lived, but couldn't say for sure as it depending on the relatives work commitments/ general health as to whether you'd be going or not?

ps124

Yes thats true all of that is possible.

RE the attendance figure...I had a read through of this chart they sent...Her absences according to the chart:

7 days with an I - Refer's to illness
9 days for the 'unauthorised' absence
1 day for Exceptional circumstances (I think there was a problem with the heating so the school was closed but not sure if this counted)

So thats a total of 16 days without the exceptional circumstances one

ps124

I'm still waiting for a response from the headteacher to my letter.

I just had a call from the EWO to discuss why this letter has been issued. It was clear on the call that the EWO has issued this letter without looking into any of the facts. EWO has not looked at any of the evidence supplied, and the EWO issued the warning because "the school told her to"! The EWO literally said it like that! Apparently the EWO doesn't have the time to look at all the cases so they take the school's lead on this.

I asked for the foraml address so I can respond in writing but I've been told that it's the school's decision and I need to take it up with the school. Seems like there is no appeals/dispute process...it's based on the decision of the school (Whoever is involved in this process).

I'm tempted now to ring the EWO's boss (I have the number) and have a rant about this!

Anyway, in the meantime, I guess my dispute letter should now be directed to the school as opposed to the EWO.

Is this normal and any suggestions/advice RE next steps?

Guest101

ps124 wrote: »

I'm still waiting for a response from the headteacher to my letter.

I just had a call from the EWO to discuss why this letter has been issued. It was clear on the call that the EWO has issued this letter without looking into any of the facts. EWO has not looked at any of the evidence supplied, and the EWO issued the warning because "the school told her to"! The EWO literally said it like that! Apparently the EWO doesn't have the time to look at all the cases so they take the school's lead on this.

I asked for the foraml address so I can respond in writing but I've been told that it's the school's decision and I need to take it up with the school. Seems like there is no appeals/dispute process...it's based on the decision of the school (Whoever is involved in this process).

I'm tempted now to ring the EWO's boss (I have the number) and have a rant about this!

Anyway, in the meantime, I guess my dispute letter should now be directed to the school as opposed to the EWO.

Is this normal and any suggestions/advice RE next steps?

Just get onto your MP, it's their job after all

mum2one

You need ro follow the chain of command with the school ask the school for a copy of there complaints procedure, it give u the list who to complain to and how long it takes for them to have time to investigate
Could be...
Dep head
Head
Board of govenerors

X

Spendless

ps124 wrote: »

I'm still waiting for a response from the headteacher to my letter.

I just had a call from the EWO to discuss why this letter has been issued. It was clear on the call that the EWO has issued this letter without looking into any of the facts. EWO has not looked at any of the evidence supplied, and the EWO issued the warning because "the school told her to"! The EWO literally said it like that! Apparently the EWO doesn't have the time to look at all the cases so they take the school's lead on this.

I asked for the foraml address so I can respond in writing but I've been told that it's the school's decision and I need to take it up with the school. Seems like there is no appeals/dispute process...it's based on the decision of the school (Whoever is involved in this process).

I'm tempted now to ring the EWO's boss (I have the number) and have a rant about this!

Anyway, in the meantime, I guess my dispute letter should now be directed to the school as opposed to the EWO.

Is this normal and any suggestions/advice RE next steps?

Try getting in touch with Parents Want A say. They campaign for term time holidays to be reversed to what they were prior to September 2013. I'd have mentioned them before but they ask people to get in touch before going away (when they're told the holiday will be unauthorised) and it was irrelevant in your case. They have a facebook page and might be able to advise what your next step should be. Here's the link that includes contact details.

http://parentswantasay.co.uk/