Help working out attendance %

[moosemama]

I am a bit worried about ds2's attendance levels and whether or not we're going to end up with EWO contact.

He started secondary this year. His primary were very good and as long as they were only off for genuine illness, were very reasonable about attendance levels. Unfortunately our family has a tendency towards weak immune systems and migraines, among other things, despite us trying everything we can to keep everyone healthy. Typically, he had a pattern of illness absence during the Autumn/Winter and then none or maybe just an odd day over Spring/Summer. Which meant his absence levels never got really low over the whole year, but looked awful for the first part of the year.

Ds2 has never suffered from migraines, although dh, myself and ds1 all do, although ds1's started a lot younger than ds2 is now.

Ds2 is currently off with what we initially thought was a stomach bug. He woke with severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea yesterday morning, hasn't had a bad stomach since the very bad bout first thing yesterday, but has a thumping headache, nausea and dizziness and really isn't well enough to go back today. I suspect that this is actually a migraine, rather than a stomach bug, as the symptoms are very similar to one of the migraine types that I suffer from and he has the familiar 'look' to his face that would suggest it. (Both ds1 and I suffer from migraines that can last for several days at a time as well.)

Regarding attendance, he had a day off at the end of September with similar symptoms, then a day in December with a very obvious migraine. So unfortunately, it seems he's developing migraines. That's now 4 days off since he started in September and I am concerned that his attendance levels are slipping below the required levels, but haven't a clue how to work it out.

If he is starting to suffer from migraines, then obviously his historical pattern of zero or very little absence during the Spring/Summer may no longer be the case and I'm concerned that we could be headed for EWO contact, which will be a first for us after 11 years of having dcs at school. (Ds1 has higher than average levels of absence, but has ASD and diagnosed migraine, as well as attending an independent school that aren't as worried about attendance levels as long as work is made up and grades don't slip.) Bizarrely their 7 year old sister has pretty consistent 100% attendance, although iirc, she had 99% one year.

Can anyone advise me as to how I keep a track of ds2's % absence levels please. I'm thinking it's probably better for me to work it out and be proactive in speaking with the school before it becomes an issue.

Obviously I will be booking ds in with the GP to discuss these migrainous episode and treatment options.

Many thanks.

[IamMrsElf]

Contact the school and speak to the Pastoral Deputy or Assistant Head. If you give them an overview now of your DS's developing condition then they will be better placed to support your child. They will have your DS's % attendance, so they will be able to tell you and could keep you updated.

I hope you get the help and support that you need. Good Luck.

[TeenAndTween]

It's quite straightforward to work out

How many days school have there been since he started in September?

(probably around 12 weeks last term plus 2 this term, so approximately 14*5 days = 70 days)

number days missed 4, so days attended = 70-4=66

%attendance = (66/70)*100 = 94.2%

ie (Number days attended/ Number possible days ) * 100


To be accurate you should count in sessions. Mornings and afternoons. So if send home at 11 am he has only missed the afternoon.

hth

[moosemama]

Thank you, I was wondering who the best person would be to speak to. They tend to say go through Form Tutors in the first instance for most things, but I think you're right, it's the Head of Pastoral Care for KS3 that I need.

I wanted to be forewarned and therefore fore-armed (sp?) re his current percentage attendance is before I spoke to them, so I know where we stand. I think I've worked it out and he's just bang on 95% attendance, so any more days off and he'll trip the alarm bells for poor attendance.

The migraines don't seem very regular at the moment. One day in September, another in December and this one. So fingers crossed he won't have any more for a while, but I'll get him to the GPs then contact the school with details of what the doctor has said/recommended, as at least that will show them that we're trying our best.

[moosemama]

Thank you TeenAndTween I've been back through the calendar and worked it out as 76 days attendance out of a possible 80 (I excluded the 3 INSET days, hope that's right) so 160 sessions. Which works out, if my maths isn't completely rubbish at 95%.

It's so annoying as obviously, with any luck, his percentage will improve the more days/weeks/sessions he attends, which is what's happened in previous years, but I am concerned about the potential for it to slip under 95% if he carries on having these episodes. The school he goes to does tend to be very strict, although they don't actually state expected attendance rates on their website. They're an academy, but I assume it will be the standard 95% as per government advice and the LA's website.