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Original poster

Told to ignore the 48 hour rule for D&V?

65 replies

CouthyMow · 10/02/2014 03:16

My Y7 DS1's attendance is abysmal this year, due to having had flu in December, he was off for two full weeks with it - I got a written warning for that from the EWO as it pushed his attendance below 90%, and my GP refused to write a medical note without me paying £25 that I can't afford, as I'm on benefits and am already paying £40 a week to get my oldest two DC's to school.

My 3yo DS3 brought a particularly nasty tummy bug home from preschool, which has lasted a week for each of us that have had it - vomiting for 4 days, every time you eat, and then diarrhoea for 3 days after. You are in no fit state to leave the house tbh!

DS1 has been off all last week with it, and on the first day, when he threw up, he was so anxious that he was arguing that he needed
to attend school even as he was vomiting.

It turned out that he had been given a 'stern talking to' about his attendance from his HoY, and he was so concerned that he was tearful.

I contacted the school, and told them that they were making my DS1 anxious about his attendance, and that it is unfair to put so much pressure on DC's that have been genuinely ill. I have insisted that any further issues to do with attendance should be directed to me, as I am the person deciding whether he is well enough for school or not, and the level of anxiety they are causing my DS1 is unreasonable.

I then told them that he would be in when he had been 48 hours from the last incidence of D&V. They the. Told me, in no uncertain terms, that they do NOT want children away from school for 48 hours, and he should be sent to school as soon as he has stopped vomiting, EVEN if he still feels sick.

And they have said that if he is off for ANYTHING else this school year, I will be expected to provide a doctor's note.

But the GP refused to SEE DS1 for the D&V, as he was keeping water down, and diyoralyte, so therefore wasn't dehydrated, he just couldn't keep food down (or in...)

The school said to send him in, even if he feels like he will be sick, and if he's sick, they will send him home. The issue with that is that I cannot drive, and DS1 travels quite a long journey to school (moved right across the large town AFTER secondary allocations, no choice where I was moved to as Social Housing). He would have a 10 minute walk from the school to the bus stop, a 45 minute bus ride, and then a 15 minute walk to get home. How can he manage that if he has vomited at school?!

I DON'T keep my DC's off school for spurious reasons, for Y7, Y8 and Y9 my DD had 100% attendance. DS1 had lower attendance last year too - but that was because he had acute appendicitis and had an appendectomy, and had to recover from the surgery.

If I can't get a GP's appointment, I can't afford £25 for a doctors note, and the school keep saying to send him in even if he is likely to vomit, they will just 'send him home', what do I do about the EWO?

Why are the school (Now an Academy) allowed to tell parents to ignore the basic H&S requirement of 48 hours off after the last incidence of D&V?!

And why also are they allowed to insist upon doctors notes for every period of illness, when the doctor's note will cost £25?

Neither of these things are pointed out on their website or in their prospectus, and as I have a DC in Y11 at the same school, I can assure you that these policies have NOT been in place until the start of this school year. We weren't told of the change in policy, either as prospective parents of pupils joining Y7 OR as parents of existing pupils in higher year groups.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
OhYouBadBadKitten · 15/01/2017 17:36

ZOMBIE THREAD

user1484226561 · 15/01/2017 16:58

the basic H&S requirement of 48 hours off after the last incidence of D&V?!

it isn't a basic H and S requirement, it is just the policy in some schools, but not all. Not many, at secondary level in fact.

JennyOnAPlate · 14/01/2017 22:27

Stop bumping ancient threads ffs...no one gives a shit!!

Emochild · 14/01/2017 22:25

User I'm sure your son that you named in a completely outing post loves the fact that you have shared the fact that he suffers from diarrhoeal issues is that even a word? on multiple threads

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 14/01/2017 22:14

Zombie alert!!!!!!

Op, why have you bumped all these old threads? Just start your own.

user1484429451 · 14/01/2017 22:09

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

curlew · 10/02/2014 21:02

The way most governing bodies work is for governors to have specific responsibilities and report back to the full governing body. There will be one who has attendance and such as his/her remit. Have you been in touch with the governors at all? Sorry if you've mentioned it and I've missed it.

Original poster
CouthyMow · 10/02/2014 20:50

Curlew - governor with responsibilities for absence? I shall look into that one!

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 10/02/2014 20:21

hpa guidance for schools

curlew · 10/02/2014 20:17

There will be a governor who has a special responsibility for absences- try getting in touch with him/her.

HmmAnOxfordComma · 10/02/2014 18:14

Not sure if I've ever commented on one of your threads before, Couthy, but I've read quite a few and, blimey, do you deserve a medal.

Apologies for stating the obvious!

aghteens · 10/02/2014 14:23

Sounds horrible and I really feel for you. Make sure you write letters as suggested and document absolutely everything (including any phone conversations and meetings).

admission · 10/02/2014 14:16

I would ask the school for its attendance policy and see what you get back.
The school is completely out of order. Yes there is a real push on keeping attendance up above 90% but there has to be some sense applied to these things. If the EWO does get in touch then you should explain to them what has been going on around your children. If you have two with unequivocal issues of compromised auto-immune systems then that should be the end of the conversation.

neolara · 10/02/2014 12:58

I would ignore them. Keep records of why your day have time off. If the send an education welfare officer round you will probably be able to have a more sensible conversation with them.

saintlyjimjams · 10/02/2014 12:25

How old are your kids piscivorus. I think things have changed. I don't remember bugs sweeping through schools the way they do now - but they definitely do now.

Piscivorus · 10/02/2014 12:02

Suffolk I'm not doubting you all that that is the advice, just saying I never heard of it when mine were at school and they all survived.

Thumbwitch · 10/02/2014 12:01

OK bugsy, that's fair enough. Didn't realise that. Perhaps the GP in question is rebelling against the unnecessary request from the school too, just a shame that Couthy is caught in the middle.

piratecat · 10/02/2014 11:45

it's pants. i am have had similar with dd.

our ewo will accept an appointment card as 'proof'.

one gp laughed us out the surgery, but i said, this is what i have to do, it's what they want. ie i know i shouldn't be here wasting your time with a bug, and compromising others, including my dd's health.

I have also managed to get my gp onside and they will give me a home phone call, to speak to me if dd is ill, to save time. they will fill in an appointment card over the phone, re -whatever bug she has.
I am lucky that my gp will play their game now.

Suffolkgirl1 · 10/02/2014 11:41

Above is link to HPA advise leaflet on management of d+v. Minimum of 48 hours symptom free before returning to school or work.
Lots of schools have had major outbreaks. A local primary to me was closed for a couple of days for a deep clean as it had got so bad.

Piscivorus · 10/02/2014 11:07

Things have changed a lot since my DCs were 11 but, just out of interest, I had never heard of this 48hrs for d+v thing. We just sent them in as soon as they felt able to cope and I am not aware of major epidemics of it sweeping the schools.
I think this is probably over-cautious

prh47bridge · 10/02/2014 10:56

CouthyMow

An extract from DfE advice on school attendance:

If the authenticity of illness is in doubt, schools can request parents to provide medical evidence to support illness. Schools can record the absence as unauthorised if not satisfied of the seriousness of the illness but should advise parents of their intention. Schools are advised not to request medical certificates unnecessarily (particularly retrospective certificates), especially if the illness was not treated by a doctor at the time. Medical evidence can take the form of prescriptions, appointment cards, etc. rather than doctors’ notes.

You should remind your school of that guidance, particularly the last two sentences. If they refuse to change their stance you should follow the school's complaints procedure.

IamInvisible

Your school is talking rubbish. Another extract from the DfE advice:

Missing registration for a medical or dental appointment is counted as an authorised absence.

That means you don't have to apply for permission. The school can legitimately encourage parents to make appointments outside school hours and insist that pupils are absent for the minimum time possible. They should not tell parents that they have to ask for permissions to take a child out of school for an operation.

IamInvisible · 10/02/2014 09:58

I've really had enough of reading these stories. Just who do schools think they are these days?

DS2(17) had to have an operation in January to fix a shoulder he broke and dislocated at school. I was told to write in and ask permission for the time off!Hmm I didn't, I sent a note in the day before saying DS2 would be off for the next week!

You need to write to the school, the Governors and the LEA outlining your circumstances and explaining why you just can not pander to their whims. I would, also, right now be on the phone to the Environmental Health dept at your local council telling them what the school have told you to do wrt to D&V bugs. I should imagine they would be quite interested.

Chigley1 · 10/02/2014 09:58

If he's ill, he's ill. As a teacher and parent, I'd be livid at pupils going into school with D&V , especially on the advice of the HOY! Can you get any other parents/teachers on your side to fight your corner a bit?

Suffolkgirl1 · 10/02/2014 09:56

Children absolutely should not be in school with D+V. As well as your child they need to protect other potentially vulnerable students and staff who may be particularly at risk due to other medical problems. Please report the school to your local health protection agency.

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