To have refused to sign this parenting contract about attendance

@NoContract

Secondary teacher here.

You are over-thinking this. Just sign the contract, even if it is impossible. It'll keep them off your case for a bit.

If her attendance doesn't improve, what are they going to do?? Call the authorities?! So social services get involved, you show them the medical records, and the fact that despite her attendance being poor she is doing well at school, and they can't really do much more can they!? You could even ask them for a home tutor!!

Are the school providing work? They should be.

Also, what is the attendance expectation given her medical issues? If it's still an expectation to attend every day and all day then that's ridiculous.

A friend's son (Y9) has had very poor attendance since secondary school (extreme anxiety). The school have a reduced timetable of P2 to P3 for him, so he has sufficient time to get into school, can manage two lessons, then go home. He doesn't manage every day but manages maybe 2 or 3 days. If he feels up to it he stays for longer.

I’m guessing her illnesses are chronic and as such a disability? She’s protected under this (Equality Act 2010) and currently they are discriminating against her and targeting her

Might be best to refer to it as the Equality Act (not being snotty just trying to help get it right!)

As the absences are related to medical issues would calling the school nurses in help?

They went in for my youngest DD and fought a very stubborn head to ensure she had all the reasonable adjustments she needed to attend school when she could. This included a special pass that allowed her to arrive late, leave early, access to drugs she needed in the first aid room and leave the classroom when she felt very ill. They also stopped hounding her over days she could not go in for. When she had surgeries she was allowed to cut back to school work sent home and did what she could when she could.

This is the official guidance.

You might want to note page 23 (students with physical and mental difficulties and the school should provide additional support)

And page 48 on attendance contracts.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bf300da44f1c4c23e5bd1b/Workingtogetherrtoimproveeschoolattendancee-Augustt2024.pdf

Could you enquire if your area offer AV1 robots? They can be used as a hybrid option so if she is well she can attend, if she can't get out that day she can login from home. It sounds like that would better than LA provided tutoring via section 19 as she does have over 50% attendance.

This is awful but typical, OP. Have a look at https://notfineinschool.co.uk. We only made progress with school when they reported us to social services and SS read the school the riot act for failing our child. Good luck to you and your daughter xx

These things annoy me. DD was on less than 70% in year 9, due to health, but left this summer with 12 x G9.

Ask them why they are penalising her for her disability. Time to start talking about disability discrimination. They're responding to targets for attendance, so you want to give a reason for them to see this as a separate issue.

If DD is unable to attend because of ill health, the absences should be recorded as authorised. The attendance contract suggests the school may be recording these as unauthorised. You should check.

Is alternative provision in place? If not, request alternative provision. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

Does DD have an EHCP? If not, request an EHCNA yourself. IPSEA has a model letter for this too. Don’t wait for the school to do it.

A friend of mine unfortunately is involved in this as she is a deputy housemaster

They have a script for the meetings. They know full well that if your child has epilepsy/cancer/downs/whatever that they are going to have days off.

But the algorithm says so many days off per fortnight means a meeting.

It's about inconveniencing the parents.

They then have to tick off on the spreadsheet meeting done and write up the notes and put them on the system.

All so ofsted can see.

Have you looked in to whether your DD would be eligible for tutoring provided by the LA?

My DD was awarded a few hours a week due to severe anxiety going in to school, it lead to her running away and running near roads and all sorts trying to get away. Not the same as physical health issues but could be worth a try?

Btw do NOT think of this as them wanting the best for your daughter.

They want ofsted off their back and they have guidelines to follow.

They don't give a shit about your daughter.

I worked in a school for twenty years.

Socialising & resiliance.

fuck off, I bet your DD is more resilient than any of the Wet Lettuces hassling you.

wankers

You are very unlikely to be fined.

Schools are under a massive amount of pressure on attendance. They have very little leeway and the government has published guidelines that they have to follow.

They can't make you sign the contract.

If you actually want your daughter in school then I would recommend:

Ask to speak to the SENCO and tell them you are applying for an EHCP for her on medical grounds. This both means the school has to do a lot more paperwork and means that if the school refer further up the line for fines the expectation is that the school have put things in place to support her, not just threatening you.

In normal circumstances the school would apply but parents can apply themselves.

You may need a bit of talking through the process so have a look at the SEN boards on Mumsnet. There are also charities that give advice on the process.

I would also make clear that you consider your daughter disabled under the equalities act definition (impact on her life lasting more than six months) and that you expect them to put reasonable adjustments in place.

Then ask for whatever you want - she carries her own drugs in school, biscuits in lessons if diabetic, Room to rest in if she is tired.

Then when they start hassling you about attendance you hassle back on the reasonable adjustments. So if they email saying please sign a contract you email back saying you haven't put all the reasonable adjustments in place let me know when you are ready to support her disability and we can talk.

They will back off. You may also get an EHCp and some helpful changes.

I'd probably do a complaint to school and copy in high up in lea and governors .
I'd detail all her illnesses and and the information and include copies of the letters .I'd be saying it was discrimination and harassment against a vulnerable pupil ..

I would be amazed if at least one of her conditions didn't meet the definition of disability, if not all of them. The school are obliged to make adjustments in this case (this can include adjustments to the threshold at which they start haranguing you about attendance). They should not be penalising her in any way for low attendance that is related to her disability and they should not be pressuring you to "make sure" her attendance improves when she's been off for disability related reasons. It's discrimination, and it's illegal.

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2023/04/10/what-are-reasonable-adjustments-and-how-do-they-help-disabled-pupils-at-school/ (although funnily enough this glosses over disabled children having lower attendance - must be off message).

I would point out that she is disabled and protected by the equalities act, if you haven't already, and ask what adjustments they can make to help her.

See, I would play the ofsted game by reporting the school to ofsted and the local authority for using tactics that are clearly aimed at off-rolling op's child. Ofsted takes a very dim view of schools who apply this kind of pressure to parents who have a clearly documented and evidenced reason (medical) for their child's absence. The fact that op is considering homeschooling is precisely because of the pressure that is being applied. Off rolling is real. SEN children/ parents in particular are subjected to it.

Big Hug

Im sorry to hear DD has so many issues and they're going to be ongoing. 🌷

That's enough to deal with, without the education system being so fucking ridiculous.

What did they say when you asked how YOU were supposed to magic away her conditions & vulnerability regualar illnesses when her consultants can't?

and didn't they think if you could make DD 100% you would for HER not their fucking attendance %.

Id be moving her or home schooling.

I get that schools are pressured for attendance levels, but they need to go sort the vaping 'nah no going, prefer to hang about at the corner shop' lot out & look after kids like DD.

🤬🤬🤬

Also @prh47bridge posted a link a few weeks ago that asking for proof of illness it’s against guidelines so if he comes along ask for that info so you can ask them why they are going against them.