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Original poster

What happens if a child doesn't turn up at school?

28 replies

Player456 · 08/04/2022 08:32

Just as the title, if a child doesn't turn up at secondary school, does the school contact the parents?

I'm just feeling a bit panicky as DD has used up all her data, so Life360 isn't working, but strangely her phone is switched off (it wasn't when she left to walk the 5 minutes to the bus stop, it's always on, just on silent at school).

I wouldn't have known, except she has a new bus driver, who hasn't stuck to the route, and was incredibly early today, so I wanted to check she'd got on it OK, but her phone was off.

So basically, if she didn't arrive at school, would the school contact me?

OP posts:
grosgirl · 08/04/2022 08:33

Why don't you call the school, explain the situation and ask if she's registered?

Forestdweller11 · 08/04/2022 08:33

I'd ring them a bit later and make sure she's registered. And then not say anything to anyone.

LIZS · 08/04/2022 08:34

Ours would eventually call, mid morning. Usually the bus arrived too late to register or they were on a trip offsite.

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HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 08/04/2022 08:34

Just give the school a ring after registration if you are worried, the attendance team can check. If it's a school bus also let them know about the change in pick up times.

tiredanddangerous · 08/04/2022 08:35

Yes the school would contact you. At the school where I work we send a text initially then follow up with a phone call if we haven't heard back from a parent.

AnnaSW1 · 08/04/2022 08:35

Just call the school

xyzandabc · 08/04/2022 08:36

Yes they would, but depending how many students they have who haven't turned up with no parental explanation, it might take a while to get through calling all of the parents. Once lessons have started call the school, explain, and they can let you know if she was marked present for her 1st lesson.

autumnboys · 08/04/2022 08:37

I do school attendance and we would call you. However if it’s the last day of term, there may well be a ton of students off, so it might not be immediate.

Does her attendance show in an app? I can see if my own children have been marked in.

Original poster
Player456 · 08/04/2022 08:40

Thank you, they won't think I'm bad asking?

I know I sound neurotic, but I'm just really anxious as her turning off her phone is so unlike her (I've tried from the landline too).

I will send an email to her form tutor and if she doesn't reply I will phone the school after registration.

It's not a school bus per se, it's a public service, but on schooldays only, they have a service that goes right to her school. I tracked that, so know it arrived, but it was 15 minutes early, so wanted to check she got on it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Player456 · 08/04/2022 08:40

@autumnboys no, there is no way of knowing unless I am told.

OP posts:
YellowPlant · 08/04/2022 08:42

I will send an email to her form tutor and if she doesn't reply I will phone the school after registration.
I would skip the email. The office will be able to look it up in no time.

TheFallenMadonna · 08/04/2022 08:44

Go straight to reception rather than form tutor. They'll be able to check. Just say that the bus was early so you just wanted to check. Nobody will think you're bad for asking, because you're not!

stimpyyouidiot · 08/04/2022 08:44

We have an automated call that goes out to every child not registered in the morning.

Give the school a ring if you're worried!

Rockbird · 08/04/2022 08:46

As others have said, we will call if she's not there by about 9.15. But definitely ring the office, they'll tell you in a second if she's not there.

Allice · 08/04/2022 08:46

I'm an attendance officer.
I would contact the parents, firstly by text and if no response I'd call.
I often get calls from parents when children have forgotten to text to say they're at school.
Just call the attendance officer, often also receptionist in my experience and ask them to check the register.

Original poster
Player456 · 08/04/2022 08:47

Oops, I've already emailed the form tutor (purely because form time doesn't end until 9.05am).

I don't know what is wrong with me, I'm actually quite teary. I do suffer from anxiety, but thought it was under control. The next 17 minutes cannot go fast enough.

OP posts:
TurningUpMyStereotype · 08/04/2022 08:55

My child's school texts at 9.30 to ask why they’re not in school if you haven’t called to say they’re ill. If you don’t call after that, they call at some point in the morning.

I’d just call if you’re worried.

Original poster
Player456 · 08/04/2022 08:56

I am so angry with myself that I didn't walk to the bus stop with her (I don't usually, but was going to due to the new bus driver not knowing where he is going), but when I saw the bus on its way, I thought she'd be OK.

I kind of hate that we have mobiles now, my mum never used to panic (or didn't show it anyway), when we went to school without them. It's the change in habit that's concerned me.

OP posts:
TurningUpMyStereotype · 08/04/2022 09:02

Honestly, just call the school. They’ll be able to put your mind at rest in a few seconds. Flowers

Original poster
Player456 · 08/04/2022 09:07

Her form tutor has replied to say that she is there...phew!

OP posts:
LadyCordeliaFitzgerald · 08/04/2022 09:09

I hope you hear back soon. Ring if you don’t.
When we suffer from anxiety we tend to second guess our reactions but I think your concern is justified.

Patchbatch · 08/04/2022 09:09

That's good news OP, glad all is well.

TurningUpMyStereotype · 08/04/2022 09:10

Glad they’ve got back to you and she’s ok. Have a nice cup of tea now and hopefully enjoy your day. Brew

Original poster
Player456 · 08/04/2022 09:15

Thank you all Flowers. There must be something wrong with her phone as her teacher said that she was about to text me, but I haven't received it. Maybe due to Lebara? (Which my DH has just persuaded me to sign up to, going to cancel if it is a carrier problem).

OP posts:
Googlecanthelpme · 08/04/2022 09:47

Honestly I would do the same with my kids OP, and I don’t have any issues with anxiety generally.
No one is going to think you bad or neurotic to check on your child’s safety and if they do - well they’ve obviously led a privileged life where they’ve never encountered or heard about the horrible shit that happens to women and girls (and children I should say).
You did the right thing but if you feel like your anxiety is getting out of control generally then nothing wrong with exploring therapy or medication if you haven’t already x