Primary school attendance letter

[EricNorthmansFangBanger]

We received a letter about DD1's attendance at school today. She is in reception and has been really unlucky with illnesses. Last term she had a full week off with and some other days off. These were a mix of vomiting/diarrheoa bug, a chest infection and two days for a temperature/dodgy tummy. One day off she had as DD2 had a horrendous night, none of us got any sleep and DD1 literally couldn't keep her eyes open. She would have literally slept all day in class if she had been sent in.

We sent in a letter with each absence, the only time we took her to the doctors was when she had the week off. Within one letter to school we raised the issue, told them we were aware of this and asked some questions about their policies on illness. Noone got back to us. The same thing happened when DD1 started nursery, she was pretty much ill constantly until February but there's been nothing we could do about her immune system now or then.

This term we thought she would have been fine and that her attendance would have improved. Then the snow happened and she was ill again. The first day she had off DH was away, there was no way I could safely get her to school being heavily pregnant with SPD. I did try but unfortunately couldn't get her there. The beginning of the new week, also her birthday, school was shut due to the snow. I had fallen ill over the weekend and both DD1 and DD2 came down with what I had on the Monday. It was horrid and we were all pretty much in bed for the whole week and I'm still ill from that although both DDs are better now. So we got this letter, which the school said was coming. Fine, we totally understand that absence is not good but she has genuinely been ill when she has been off. The letter was actually from the council rather than school and said they would be monitoring her attendance for the next 4 weeks. If the attendance falls below 96% in these 4 weeks, which we aren't planning on happening, then they 'will take further action'. What do they mean by this? I want to reiterate to school our apologies for her attendance but it's been out of our hands the reasons why she's been off. Do I contact the head or even this attendance officer at the council? Or do I just leave it?

[SamSmalaidh]

It's just an automated letter. Your DD isn't even of compulsory school age yet so I'd ignore it.

[EricNorthmansFangBanger]

See I told DH that but he is still worried about it. Obviously in a perfect world she wouldn't have gotten ill at all resulting in her having to have time off but unfortunately she has. In my eyes we are doing our best and have sent her in whenever she has been well enough. There's a child in her class who was off for over a fortnight on holiday visiting family in another country as well as having other days off with illness so I can't imagine DD1's attendance is the worst in her class but still. The only issue we are having is an impending ELCS I'm due to have in a few weeks where getting DD1 to school may be tricky for three days following the section. I was already stressing about this but am feeling more stressed and under pressure about it.

[Startail]

DD2 has a red flag for attendance on the computer, like your DD a week and a few odd days.

I've never known her be off so much. She is Y7 and has a very good record normally, so I'd be amazed if I got a letter.

Several threads suggest they are coming down hard on reception DCs.
Totally stupid as it annoys the parents before they start.

[fallenangle]

If she below compulsory school age you don't have to send her at all. Children in reception get ill more than older kids because they have less immunity. Either ignore or contact council to complain about harrasment.

[EricNorthmansFangBanger]

Sorry Marius, cross posted!

The attendance was from the beginning of September until last week and it is around the 80% mark, which I know is bad. The 96% is from this week until four weeks time, which would take us to the end of half term week. She turned 5 last week

[5madthings]

We had one of these letters from school re ds2's atrendance. We spoke to them and explained it was due to illness and tgen the snow and they were fine. I also havd to explain to the educational wrlfare officer.

When they say take action what di they mean exactly?!! Its madness!!

[AgentProvocateur]

80% is one day off a week on average, which is quite a lot. She's off a fifth of the time. Can you get someone else to take her to school after your ELCS?

Good luck with the new arrival.

[Fuzzymum1]

I used to be the attendance governor at school. Anyone whose child's attendance dropped below a certain level was sent a letter - whatever the reason. It was decided that it would be seen as favoritism if they were sent to some people and not others - but it was just following procedure. The school fully accepted that children get more bugs/cold/infections in reception. There were families who regularly kept their children home for the slightest sniffle/tummy ache/don't want to go itis etc and they were the ones who the school were genuinely concerned about absence. One teacher noticed that there was one child that would have two days off following the slightest telling off - he would tell his mum he didn't feel well and would be kept home. ESW were involved not only with him but with his older sibling at secondary school too.

[SamSmalaidh]

She doesn't even have to be there until the September after she turns 5! It's crazy that they bother parents in Reception with this stuff when we are talking about little children who get ill/tired and don't even have to be in education yet.

Remember the school only cares about their stats.

[RaspberryLemonPavlova]

True, they don't have to start school until the term after they are 5. However if through parental choice children begin school earlier than that, school has to monitor their attendance.