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AIBU?

To ignore attendance letter from school

81 replies

wheresthel1ght · 19/01/2018 17:06

Dd is 4 and in reception so legally she is not required to be in full time education.

We have had a letter home today about her attendance which is at 90.2% meaning she has missed 6 days since September. She has had 2 bouts of being sick due to asthma attacks but they insist on her being off for 48 hours which al(so 4 days there) and then she has had 2 days of hospital appointments.

To set the scene on the appointments; The hospital 35 miles away and is the closest hospital that offer dermatology services. It has no parking on site so you have to use the park and ride facilities in the city and then use public transport to. The hospital. It takes 45 mins to drive to the park and ride and then an hour on public transport to the hospital so a 10am appointment literally takes all day. So that covers her other 2 days.

She is due for tests next week which is another 3 full days off school which judging by the letter will drop her to about 87%.

Now if I understand correctly because she is not compulsory school age, they cannot fine us and the school, school nurse and council are all aware because the council refuse to accommodate her dietary needs which is why we are having so much time in hospital trying to get things sorted.

Am I correct? And if so can I just bin the letter?

OP posts:

Report

dontlikebeards · 19/01/2018 17:07

I wouldn't worry about it. Bin it.

Lndnmummy · 19/01/2018 17:08

Bin it. She is off for genuine reasons.

SandyDenny · 19/01/2018 17:09

That's a lot of typing, my reply is very short, of course you can put it right in the bin.

Starlighter · 19/01/2018 17:10

I’d drop the school an email just explaining all of that and then I’d bin it!

NoqontroI · 19/01/2018 17:11

Bin it.

bekindtome · 19/01/2018 17:12

Put it in the bin. My DS support teacher told me to. They have to send them out. My dd has 100% and my son has 86%. I get one every term.

Skarossinkplunger · 19/01/2018 17:14

She’s not legally required to be in school. Ignore it.

wheresthel1ght · 19/01/2018 17:19

Sorry the app appears to have removed my paragraphs.

The school are fully aware of them being genuine absences and has had emails from me every time as well as a phone call explaining why. They also have copies of all the hospital letters and I have a half termly review with the head to discuss changes in dds treatment and how that impacts on the school /what procedures need to be in place to keep her safe.

I had literally just walked out of a meeting with the head regarding protective measures for dd being in school next week and she never said a word. The Hitler in the office was very preachy when I went to ask about why we had received it as my understanding was her hospital appointments weren't included as they are planned absences.

OP posts:

nokidshere · 19/01/2018 17:20

One of my teens has had pretty much 100% attendance ever since he started primary school. The other one has never had 100% attendance since starting primary school.

We have had a few letters over the years and we have ignored them all.

brownelephant · 19/01/2018 17:21

keep it
but you have valid reasons for absence.

PinkAvocado · 19/01/2018 17:23

I would remind them that firstly she is not of CSA.

wheresthel1ght · 19/01/2018 17:26

@pinkavacado I was very tempted when the office woman got shitty. I will be seeing the head again after next week's tests so I will raise it then and remind her that as she is not compulsory school age I would thank them not to send them again until she is (so September as she isn't 5 til the middle of August)

OP posts:

Sirzy · 19/01/2018 17:29

Ds has dropped to 75% because of his medical needs before now. I keep the attendance letters as evidence for things like dla claim but other than that pay no attention.

She is in school when she is able, you are working with School and your not taking the piss so don’t worry

tiggerbounce77 · 19/01/2018 17:30

I think the schools have to hand out these letters even though they know it's a valid reason. Just ignore it

ReanimatedSGB · 19/01/2018 17:30

Schools are being plagued by the government/ofsted about attendance. they have to send these letters even though they know perfectly well it's a waste of everyone's time (when DC have medical issues and a valid reason for absence). Just bin it.

DullAndOld · 19/01/2018 17:31

These letters are automatically generated.
Honestly don't worry.

However could I just say that school receptionists/secretaries are 'under orders' and may have developed an 'arms length' manner after dealing with lots of very difficult parents. Calling her 'Hitler' is not necessary, your dd is only 4 , you will have years of it. Don't stress yourself.

wheresthel1ght · 19/01/2018 17:31

I get that, but when legally she doesn't even have to be in school then surely it's pointless? They must be able to apply common sense surely

OP posts:

Sirzy · 19/01/2018 17:31

We had an issue with the school attendance officer getting shitty at one point. Her phone call when he was in hospital as an inpatient (which School knew about) was the final straw so I had a word with the head. Strangely she is now as nice as pie...

Lovesagin · 19/01/2018 17:33

I gave mine to the teacher and said she could use it as scrap paper

Glitterbugg · 19/01/2018 17:33

My DDs attendance is probably similar. She’s been off since Tuesday this week alone. She’s in year 1 so is of CSA.

She has asthma also, and other health problems. She’s previously had sepsis.

A lot of these things I think are trigger automatically, in any case you have geniune reasons which you can clearly evidence.

Having said that, we’ve never had a letter. Even if we did, I don’t care education is important but health comes first.

Loonoonow · 19/01/2018 17:33

The school has to be able to prove to the LA that they are pro-active in ensuring good attendance. Part of that is box ticking so letters like that will be automatically generated to 'prove' they are taking action in all cases. If they thought there was a real problem an attendance officer or HOY would have been in touch with you personally.

And the office 'Hitler' is probably as much in the dark about these matters as you are.

DullAndOld · 19/01/2018 17:35

You might as well get used to it tbh., this is how it is going to be.

I once asked the school sec why I was getting the arsey fone calls etc., when mine were not yet even legal school age - the fact is they are enrolled which makes the school responsible.

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blackteasplease · 19/01/2018 17:35

Not rtft but I certainly ignored it re my severely asthmatic dd who was several times in hospital in the period complained of! She's got new meds now but but they didn't prescribed these until after these hospital trips!

memememe · 19/01/2018 17:36

i would keep it and also inform the school that she is not csa and get them to speak to the la and retract the note on her file as if she has another letter they will escalate it and could cause you trouble. id get it sorted now.

lostherenow · 19/01/2018 17:36

Its automatic, if insensitive. Just ignore.

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