Roughly how many days a year do your kids miss school through illness? (is there a time when school would question too much time off sick)?

[pepsi]

Just wondered whats considered "average" for time of sick during a school year. Im guessing I must be very lucky because mine have only had 2 or 3 days of ill during a year (so far!), since they started school. However, my brothers kids always seem to be off. Ive always noticed on their school reports that each have around 15-17 days of ill a year. Their youngest who is 9 has only been to school twice during the past ten school days - although this time I know she has had a bad throaty coldy thing. Are some kids just more likely to get bugs than others. I can imagine have a bad year every so often but they seem to have a bad year every year. Am are being picky here or are they just unlucky.

[mumblechum]

Mine had 100% attendance 2 years ago, one day off last year and one day off already this year.

He's only allowed to be off on Wednesdays as I'm working the other days

Last time, though he was really ill on a Thursday and I let him stay off home alone (he's 13) but confiscated the remote controls, PS2, PSP and DS so he had nothing to do but sleep.

15 to 17 days a year is incredible. Either they're seriously ill with something or their parents are far too soft on them.

[GrapefruitMoon]

I'm lucky in that mine only ever have a couple of days off a year and I think last year they both got certificates because they didn't miss a day at all....

Obviously some children have chronic illnesses that mean they can miss a lot of time and some years a child will get a bug that takes a long time to shake off but I think some parents keep children at home for the least little sniffle.... I am very hard and callous and always send them in unless they look like they actually need to be in bed!

15-17 days every year sounds like a lot to me unless there is some underlying medical reason

[pepsi]

Neither of them have any medical problems like glue ear, asthma, hay fever or anything else I can think of come to it. They just seem to be off a lot. Would the school ever mention it do you think?

[DumbledoresGirl]

Last year, my 3 school aged children had 100% attendance (though ds2 blew it at the end, after the attendance figures had been compiled, and had 3/4 days off in a row with a virus). I think ds1 has had 100% attendance for the last 2.5 years (since we moved). Dd had 100% attendance in Reception and last year (Year 2) but in Year 1, she was unlucky in that she caught a series of bugs and had several days off, and this was noted on her report and it was suggested to me that I should improve her attendance as it did not meet nationally accepted averages! As if I could do anything about her getting ill!

So I think some schools would pick up on frequent absences (even when they aren't particularly frequent!) and the parents are informed that attendance is not satisfactory.

[OrmIrian]

No more than 1 or 2. DS#1 had 100% a few years back and got taken to the cinema as a reward which caused a bit of a furore. I don't know what the limit is but if the illnesses are genuine, surely the school can't complain?

[Mercy]

I don't think 15 days off sick is incredible at all for young children.

Last school year my dd was absent for over 30 days due to illness (11 days in one stretch when she had flu)

[Dinosaur]

my own kids are sickeningly healthy but when I was at primary school I used to get dreadful bouts of tonsillitis and be off several times a year for a week at a time

[pepsi]

There is a bit of a history with my SIL, she does have times when she is depressed...she is on medication, but still has panic attacks and anxiety. We spoke about it recently and she said every times she goes to the drs they try to get her to go for counscelling...she says you have to pay for it...its not avallable on NHS and that its about £60/£70.00 per session so its a no go. I think she needs to go personally. Deep down I think this is part of the reason why the children are home so often as they act as a crutch for her. I rather hope that the school would mention something so that she could get some help. Theres a lot more to it with her past which would take me ages to go into. I try and help with things but to be honest its too big for me to even begin where to start,

[claricebeansmum]

15 days? That's one a fortnight?!!!
Lucky to have one day off school in this house...

DS's friend has alot of time off...days and days when he is so ill he has to lie on the sofa and watch a DVD whilst eating chocolate cake....

[pepsi]

Poor you Mercy, that must have been tough its not nice when they are ill so much, but in this case its consisent every year, thats what I find unusual. I remember when my ds was 2 he had constant ear infections that went to sickness, if he had been at school he would have been off loads....but only in that year.

[Piffle]

dd has had 8 days already this year, she is reception

She does have a condition which does mean she has low immunity and gets basic illnesses harder and for longer though

[fircone]

Ds is ALWAYS off sick. He misses about a week per term. The school says not to worry, they know he's not skiving.

He used to get regular bouts of tonsillitis, but now it's stomach bugs. If there's anything going round the school, it'll find ds.

I have consulted the doctor and he said that some children are just more susceptible to illnesses.

I'm not soft, ds just seems to catch a lot of bugs which hit him quite badly.

It's rather arrogant to suggest that children who are at home ill just have soft parents. You should consider yourself lucky that your dcs have extra-good immune systems.

[mankyscotslass]

DS last year in Reception had at least two days off sick every half term. He picked up every tummy bug and throat/chest/ear bug going. He always seemed to run a temperature with them too. He must have been off nearly 20 days in total. There were a few in his class that sailed though reception, not absent a day, and I can remember thinking how lucky the parents were. I got really pissed off because I make sure he eats well, sleeps well and has loads of fresh air and excercise, plus extra vitamins, and the other kids seemed to eat whatever they wanted and go to bed at 11 and never get ill. My doctor just laughed and said some kids are more prone to bugs than otrhers, and that probably aftr the next year or so things will improve. I am quite strict, and as long as he hasnt got a temperature or been sick/had the runs, I send him in. It was mentioned on his report, but at the end of the day there was nothing else I could do. So far this tem, no absences, although I am sure I have just jinxed myself

[bluefox]

My dd missed about 25 days last year -recurring bouts of tonsillitis and there was no complaint from the school. Shes also been off again this term -same thing. Doctor usually always consulted so I dont think the school can complain. Wish she could have the tonsils out though.

[Nymphadora]

dd1 has had 2 weeks off this term. and thats not much more than usual for her
dd2 had an attendance cert last year.(I hate them btw because dd1 gets so upset about being ill because she knows she won't get one )

[ghosty]

My DS has to be REALLY ill to miss school. By his own admittance he doesn't like to miss it.
I have a friend who keeps her child off at the slightest sniffle but she is a bit paranoid because she got a very ill with pneumonia a couple of years ago and it wasn't picked up until it got a bit scary. So she can be forgiven for being a bit scared.
Mind you this is also the friend who has parties and people round for dinner on weeknights and then lets her have a day off because she was tired from staying up late. At least 2x a term.

[pepsi]

Thats certainly not what Im getting out. Deep down Im trying to work out if its my SIL keeping them off because she needs them or whether like you say they just dont have a brilliant immune system and keeping on picking up bugs. My SIL told me the other day that she can feel herself getting anxious on the walk to school, but as soon as she is with the kids she is fine. She doesnt go anywhere on her own either. Her Dad was recently ill and she never once over a period of months went to visit in the week (she doesnt work), she always went with the girls because she needs them with her, but they hated going. I suspect she likes them with her and when they are sick keeps them off a bit longer than necessary as it then means she doesnt have to go out. Its all very complicated really, but I had a panic attack recently myself and its made me realise how she must feel and Im determined to help her, I just dont know how.

[ska]

my dd had 27% absence last year through sickness. and this term she has so far made it in for 7 days in total. but we are having a particularly rough time with her ill health. the head told me that he was about to call in the EWO (this was 2 weeks ago and since then she's had another 6 days off) but as this was the first t ime he'd contacted me i feel quite strongly that he's on a sticky wicket.

[Tortington]

we get a letter saying we are going to be hung drawn and quartered - with a percent of 94% attendance. the acceptable being 95%

This is even when you have said that your kid has been in hospital

i think this uniformed approach is fucking shit.

[DumbledoresGirl]

Custy, those percentages sound familiar. I think that is the same as at our school. The one year dd has ever had any time off at all, it did go below 95% and I had a very sniffy letter.

[Gobbledispook]

Basically never unless a proper, hospitalised illness!

Ds1 had a while off when he was hospitalised for pneumonia in reception but I don't think he was off before that, or since - he is in yr 2 now.

Ds2 was in school nursery last year and is in reception now - he's never been off school/nursery.

I was never off school either - again, only for having grommets in I think.

[Gobbledispook]

I have noticed at school that it's the same children who are off sick all the time - no chronic illnesses just apparent toothaches, tummy ache, headache etc. I send mine in knowing school will ring me with an issue. I think it's pretty obvious if your child is ill or pulling your leg most of the time.

[Gobbledispook]

Ghosty - I know someone a bit like that. If they were up late or got woken early they just don't bother to go in because they are tired.

[ska]

i 've just read the whole thread! some kids are unlucky and pick up bugs very easily. it seems to be first children who. but some parents are very easily persuaded to pull their kids from school. we sued to say if no temperature then you have to go but this illness isn't like that so it's harder to judge. she may need help and it sounds like you are trying to be supportive which she will appreciate

[pepsi]

Thanks ska. I notice many of the kids mentioned in these threads are reception age, my SIL kids are 11 and 9 so in their case its worrying what they are actually missing at school as the missing lessons at this age has a greater impact. Perhaps they are just unlucky that both girls get sick a lot, I just dont know.