This, I am sorry to say, is how they get 'outstanding'.
Although I have not worked in education, as a specialist Health Visitor, I had a lot to do with schools.
I could predict which ones would be unsympathetic to any child who had any illness, family problems, or similar.
One child had a similar problem to your grandson's when dealing with his sister's death.
Even my own children's school (good, not outstanding, and usually decent) had a couple of years when there were 'disincentives' for taking any time off. This included hospital appointments (arrange them in the school holidays, even if it meant unreasonable, possibly health-threatening delays); and most memorably, my own children getting a 'black mark' for taking a day off for their grandmother's funeral (you do realise this is often an excuse?).
I, and others complained, and the practice was stopped.
Sorry, just realised you asked for teachers' opinions, but having written it, I'm leaving my comment up!