Bloody school absence process....does the Equality Act not apply??!

[Toodependants]

School have contacted me because child1 has had 9 days off sick this academic year. Not acceptable; she will be put on report (whatever that mean) and I will be fined/imprisoned etc

I have contacted them for the gazillionth time to tell them that her absence is due to very heavy, very painful periods. She is on Mefenamic Acid AND Tranexamic Acid for the pain and for the bleeding. It's the same drugs that I was on for endometriosis and adenomyosis and I was covered by disability law at work. Absence due to this was not counted as sickness. Doesn't that apply to kids??? Any legal people know the answer?? I'm so fed up with having this bloody conversation with them. It's like ground hog day

Do they know there are doctors/medication involved? Can you provide prescriptions or a note?

I have a feeling they might not understand the full extent of your DD's pain and struggle and that's why they're coming down so heavy handed.

"Oh just period pain" eye roll...kinda thing.

I have explained over the phone and in emails to 5 different teachers the graphic details and exact medication that she is on.

I have just phoned the GP surgery to see what 'evidence' they would supply to a school. They have never had this kind of request before. I have put my permission on record to share information with the school. And I am emailing the doctors phone nber, to the school

But we are talking 9 DAYS!!!! It's madness

Under the Equality Act, it is considered a reasonable adjustment to discount disability related absences from sickness records/allowances. Shouldn't this apply to kids too???

I also think this equals sex discrimination

Can't you get a sick note from the doctor? Your dd's period pain does sound a bit out of the ordinary. I don't think most girls need sick days for periods? Has your gp done any other investigations? If she is off every month, it could become a bigger problem for her education. I remember as a teen some girls were prescribed the pill to control menstrual flow

Why 5 different teachers?

If this was my child (and I have endo) I would arrange a meeting with EWO (Education Welfare Officer) or whoever is over pupil absence and her head of year to sort this out.

In other words you are telling them why she has missed so much school and to work with them re work so she doesn't fall behind. It is shit but they have targets to keep children in school. Your DDs is a legitimate reason rather than I couldn't be arsed to get out of bed but you need to be seen to be working with the school.

I was threatened with the EWO when my 100% child had a 1 day unauthorised absence in year 9 (reward trip day where the rest of the school were going to a theme park yet again and my son didn't want to go, I kept him home, far more a reward than staying in school and doing lessons despite being eligible for the reward trip) I almost said, knock yourself out. It was laughable.

government guidance on disability rights in school and D of E guidelines on managing medical conditions.

No! Doctors don't give sick notes for a days absence.

It is out of the ordinary, yes. No, they have refused to do further investigation on the basis that it would be very invasive I e it would be a general anaesthetic and a exploratory laparoscopy, wouldn't it. Plus endo/cysts would be very unusual at her age. It will likely just settle down.

I refuse to put her on artificial hormones. To much evidence (from Europe; NHS doesn't collect data on it) that it causes mental health disorder.

The drugs she is on work well. But there is a lag isn't there...the first day her period starts, she obviously hasn't taken the tablets

I've never heard of the pill causing mental health disorders. Proof?
And if her situation isn't so bad as to warrant further investigation then perhaps you should just send her to school. My doctor will give a sick note for one day's absence.

Honestly, I think you're making this bigger than it needs to be

I did notice that all the kids who competed in the Commonwealth Games and Paralympics were not sanctioned, even though govt policy is that any absence is detrimental.

Schools are broke and are using this as a revenue-generating measure. Just heard on the Radio of the School who tried to fine a dad because his son was late for afternoon registration, i.e, he was in school and their responsibility.

My dd gas just had her second letter about concerning attendance.

She has migraine with Aura and was having panic attacks last Autumn. She also had a Strep B throat infection and labyrinthitis.

When I got my second letter I spoke to the Welfare and Attendance Officer at school. She said not to worry as they knew DD and knew about her problems. The second letter just comes out automatically and if she was off further it would be 'authorised'. They go in a case by case basis.

I'm 'lucky' in that we were referred to a senior Paediatrician at the hospital so we have a paper trail, but honestly have you just phoned to talk to them?
Our WO says even bringing in the medicine boxes and prescription stubs would suffice if needs be.

Put in for a meeting if you're not getting anywhere. Then insist on it being resent to you in a letter.

[Edited by MNHQ to remove identifying info]

The school don’t get the money from the fines nor are they the ones directly fining Parents!

shit I can't be arsed to get you links, but if you Google there is lots of papers on the subject. Plus anecdotally for me...puts me off

I am not making it bigger than it needs to be! I'm not the one threatening fines and court action, am I?! That would be the school

She CANT go to school, until the tablets kick in...I've never seen so much blood (and I had adenomyosis!!) And she is doubled over

I find it odd you won’t try drugs that have been proven to help and which many women take with no issue to be honest. Have you given your daughter a say in that?

the tree 5 different teachers because different heads of year in year 7, 8, 9 plus staff changes plus tutor as I thought central point of contact. Plus latest letter is from deputy head

I've never heard of the pill causing mental health disorders.

The pill made me both murderous and suicidal. Never again.

No ditzy she is 13. I'm not giving her artificial hormones

You would rather see her suffer to this extent?

Have she been referred to a specialist? Are you waiting for that?

There are tonnes of studies linking the pill and depression, anxiety suicidal thoughts etc. A 5 second Google brings up reams and reams.

*has

When you say school contacted you, what do you mean? Standard letter about absence or something else?
I think you should reconsider the pill. This is interfering with her education and causing agoni pains.

Disability absence can be considered but it is not a legal requirement.

Believe me I’ve been through this with my union and HR several times. The legal aspect is sadly a misunderstood midconcrption

the trees yes, I have phoned and spoken with them. Last conversation, just a couple of months ago, I thought it was resolved. This teacher was sympathetic (endo sufferer) and said she would give DD a medical card so she could go to the toilet (on 2 occasions, teachers would let her leave class and she bled through her skirt). She never got given the card.

And now, here we are again

Schools are not generating income through fines. That's just nonsense.

They are, however, obliged to send you a letter if attendance falls below certain levels dictated by the LEA (so for DDs its below 90%, DS below 92%). If it were just a standard letter I'd take no notice. The putting her on report is really not on though. I would put the reasons for your DD's abscence (poor kid) in writing in an email cc'd to Form Tutor, HoY, EWO and school office, with a copy of her prescriptions and any referral letters and request this is kept with her attendance record. I would request a meeting to discuss the matter, and escalate a complaint about putting her on report.

If you document your engagement with the school on this matter you are unlikely to be fined but your dd shouldn't be sanctioned because of her health.

I won't reconsider the pill. I am not asking for advice on her medication