School attendance below 90 percent.

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Ds secondary age, has SEN but in mainstream, current attendance is just over 90 percent. I’ve had a threatening sounding emailing saying if it drops any lower more action will be taken

he’s had periods of illness since starting, one being a chest infection, he couldn’t go in for a week as was too unwell, he also had school transpiration issues - goes school on minibus and we’ve had some instances of school refusal where he hasn’t gone in.

90 percent isn’t ideal but imo could have been a lot worse this year. There has been some days I nearly threw in the towel and not set him as the mornings were too stressful and he was lashing out. He is more settled in school at current for now.

the relationship between myself and the school has broken down due to their own failings. I’ve tried, really tried.

the school have not said what will happen if it drops under 90 but the email hasn’t given me much hope

realistically what can be said or done. He’s in school most days, unfortunately he’s had periods of illness, taxi issues and school refusal. I haven’t kept him off for the fun of it.

the school have even lay in to ds and told him it needs to improve which upset him and made him very anxious about school refusal and he worried about being told off when he went back after having a chest infection. So much so he was too scared to go back worried that his attendance will be read out in form time which they often do.

I’m asking because he seems a bit poorly and not sure whether he’ll be able to go in so his attendance will drop again… I’m poorly too. He has been unlucky to get I’ll a few times this year, he really struggles with a simple cold too due to his sensory processing issues.

DD's has dipped just under 90%. She's had covid twice in this academic year and has had problems starting her periods.
Last year she got down to 70% with school refusal which school were tolerant of but I'm half expecting a stern email soon.

I would (and have) totally ignored a similar letter. I have done my very best. DS has had a number of factors affecting his attendance. This is just a standard letter sent (rightly or wrongly) with no consideration of SEN, mental or physical illness or any other issues affecting attendance. It can be a kick in the teeth when you are doing all you can but don't let it be.

Tough isn’t it! His attendance wasn’t great last year of primary too as Covid him and us twice, but I was never bothered by the primary school about it which is strange!

school refusal is awful for them (and us!). I’ve learnt that my sons school put down the days I told them he was too anxious to go in down as illness so I’m not impressed about that!

They have various things at their disposal to help get reluctant students into school, this includes coming to fetch him, though you do have transportation at least.

90% means one day off a fortnight. By this time of the year, anomalies like a week's sickness shouldn't be an issue.

All you can do is send him, I had a school refuser but she went every morning, sometimes I picked her up by 11am, but she always went in

Thank you. No letter yet, just a threatening email! I want my kids in school, it is just not all that easy sometimes! We’ve had a real mix of everything here illness, transport and MH! He can go long periods of weeks & months with going to school every day without fail then he could have several days off in one month and repeat!

Not always so simple as just sending them in though, when my dc school refuses nothing I can do will get them out of the house.

These letters make me cross, it's added pressure when often parents are already doing all they can.

Ty. We’ve only had 3 anxiety school refusal days than school year, he was point blank refusing to get dressed. I just couldn’t do it. I think it opened the schools eyes and they started supporting him a bit more and taking the pressure off, he was masking as soon he got there!

Ds would be mortified for any reason, someone come to the house over his attendance. It would send him into total meltdown I think!

My child is at 90% too (although we took 4 days term time holiday, but before her pattern of absences - we wouldn't now.)

I've showed her her register - she has a couple of days of every half term.being overwhelmed. (14) but she never use dto . I think she needs to just go in tbh but she claims she's ill (ams I think convinces herself she is if you know what I mean) it's been a really tricky year.

School sent a letter than just pointed it out and asked if we wanted support. It wasn't threatening. I was hoping her attendance might improve. But 90% is really bad isn't it. We also got "oh it's not as bad as xyz" known school refuser as if that made it okay.

Well you're not responsible for transport issues.

A stage 1 letter should ask about support, and because school refusal is involved, it might be helpful for you to have a meeting with either the pastoral or SEND team around strategies to help manage his anxiety.

I got one for DD, because she had spent 2 weeks in hospital and then had a load of follow up appointments. I did ignore that one. It was an admin thing. Her school were actually very supportive of her.