Missing school for a holiday

As I have explained clearly, it isn't me who has organised the holiday, and I won't be going.
He would be going with his brothers' family.

And did you spend all your time with nose in phone moaning about being no signal/sky/tiktok/McDonald's? No.another century's rules are now defunkt and irrelevant.

Could you not approch the board of goveners? they may have more sence

Have you considered how disruptive this could be for the rest of his class? On his return his teachers will be expected to spend time explaining what he's missed, to enable him to catch up with his lessons. You've asked the school for a holiday pass, explaining the circumstances which has been considered, but refused. If they agree to your request how could they turn down any other pupil?

Yes, I have considered every single angle.
They do not think the case is exceptional, whilst I do, and I have access to the full facts, and I know how things have been since my daughter died.
They don't.

123kitty has a good point.

OP,

For you, of course it is justified
Anybody requesting voluntary absences thinks their case is special and justified

I'm sure they do, however that is for them to work out.
I have to work out what I think is best for me and mine.

I suppose as a retired teacher I take a slightly different view. I really don’t think the missed learning is the point- I agree that holidays are educational in themselves. I just think that taking holiday days off - whatever the reason- is not a good habit To get into for children’s later working lives. Children can also be pretty upset at being taken out of school when they know that it is not really condoned.

Have you explained the situation to the school? I, too, am usually a stickler for attendance however - would you / he ensure he takes school work with him and it gets done? I appreciate the school can’t have one rule for one etc

Yes, I have explained the situation (briefly)
It isn't considered exceptional.
I disagree though.
Not that I think it is something to keep harping on about, or that allowances should be made forever more, but for 3 days, considering his attendance, grades, etc, I think it could be allowed.

I feel very strongly that you are right to want him to go on this holiday missadventure. It’s a chance to bond with his brother after a very difficult period in his life. Children’s mental health is extremely important and developing close bonds with family after a major bereavement can only be good for him.
As retired teacher, I can see only positives in letting him have the last three days of term off for this family holiday. Missing the odd day of schoolwork is not going to harm his education.
I hope the headteacher sees the sense in this exceptional request on your grandson’s behalf.
I think most schools have a family support worker who should back you up with this. Good luck.

Thank you.

3days won’t make a difference and it’s family time interesting enough before pandemic my hus and I were in Corfu it was absolutely okay for a learning support assistant to take her children out of sch one rule for one one for another .My son missed months of school while county education No school work for months it’s an absolute joke

I can't believe that anyone would think that it's wrong, he is a bright boy who will soon catch up. The school should be focusing on his well being, to have lost his mother at such a young age is very sad, he needs to have time with his brother.

MissAdventure I support you taking DS out of school for just 3 days so he can spend time with his brother.

He has been though such a tough and crap time this will be of huge benefit for him.

Usually people say "family matters more than anything" and this is one of those times.
For his MH now and the bonding the brothers need for their future it does matter that they spend the time together.

He is a bright lad and will soon pick whatever, if anything he missed at school.
I would suggest a F2F talk with the school if you can.

Well, so long as you and your family can make up the lessons that your grandson has missed then he won't hold back the rest of his class when he gets back from holiday.
Teacher friends of mine found it very disruptive when children were taken out of school for holidays. I'm sure the same applies now.

I work in a school and under these circumstances the Head would grant the leave. Have you tried contacting the Head and explaining the whole situation. There is a lot of emphasis in schools on mental well being at the present, so I'd make sure I brought this to the fore. At the end of the day if it was me I'd be talking him out of school, even if it meant paying a fine. What's £60 compared to the child's welfare.

I could say a whole lot about goes unconcerned the teachers were when we really needed support, but I won't.

As a retired teacher I think he will gain far more by going on holiday with his brother than being in school the 3 days before the half term holiday.

I sympathise with you, MissAdventure, for having had to agonise over this issue. It must be very worrying for somebody conscientious.
I gather from oblique references earlier in the exchange that you have experienced family tragedy, with which I also sympathise, of which some Gransnetters seem to be aware. However, some of us who have recently joined will not be aware of your personal circumstances, and it is not helpful for commenters who are aware to beat others over the head for their lack of this knowledge.
For what it’s worth, I agree that missing 3 days before half-term is unlikely to cause serious damage to the boy’s education. I am sure we all have memories of sports days, nature walks and “silent reading” while Miss caught up with her reports in the wind-down to holidays.
The ban on holidays in term time was a huge problem for those of us in the NHS when I was working. Rosters meant only a limited number of people could have time off in school hols, which meant some with children (let alone grandchildren) couldn’t have holiday time with them at all for some of the holidays. And those without school age children (like me for the last 15 years) just never got away in the school holidays. And the contrast between the cost of holidays during the school holidays, and the weeks before and after, meant that lower paid parents could afford to go away in term time, but not outside. One nurse manager thought she would “solve” it by saying that nobody was allowed to book more than 1 week’s holiday at a time!

Absolutely go for it and feel happy in your heart. Three days is nothing, many children are off ill for much longer. Any new vital bit of learning will be covered again after half term and your grandson's mental and emotional health is paramount to his achieving success for longer in life than just one term. Blimey some folk do love their rules and soap boxes ?

123kitty

Have you considered how disruptive this could be for the rest of his class? On his return his teachers will be expected to spend time explaining what he's missed, to enable him to catch up with his lessons. You've asked the school for a holiday pass, explaining the circumstances which has been considered, but refused. If they agree to your request how could they turn down any other pupil?

Have you read what OP has said about this boy ? Apart from his emotional history he is exceptionally bright. In no way will his teachers have to “disrupt” their teaching to help him catch up three days work. (And yes I do know what I’m talking about !)

Cycorax

Well, so long as you and your family can make up the lessons that your grandson has missed then he won't hold back the rest of his class when he gets back from holiday.
Teacher friends of mine found it very disruptive when children were taken out of school for holidays. I'm sure the same applies now.

Its good to see the Milk of Human Kindness still flows. But obviously not in your veins, Cycorax

Oofy“ I am sure we all have memories of sports days, nature walks and “silent reading” while Miss caught up with her reports in the wind-down to holidays.”.
A thing of the past I can assure you !!

MissAdventure

I could say a whole lot about goes unconcerned the teachers were when we really needed support, but I won't.

That’s dreadful. Actually I think you should point this out to the headteacher.