Meeting with HT about Attendance? Terrified.

[Jumente]

I've just started a fight with the HT about their promotion of some home study company.

Straight back comes an email defending her position to the hilt, then going on to say:

'On a different matter, we have just completed our statutory attendance
monitorng and I would like to meet with you to discuss some concerns I
have regarding Ds1's attendance. I would be grateful if you could pop
into the school office and make an appointment to meet with me some next
next week.'

I'm by this as he has had a few days off for illness but there are other families taking their kids to other countries, dancing on fricking ice, all during term time, openly and without authorisation.

Is she just trying to put the frighteners on me or is there anything she can throw at me? We lost a school place last year because they bullied me into withdrawing him as he was doing part time and they didn't like it. I didn't know then that I could have fought for the place rather than just got our coats, as it were, and now I am having flashbacks and am terrified it'll happen again.

Thanks if anyone has any insight into attendance requirements...I thought you just kept them off if they were poorly, silly me I suppose

[janeite]

She's putting the frighteners on you, if it really is just a couple of days. I bet this wouldn't have come up at all if you hadn't complained - she's seeing attack as the best form of defence! If his attendance is over 90% you have no worries at all.

[Jumente]

Thankyou again Jane!! You're answering a few of my worries tonight on here.

I'm not certain it's above 90% tbh. He missed 2 weeks with proper flu before christmas, then a few days with Rotavirus in April? I think, then 3 days last week with a bad cough and temperature.
I should have just sent him in I think, it's like Bloody Lowood 'season of fog and pestilence' lol.

[janeite]

Did you have doctor's notes, esp for the two weeks? If so, no prob at all.

[Jumente]

Though leaving aside the fact she is totally transparent, what could they do if it were below 90%? Just in case it is...

(Have declined meeting btw, as I have no babysitter next week, but invited her to address her concerns via email. No reply as yet

[janeite]

And to be be honest, even if you didn't, all she can say is that they will be monitoring his attendance closely. They can't kick him out of school for poor attendance unless it's really, really low and a parent has failed to work with an ESW etc. Even then, it would be a huge issue.

[Jumente]

I don't have a doctor's note, no. It was flu, as I was diagnosed over the phone - they didn't send anyone out and I couldn't get out of bed. The boys had the same thing.

I didn't realise we'd need a note - I just wrote one for the school and they said it was fine. Other days I just ring in the morning.

[janeite]

Stop worrying!

[bigstripeytiger]

I could be wrong, but I dont think you need a doctors note. The sick notes that GPs give out are certificates saying that an adult is unable to work, so AFAIK you shouldnt get that for a child.

[Jumente]

Oh cross posted there, sorry That's reassuring.

She is truly not a very nice person IME

It makes me feel about 8 again!
Thanks again for your help.

[Goblinchild]

The most you will get is a meeting with the EWO to ask if there's any help you need.
She's either just keeping tabs on attendence for next year, or she's a power-crazed maniac who likes frightening parents. take your pick and DON'T worry!
You are a grown up now, you can write notes for your child's sickness and be believed. Take a mate with you if you think she might be mean.

[Goblinchild]

Oops...
attendance

can spell and use capitals, honest. My fingers are fed up with report writing and my brain is screaming CHOCOLATE NOW!

[janeite]

Sick notes often required if there is a genuine concern re attendance though, which actually doesn't seem to be the case here.

[janeite]

me too Goblinchild - and dp won't go to the shop! I have had to have muesli instead and muesli is really not appropriate report-writing fuel.

[Jumente]

Lol Goblin thankyou so much for making me laugh and Janeite I don't think there is just cause for concern over attendance. I'm pretty sure we're as diligent as we can be over attendance. Lateness, we've been late about 4 times all year which considering my friend's child is late almost every day, I don't think is too appalling.

They can bring it on really. Option 2 for the record GC

[Jumente]

...and only minutes late, just missing the register iyswim. Not rocking up at 9.30 wearing shades and drinking redbull

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

Jumente, I left a message on your other thread with some links re Student Support Centre.

[Jumente]

Oh you lovely thing. Just been reading that. Thankyou

[Hassled]

The Head does sound like a bit of a witch but in her defence attendance is something Ofsted are getting very worked up about at the moment. At our recent Ofsted, we were quizzed extensively about attendance, despite it being well within the LA targets. Is the school due an Ofsted?

[HerBeatitudeLittleBella]

Make notes beforehand.
Ask her:

What is your DS's attendance?
How does that compare to the average?
Does she always have a meeting with parents whose children's attendance has caused concern? At what point (% wise) does she call a meeting?
If not, why did she feel a need to have a meeting with you?

My DS's attendance went down to 80% and all I got was a standard letter with an offer of a referral to a school nurse.

[Jumente]

Thanks Hassled, I didn't know that - not as far as I know, I think they ahd an excellent or outstanding last year.

Seriously, do they want us to send in sick children? I can't imagine how that would be workable.

[Jumente]

Thanks littleBella, I am grateful to you for formulating those q's for me.

I shan't be going to a meeting anyway unless she presses for one the week after, and says it is really urgent. Which I don't think she has grounds for honestly. But I will use the points you list if I have to.

[missmapp]

Is there anyone else you could take with you to the meeting, you shouldnt be made to feel bullied by your ds' headteacher, and if someone else is there, to take notes on your behalf, she may act differently. In my school the first course of action with attendence concerns is a letter explaining the situation and the next steps , but this is done much earlier in the year when any concerns are noted. Our registers are monitored weekly, she really should have contacted you before if she had any real concerns.

[NorthernLurker]

I think you just need to go to the meeting let her say her piece, reply only that you will strongly encourage your son not to play with any nasty viuses next year and that she must be so looking forward to the summer holidays, thank you and good bye! Job done, box ticked, end of story.

Attendance is a big thing for teachers and your son has been off a fair bit - i wouldn't worry about what she's doing with other parents just give her ten minutes and that's an end to it.

[Jumente]

Thankyou so much. I'm not sure how to do this - maybe if I email back and ask her to put any concerns in writing? Then I can reply back in a letter.

There's not really anyone I can take with me - my parents are away so can't have ds2, and my only proper friend at the school has her own ongoing issues with this woman and they are not on good terms! Though my friend would be brilliant I think it would be too antagonistic iygwim.

Can I ask her why she did not notify me of her concerns earlier? I really thinks he knows she's not got anything valid to ask me about and just wants a meeting so she can make me feel small and put me in my place.