Do you ever not send your child to school?

[Sonicknuckles]

For example on the odd occasion if they are completely worn out/run down but not exactly poorly as such.

I've never kept them off for that kind of reason. Only ever been off for illness or family funeral type stuff - both my DC have had high 90s or 100% attendance each year. (We have been blessed with good health and holiday timing for things like chickenpox!)

I might have considered it when they were very little - but my bar would have been pretty close to poorly rather than run down, tbh.

No. But I do trust the school, so I’d have a quick word in the office to say they’re not feeling great, please have a low threshold for calling me, I’m around (or say who to call if I’m at work that day).

I wouldn’t say it in front of the child - that would prompt them to feel worse!

No, I've never kept mine off for that, though I've had a word when I dropped them into school so the teachers are aware they're not on top form and keep an eye out. My DC have always had 95%+ attendance, usually 100%. I don't want to set a precedent that they think they can stay off just for being tired.

I did consider it once when DS2 was in reception (so not compulsory school age yet, he started school a couple of weeks after he turned 4!). He went in and had a quiet day, an early night then was fine next day anyway.

no

Completely worn out yes .

I kept my Ds off last week . He had a migraine in the night . It had gone by morning but exhausted .

No. I’d usually deal with that kind of thing by early bedtimes, a quiet weekend etc.

I do.

They occasionally have mental health days if they need one.

Yes

I sent an email to school to say in non one’s interest that my son attended as he was so exhausted and needed a quiet day.

They responded - sounds sensible

He was in year 1 at the time

No.

Yes I do.
When they are really knackered or feeling upset, maybe once or at most twice a year I will let them take a day at home.

Yes. Pretty much whenever they want to stay home I let them, but I make it boring. No screen time, no treats, so they rarely want to, only if they're exhausted.

As well, once a term I usually take each one out for day just one on one and we go do something, like, to the forest or the city or whatever they're into. I'll probably stop that as they get older though.

Yes. I keep her off for whatever reason I want. She's only 4, she's not missing much. I kept her off today because it's a beautiful day and we've gone out.

I only keep DD off if she’s ill, or if her asthma is unstable, as she can go downhill incredibly quickly. When her asthma is bad, she’s often well medicated on steroids, so feels too well to be off, but she can go from bouncing around, to being blue lighted to hospital quite quickly
She’s otherwise very robust and doesn’t tire easily though

I have a couple of times this year. They've had to cope with one hell of a lot, shifting countries, starting a new school, making new friends, losing their old friends. Sometimes it got on top of them, and it was actually better to give them a day to get themselves together, rather than have it develop into full blown anxiety or depression.

No

No, wouldn't even enter my head to be honest to keep them off because they're tired. My eldest has a lot of energy. If he was saying he was tired we'd be off to the GP as there would be something seriously wrong with him! My youngest needs more sleep. If he was tired I'd take him to school and it would be a quiet evening and early night. Every child is different, if you feel your child needs time off then you have to do what's best for them.

No. School attendance is not optional and both my children have missed a total of 3 days (between the two of them) in 8 years.

Yes. This morning dc1 (14) looked utterly exhausted and dragged his heels getting out of bed which really isn't like him. He's a good boy/man (but neither) and is on top of all his schoolwork, has 98% attendance so I said that he could stay in bed a bit longer and I'd take him to school at lunchtime, I offered the whole day but he had his favourite lessons this afternoon so asked if he could just have a bit more of a snuggle in bed before going in late.

I wouldn't do this with other 2 who are at primary school unless they were actually unwell- I think ds1 is of an age where he knows the expectation and that this was just a one off, and a very rare one at that!

I did in reception. My child is in Y1 now, August born.

This year I've kept her off on the odd day when she's been under the weather but probably could've gone in. I think rest is really important.

@Maniak @MonstranceClock are you not concerned about the attitude to education that you have and you’re now encouraging in your children? Will be you encouraging your child to try their best and reach their full potential to make a success of themselves in the future? If so, isn’t that message going to be totally undermined by the fact they know you keep them off for no other reason than you want to. I’m 100% on board with children being at home if they’re ill or their well being is really suffering in some way. I have a DD and unless she is ill she’ll be in nursery/school every day because I want to teach her persistence, resilience and determination, which I’m hoping will set her up well for her adult life. As well as the fact I want her to get as much as possible out of her education so she has the freedom to choose whatever career she would like when she’s older.

Generally no but ds has surgery last month so has done a few half days and days off because it has knocked him for six and he has been knackered.

once in a blue moon... I'm a LP and sometimes I get too run down to take him in (no support locally) so maybe one day a year or so we might not go in if I'm too ill. Better that than me keel over! Or if he's very tired or similar. but it's not often and he's doing well at school.

I once took my 9yo on holiday (in the UK) a day early. He’d had a bout of food poisoning and had lost about a quarter of his weight in the previous two weeks. He’d done four days back at school but on Friday morning, he looked so pale and thin & tired, I rang the school and told them I was keeping him off because he was too tired.
Then I took him to Cornwall for a long weekend and we ate pasties and cream teas and slept a lot.

Not yet. DD is coming to the end of Reception year and has had 100% attendance. Luckily has not been ill at all. She gets tired and ratty by the end of the week but if that's the case we try to have a chilled out weekend.

Mine only stay off if they are poorly. If they're tired then they go to school tired, I warn the teacher and then they go to bed early the following night. When they're adults and they work they wont necessarily be able to just take time off as they may not get paid, or it may reflect on their ability. I want them to learn to manage tiredness by having good routines for school/exercise/play/rest. I also want them to learn that school is compulsory in my house and I want them to get the best education possible.