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Original poster

Keep off school with ear infection or not ?

30 replies

Virusy · 27/11/2023 17:03

Dd (age 8) has what the doctor says is a viral ear infection. To give painkillers and it should resolve?

She hasn’t been sleeping or eating but fever is under 38 (was 37.6) so school want her in unless it’s bacterial or fever over 38. She isn’t well enough though - wwyd? I think she needs to stay off till she can eat drink and sleep at night without crying in pain !

OP posts:
Geneve82 · 27/11/2023 17:04

come again?

You have said your child is too sick to attend school and the school have said she is

what’s her sickness absence record like?

MinnieMountain · 27/11/2023 17:04

I had many ear infections as a child. They’re miserable. Keep her off until she’s better.

fourelementary · 27/11/2023 17:05

Keep her off til eating and sleeping and pain is under control. Stuff the school.

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NerrSnerr · 27/11/2023 17:06

You need to tell them she's not well enough to be in. They'll stop hassling you if you're firm with them.

CyberCritical · 27/11/2023 17:08

DDs school sent out similar comms that unless it's a fever or active D&V we should send kids in and they'll decide if the kid is too ill to be there.

It seems to be some kind of guidance for. The Local Authority.

It's also rubbish, you are the parent and you decide if your child is well enough to be at school, you inform the school that they will not be in, you don't need to ask permission.

If your DC has a really low attendance rate and no valid medical reason then it's a different issue that you need to work with the school on, but an ear infection can be painful and make you feel really bad.

Original poster
Virusy · 27/11/2023 17:10

Geneve82 · 27/11/2023 17:04

come again?

You have said your child is too sick to attend school and the school have said she is

what’s her sickness absence record like?

It’s really bad it’s 89% as she’s had multiple illnesses this term (strep throat , chickenpox and d and v) they are really hassling us and it’s very stressful but she just isn’t well enough fever under 38 seems irrelevant to me ?!

OP posts:
Original poster
Virusy · 27/11/2023 17:11

MinnieMountain · 27/11/2023 17:04

I had many ear infections as a child. They’re miserable. Keep her off until she’s better.

She’s been in a lot of pain with it - they said school will distract her !!

OP posts:
Geneve82 · 27/11/2023 17:12

Virusy · 27/11/2023 17:10

It’s really bad it’s 89% as she’s had multiple illnesses this term (strep throat , chickenpox and d and v) they are really hassling us and it’s very stressful but she just isn’t well enough fever under 38 seems irrelevant to me ?!

Show quote history

that probably explains their stance.

How are you managing all this time off? do you work?

Geneve82 · 27/11/2023 17:14

Virusy · 27/11/2023 17:11

She’s been in a lot of pain with it - they said school will distract her !!

Show quote history

it’s amazing what a night can do.

Revisit in the morning and then make your call

either way - i think you need to arrange a dave to face with the school about your daughters absence

GoldDuster · 27/11/2023 17:17

Nope, wouldn't be sending a child to school with an ear infection, they're murder.

They want her in and they'll distract her? This is not for her benefit. It's for the schools attendance figures, and she's a human being not a perfoming monkey who exists to make them look good.

Original poster
Virusy · 27/11/2023 17:23

We’ve already had a meeting we had to provide proof for each absence so had to go see the doctor each time but for chickenpox the dr obviously couldn’t see us but it was going round her class and they saw the scabs when she returned .

OP posts:
twinkletoesimnot · 27/11/2023 17:23

I am a teacher and I think that sounds like madness!
If they are all genuine illnesses there's not much you can do.

Nochoiceleft · 27/11/2023 17:24

My ds was never particularly ill with anything as a child apart from recurrent ear infections. They floored him. If you think she is too unwell to attend please stand up for her.

Original poster
Virusy · 27/11/2023 17:24

For d and v she had been dehydrated and had an overnight in a and e

OP posts:
stayathomer · 27/11/2023 17:25

Definitely keep off, I got a phone call once to say ds had laid his head on the table and was asking if people could be quieter, turned out to be an ear infection- the noise in school must be a killer when you’re sick!

Geneve82 · 27/11/2023 17:27

Does she enjoy school?

So since september she’s had strep, d&v and chicken pox, now an ear infection.

Yes they no doubt are concerned about h their absence record but i imagine that if they’re a decent school. - they are genuinely concerned about an 8 year old missing so much school during a year when really consolidating reading and arithmetic is critical

Original poster
Virusy · 27/11/2023 17:28

She loves school !

OP posts:
Geneve82 · 27/11/2023 17:29

Virusy · 27/11/2023 17:28

She loves school !

so tuck her up in bed for an early night.

and see how she in in the morning

then make your call

Geneve82 · 27/11/2023 17:30

how are you managing to balance with your employer if you have one?

Original poster
Virusy · 27/11/2023 17:33

Geneve82 · 27/11/2023 17:30

how are you managing to balance with your employer if you have one?

I don’t currently work as I have an older child with SEN who is not in school (waiting for a place)

OP posts:
Original poster
Virusy · 27/11/2023 17:34

Geneve82 · 27/11/2023 17:29

so tuck her up in bed for an early night.

and see how she in in the morning

then make your call

Show quote history

Yes I’m going to i just hope she’s feeling better as this is miserable for her

OP posts:
snuggleswithmygirlies · 27/11/2023 17:37

Where in the country are you OP? It sounds like the school are very over involved, It's strange how different schools in different areas operate, my dc school are so relaxed yet my friends dc in a different part of the country are given homework at primary school, they're only aloud water in their drinking bottles and can't have piercings or wear certain trainers, and get funny if dc are poorly. My dc school are relaxed about all of these and never ask what is wrong when I ring and say I'm calling dc in sick they just ask name and class and say hope they are better soon.
I'm sure it must be a regional thing.

PTSDBarbiegirl · 27/11/2023 17:42

Yes, definitely keep your DC off. The school shouldn't be putting any pressure on you to send them in. They aren't medically trained and unless there is a concern around attendance record it's your decision as the parent.

PastTheGin · 27/11/2023 17:45

Keep her off! You can’t go to school with a painful ear infection.
This ridiculous focus on attendance is very harmful, and I say that as a teacher.

OldChinaJug · 27/11/2023 18:17

You're her parent. If she's too ill to go, keep her off. She'll be in pain, miserable and won't learn anything anyway.

And I say that as a teacher.