School coming to home to view sick child - Normal?

I think let’s agree it was a safe guarding check. Now you need to find out why they decided your child might be at risk. I would be emailing the school and asking to have a conversation with either the teacher of a member of the safeguarding team and find out what they’re worried about.

Agree with the PP, the only time this would happen was if the child wasn't reported as off sick that day. Did you call in each morning?

It's never happened to us (though can't think of anything other than COVID which ever led to more than 48 hours off as I shove them back in as soon as I can) or anyone I know, as far as they've shared.

But ds did once not turn up to nursery because we went on holiday and I completely forgot to tell them he'd be off that week. I know the nursery manager and staff very well and have for years, so I have no reason to believe they would genuinely have any safeguarding concerns. Where we were on holiday didn't have any signal until we went down the lane a ways. They had tried ringing about 3 times after he didn't turn up and I only got the messages about mid morning. When I spoke to them and apologised (and we all laughed about it), they did mention they were hoping I'd ring soon because they would have had to do a home visit if we hadn't made contact my midday or so.

Could this be it? Even if you did ring in that morning, was it not communicated properly and so he was flagged up on the register.

I am not saying you are doing anything wrong at all but the school seems to think there is an issue and persistent lateness may contribute to it.
Something stupid DS14 said at school a few weeks ago caused a safeguarding concern so I fully understand that often there is nothing actually going on but schools have an obligation to look into things

it is a safeguarding check
Totally normal.

Quite impressive really and says a lot about the school. Too many don't do it when they should.

I’d definitely want to follow up with school. You clearly aren’t on holiday if elder child is in school taken and picked up by a parent.
Sick children aren’t always at home - I used to go to my grandmas as my mum was a teacher and couldn’t miss work.

I have never ever heard of that, and there are kids in my childrens school that would be off for a lot longer than that, it sounds very strange, and i would be ringing the school asking what their policy is and why did they call unannounced, thats not part of a teachers job i would imagine.

It’s normal for a member of pastoral staff to call around to check the child is actually there and is unwell. It’s unusual for it to be a teacher.

This unusual, home visits are normally done for very persistent absentees but that doesn't sound like the case here. I wonder if they school itself has decided on this policy as it's overall attendance figures are very poor and rhey are worried ofsted will say they aren't doing enough.

Please don't worry about what they will do next. Hopefully they will feel rather foolish having seen your dc covered in chickenpox spots. Hope he feels better soon.

I think it largely depends on the sort of area your school is in. Some schools have a policy to go out and do a door knock after a few days of not seeing z child, just to make sure everything is OK. Other schools never would. It just depends. The other thing to take into account, which you wouldn't know, is whether there's been any sort of safeguarding incident with another pupil that might have made them a little overcautious.
If you've nothing to hide I think it's fine.

Ypu need to phone the school to clarify this, of course this isn't normal.

Yep, they do this at our school now, and you have to ring in every day your child is off now, even if it's obvious they will be off for more than one consecutive day.(i.e. having a sickness bug/chicken pox)

It's because there's been an awful lot of unauthorised absence/people taking term time holidays etc.

The only time our school would do a home check is if no one has been in contact with them to report and absence and phone calls home had gone unanswered.

My kids have been off for ten days before and no one came to visit as we had contacted them to let them know they were unwell.

I'd find that incredibly intrusive. I would contact the school and complain. Getting the poor kid out of bed. I can't imagine how lateness would trigger a visit such as this. I'd definitely be questioning it.

That’s very unusual, I’ve never heard of school doing that as routine especially as after Covid, many children will easily be off for a week if they catch it. I feel it might be a safeguarding concern or something. What’s his attendance like

Do they send people through the school holidays? This is reduculous!!

I would complain, I don't believe for a second they do this for every kid off for a week with CP! That's quite a normal revocery period imo.

If I were you I’d ask for a face to face meeting when your son is better. I’d want to know why they’ve flagged a safeguarding concern.

I think the most important thing here is to try not to be too upset (not easy I know). Work with them, put across your side of the story, and address things like lateness.

Did you see the doctor - if so get a letter and send it to the school, so there is a record your son is genuinely ill. If you did not go to the doctor, can you write to the practice (I would include a picture of the spots), ask if an appointment is needed and ask for the illness to be added to his medical notes. Then also request a note.

It definitely wouldn't happen around here (London).

I doubt it’s your income, mostly likely to be the persistent lateness.
We lived out of catchment and DS was still there on time, are there reasons why you are often late?

That is unusual, when I worked with vulnerable kids I’d have loved teachers to check on kids who needed it but that never happened! I mean this kindly, but since you’re stressed do you think they could think you need some support for any reason?

that sounds a bit weird to me too. A friend's children have very, very poor attendance and no teacher has called; as others have said check that it it is actually school policy and not someone over-stepping, especially as you've kept them updated

It seems unusual. I wonder if someone has made a “comment” and they are following it up. Have you been outside with DS in the last few days?