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Hi my ds has an audition coming up which will require him to be absent from school for a whole day. Have heard in the past that children are allowed a certain number of days absence per academic year for auditions etc. Does anyone know if this is correct, and if so, how many days they are allowed? Would appreciate any advice. Would prefer to be honest with the school than tell a lie and keep him off sick. Please help?

Hi we've always been honest with school and they've marked it as authorised absence

Thanks dogcop - do you write a letter to the head or go and see them?

You are fortunate dogcot, I wrote a letter when my ds was filming (student film so no licence) on a school day and got a reply back Unauthorised as does not fall under exceptional circumstances eg funeral? If someone could point out what the right thing to say to the head is that would be great! thanks.

Tikto...you should still licence for a student film as far as I am aware..

I would request a meeting and perhaps explain that most schools give it as authorised and perhaps they could consider doing the same...say it's a shame that your child will hjave to miss out because of a school procedure...

Would they authorise if a child was trying out to join say a regional sports team??

Such a shame and unfair xx
xx

If your child is taking time off school to perform - paid or unpaid, they need a licence (though not for auditions).

yes you need a licence for any thing if on a school day only time you do not is if yr ds or dd has not filmed in the last 6 months and it is not a school day if its a student film that is fine but if ds got a part and it was indepedent film and did not know any one on the production team would get a licence any way as that is what the licence is for so LEA can make sure that the child is safe

The rules are : if a child is taking time off school to take part in a performance, if they are getting paid, if people are paying to watch or if the production is being broadcast / broadcastable (ie a film, even a student film) then the child should get a licence, however many LEAs bend the rules for student films or for productions taking place during school holidays! It really depends on your LEA, East Yorkshire are wonderful - I just telephone and ask all my questions and they are really helpful. Recently my DD got a part in a film which wanted to use IKEA for the set and as they do not close until 9:00pm on weekdays and 5:00pm on Sundays this is outside the permitted hours for a 7 year old but they were willing to let her take part because of the circumstances. However a change of venue ment that this was unneccessary in the end.

I don't know about other authorities but we've always been told to class it as 'receiving education elsewhere'. This covers them for events such as : going to a presentation/award ceremony, school trips, sporting events and various performances - we have always classed auditions in this category. Most heads have to keep their attendance figures over 92%(again that's the case in Wales) so it is a way of keeping their target. Good luck x

The head at Ds school is great. She realises that the life experience that ds gets from what he is doing is more than he could learn at school!! It helps that he still manages to keep up with his school work. She does have to explain any absences but is still supportive.

Thanks for all your replies. DS been lucky enough to secure a number of roles etc so we are pretty ok with the licencing rules. My problem was the absence from school for his audition. Anyway - good news is I contacted the headteacher and explained the situation to her and what an amazing opportunity this could be for ds and she authorised the absence. Relief aahhhhh ! Thanks again. Holly

that's great. Well done