School harassing us over attendance...

The safeguarding lead probably just completed the safeguarding training. Some of the case studies are very disturbing.
I also laughed at the idea that this is the same as living in North Korea. You should read something written by someone who has escaped from there.

Exactly

I bet half these "I would withdraw my child, they're so interfering" are the same people who cry out "but why did no one do anything?" when a neglected child ends up dead

Agree with this - that is a hell of a lot of time off and schools are told that such low attendance can be a safeguarding red flag.

I was hospitalised due to tonsillitis as a kid. I almost died!

I don’t see why that’s so funny? The emojis show lack of critical thinking more than just “dark humour”.

It's the same in my daughter's school unfortunately!

Anytime children are off you are to ring the office by 10am latest, if you don't ring, they call you, if you don't pick up they come knocking for a welfare check! Not happened to me as I always ring at 8.50am soon as I know my child is off and unwell. Although, it is a good thing for safeguarding, the whole attendance stress is a joke! I've had an attendance meeting myself last year because she kept getting sick and her attendance dropped to 82% and our school it has to be 95% or over. It is stressful though, even with doctors proof they are on your backs sending letters to make the school's attendance look good! Don't worry too much, like you said you have proof.

That's quinsy..not tonsillitis..the OP sounds very overdramatic about everything. Tonsillitis can make it very difficult and painful to swallow but it would be extremely rare to literally not be able to swallow any saliva at all with tonsillitis. Just like it would be extremely rare to be hospitalised with chickenpox aged 5, but the OP thinks this is normal.

It’s very unusual for a 4 year old to be hospitalised for chicken pox and something else (you’ve not said) and tonsillitis AND have a burst ear drum. In one term. I’m not surprised they are worried as it is a safeguarding issue. If the illnesses are genuine then you have nothing to worry about but after cases such as Sara Sheriff I can’t be upset about a school being diligent about a young child apparently suffering so much illness.

laughing at people who could not swallow with laughing emojis is toxic and evil. I have had many throat and lung infections in my life which made it difficult also. Also saved my own daughter of choking many times, she had other issues. People on this site are vile

It does seem a lot of things going on in one year for the poor mite.. ruptured ear drum, ear infection, chicken pox and tonsillitis. Don't you have any documents from hospital for these things to show the school. I can see why they have raised eyebrows at this but can easily be proved no?

a bit unclear, but imagine another country under communism. Even that was not that bad and I laughed my heart out at their exchanges. Here the government officials who have not got any clue what child's health is, make the parents cry. That is worse that what I have seen under communism

I’ve had tonsillitis turn into quinsy and it’s awful. And no, you can’t swallow your own saliva. When I was hospitalised with it they kept having to use suction to clear my mouth. It can actually be fatal, but you crack on with the laughing emojis.

The school has a duty of care. Removing a child from a school setting can be a sign of abuse and they need to check all is well. Abusers manipulate and hide things and ensuring your version is a true and accurate reflection of a situation could save a child that is being abused.
Dont take it personally

This thread is ridiculously dramatic. A few phone calls from the school = North Korea 🤣🤣🤣

Yes, the last time someone made accusation of why I spend too much time in school instead seeing the nurse ( medical boarding school ), it was the communist leaders telling the matron that the Party needs me at school, the Matron telling the party leader to fuck off under her breath and leave the kid alone to have some lunch in peace and take her meds

If you read newspaper reports about children who have been abused and killed, they all have really bad school attendance. Once you dip below a certain amount, it raises concerns. Most abusers have perfectly reasonable excuses for their child being off. I understand why you are upset about it but with attendance that low you will be flagged as a potential safeguarding risk. Nothing anyone says on her will change that.

Of course it's the school. Most schools aren't calling parents of a child under the age of 5 every day when they've been told she's in hospital.

This is the future of this country? North Korean

Spitting a lot. Crying in pain as you do swallow

I've had the same. It's awful.

The GP asked me “how is everything at home?” So the school has obviously flagged a safeguarding with them which is totally unfair and I feel disgusted by the insinuation they are making here.

I've had the GP asking exactly this when one of my dc's has had a bad illness. It's not safeguarding flagged by the school, it's entirely concern for you and the situation to make sure that you are able to care for them (and other dc) appropriately.

First time I had a baby at home and a rapidly going downhill 8yo with antibiotic resistant pneumonia, and dh was doing a lot of working away due to a project he was on, and it was summer holidays so all children at home. So they talked things through with me, with options etc to make sure that all was as easy as possible for all of us.
Having explained why it was difficult, the GP suggested rather than bringing the 8yo into the surgery twice a day for testing, or the normal option would have been admitting her, he'd pop by first thing in the morning, and then at lunch time and phone to see if I thought she needed checking in the evening, which saved me bundling 3 dc to the surgery each time.
So by being honest they worked with me to make things easier.

You couldn't swallow your own saliva?! Wowee... What were you doing with it then 🤣🤣🤣

I am sorry OP but she has missed a lot of school. And it doesn’t sound like your GP supplied you with medical certificates to send to school to back up those long term periods. So that is going to bring up massive safeguarding alarms.

Your DS school doesn’t have the rights to you daughters medical records, but they can say ask the GP to corroborate any absence, the GP doesn’t have to give an answer to the school - but if they see they haven’t approved any that will flag up as a safeguarding concern

We don’t have to call at all. DD had chicken pox last year in Reception. I emailed on the Sunday to say she wouldn’t be in the next day, got a reply from the office manager to wish her well a couple of days later and I sent her back in when she was well. Chicken pox ripped through the whole school, attendance was below 50% for weeks and no one gave us any hassle.

Your poor kids and poor you. I am so angry on your behalf!! I’ve had similar but nothing like you. How fucking dare they question you? I think you need to get a GP letter and be firm when they speak to you. Don’t let them put words in your mouth or bully you. Document illnesses with photos. I took a photo of the thermometer next to my child‘s obscured face. Kick back but be polite.

If it was as you say it was, then that’s ridiculous especially for a child of that age. Sounds like the school is under pressure to improve attendance - don’t take it personally!

Spare a thought for parents of children unable to attend school due to anxiety/mental health reasons.

Have you looked at the DfE attendance guidance I posted @1993baby .

It will explain the school role, other partners roles (GP), sharing of information, working together, safeguarding etc.