Taking Children out of School for Funerals

Great example to the kid ' I'll write to the school to say you were sick, but of course it is a blatant lie' (:

Most Heads will listen if you explain that someone is not actually related by was exactly like a grand-parent due to xyz circumstances. If it is a one off (I've known parents to take kids off school to go to the hairdresser's or even shopping)- they will listen. But if the child misses the funeral, there are plenty of ways, perhaps more suitable for a child, to have a private remembrance ceremony in honour of that person. My grandchildren were not able to come to the great grandma's and great grandps's funerals abroad, in termtime- and we did something special next time they came over, talked about them, looked at photos and told stories, etc.

They could throw a sickie.

I think it was You and Yours which was covering this holidays/absences today. One woman said her family had been fined as she had taken her children to Australia for a month over Christmas to spend time with her father who was dying with cancer. She'd asked permission and been refused. Others with equally valid reasons were also refused although the heads had said it wasn't right their hands were tied. (£60 for each parent and child seems to be the going rate.)

No list could cover all contingencies. Every family is likely to have a special connection – mum's godmother, for example – who wouldn't be on someone's list but has been an important part of family life. Family connections can be very complex these days when divorce and remarriage are far commoner than they were in the past.

I don't ever recall this cropping up when I or my children were at school. I guess the school has provided a guideline but would probably be open to persuasion according to circumstance. I would imagine it's a rare event anyway...