Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Do schools have the power to set individual attendance targets rather than a one size fits all 97% + expectation ?

51 replies

middlegroundmissing · 30/11/2022 13:06

Is this possible ? It seems to be completely unrealistic to have a high target in some cases and leads to ‘failure’ and stress for parents.

Can schools set individualised targets ?

We have an issue with repeated illness. Ds is fully vaccinated. Eats healthily. Takes vitamins. Gets appropriate exercise and enough sleep yet constantly catches horrible viral illness with high fevers and stomach bugs. Had bloods etc and no reason for it apparently just childhood Illnesses. He does have adhd but that rarely causes absence unless he has an appt about it which isn’t often. If he’s ill he’s really ill and can’t go in . Rather than us repeatedly not managing to get the expected level can we legally ask for the school or LA to lower their target in an individual case - is that possible ? Has anyone done this ? I’d rather work towards something attainable instead of this constant failure

OP posts:

Dontaskdontget · 01/12/2022 20:59

donquixotedelamancha · 30/11/2022 13:25

No they don't. Even if they did, they wouldn't. If a child has less than 97% attendance the school need to meet with parents to:

Find out what's going on as part of their safeguarding duties.

See whether there is a way to improve the attendance.

I'm sorry you are finding having to speak to school stressful but you are mistaken to suggest poor attendance is OK if the child is achieving on target.

All kids do better if they attend school more and it's the schools duty to do everything they can to minimise unavoidable absence. Given the difficulty schools face at the moment it's great that they are so committed to your child's wellbeing.

It's not a target for you to meet it's a measure of how much your kid misses school for the school's processes.

Hahahahaha 97%?! I don’t think we’ve ever got to 90%! OP my child sounds similar to yours, if there’s a mild cold going round be gets it and it gives him d&v, etc.Throw in a leg break and long covid and our stats are pretty special.

Difference is we’re at independent school so they have never mentioned it to me. No letters home no meetings about it nothing. I’m not trying to rub it in but to point out that your school don’t have to hassle tou, schools are very varied in how they deal with this.

Flip

1 2 3