Dd school attendance very low

[Schoolstress14]

66%

Due to lots of medical appts (didn’t think these were counted towards attendance?)

Frequent illness (severe gynae issues possible endometriosis?, Viral illness with very high fevers, one episode of d and v (lasted a week) and time off after a minor injury

Ive sent proof of everything as requested but now school want a meeting I can’t get more time off so explained it has to be a phone call as well but they’ve said I’m not engaging so they have to involve the LA? Can they do that ?

Would you be able to stretch to a private appointment with a gynaecologist who sees u18s? It would be quicker than waiting on the nhs and they may be able to prescribe something to help while you wait to be seen on the nhs.

Possibly but I’d have to see how much it was as even if an initial consultation is affordable I’m not sure going forward if any treatment would be and I’m unsure how long the wait is on nhs. Maybe they could prescribe better painkillers though so it could be worth it

I would go back to the school and very clearly outline that you are engaging and bullet point what you have done to engage. I would then clearly outline that although you would like to attend an appointment face to face your daughter's continued ill health has meant that you have had your take a lot of time off work and are at risk of losing your job if you take more time off. I would also list your days/hours of work.

Then I'd list various options for the appointment that you can make eg:

• a phone appointment at x dates and times.
• a video appointment at x dates and times
• face to face appointments - list any dates times you can make around your work including evenings and weekends.

Doesn't this topic always bring out people who enjoy wearing their judgey pants?

It is what it is OP; she's had the misfortune to have a run of health issues that are documented; she's not truanting.

Do check how all of these absences have been recorded in the register and robustly challenge anything marked as unauthorised where ill health has been the reason (these should be coded as I).

Have a read of DfEs attendance guidance and also anything the LA has on its website. Note: this must not contradict DfE guidance.

Public bodies have a responsibility to behave reasonably. Requesting video conferencing due to work commitments is reasonable.

If this is refused I would contemplate seeking legal advice (Coram's children's law centre is an option).

Treating you punitively due to DDs long term health conditions could constitute disability discrimination by association. The EASS service has a free helpline and can advise on this aspect. They also have standard letters.

Lots of people and organisations have responsibilities in respect of school attendance and child illness/health conditions.

Where parents decide to have their child registered at school, they have an additional legal duty to ensure their child attends that school regularly. This means their child must attend every day that the school is open, except in a small number of allowable circumstances such as being too ill to attend or being given permission for an absence in advance from the school. (from Coram's website).

And the LA has legal responsibilities in these circumstances too: where a child cannot attend school because of a physical or mental health need, and cannot access suitable full-time education, the local authority is responsible for arranging suitable alternative provision. (From DfE Guidance).

This is called section 19 provision and the LA must by law provide it from the point it becomes clear a child will be unable to attend school due to ill health for 15 school days or more. It's a bit of a scandal this obligation is widely ignored, but it may well be an idea to pursue it and see what they come up with before removing your child from the roll?

When she has an appointment are you keeping her off all day? I’ve a child who’s had to have a lot of appointments over the years but I always make sure she’s on school for registration on a morning then I collect her and make sure she’s back for afternoon registration. Or make the appointment for after afternoon registration.

I work in an sen school and lots of our children are off as they often get admitted to PICU but the council still get on the backs of the parents. School have to report absences to the LA and ofsted look at them as well. The school need to provide evidence of supporting children who are off for medical reasons a lot.

They have to make sure everything is double checked and verified for safeguarding reasons as children are often passing from school due to neglect but parents try to pass it off as illness etc. There are too many cases of abuse, neglect, murder that sadly all cases of low absence have to be looked at properly. But if there’s a medical diagnosis in place which effects things then plans should be made - she can still get her mark is she engages in the work from home for example. My DD’s school still upload a lot of work to Google classroom so anyone who’s absent - or learning from a pastoral room due to anxiety etc - can still pick up the work.

Oh and for the poster who said that teachers are always off sick so they can’t complain, teachers tend not to take time off unless really serious. Multiple absences cause disciplinary meetings with HR. The teachers on long term sick are usually off with stress due to pressures of the job. You only need to join a teacher’s fb group to see all the mentally unwell teachers around struggling to keep their lives together

Just a few ideas but could dh go to the meeting? Have you suggested times before or after your work? Perhaps send a list of times available for video meeting and times you could attend in person before or after work. I would do several days/dates and times and put in a written communication like email to evidence that you are engaging and willing.

Check how they are recording your daughters absences they should all be authorised.

Join the Facebook group not fine in school.

My daughters attendance is 56% all because they keep suspending her whilst not meeting her needs.

So not actually HE, as neither of you will be available to facilitate this?

If dh works from home why can’t he go to the face to face meeting with the school?

Have you mentioned them sorted out a back up with work to do at home if you know she’s prone to having time off? My one child has some very complex medical issues and at times has had up to 6 weeks at a time off and we always get in touch with them and explain why and if they can get some work for us to do at home. It’s really worked well and we find the more we speak to them about it the better they are.

About 6 posts in to teacher bash ffs

Email back reiterating that you cant attend a face to face meeting. However you are keen for them to provide additional support in engaging medical services in a more timely manner to alleviate any further disruption to your daughters education and look forward to hearing how they will achieve this.

Just keep all the records and ask for any communication with school to be in email then if they do involve La you have all the evidence and there isn’t much they can do your child is genuinely unwell and I’m sure at such a young age a horrendous experience for her. I hope she gets what ever treatment she needs so she can live a normal life, but don’t worry about La because you’ve got all the evidence.

Even for a child with medical issues 66% is extremely low. anything below 90% is classed as persistently absent. your daughter is off school for 1 day every 3.

Tips for increasing attendance - book your appointments mid morning. Take your child to school so they get their morning mark on the register, collect them for the appointment then return them to school for their afternoon mark. They are marked in all day but still had their appointment.

Is she often late into school? If they are more than half an hour late they are marked absent for the whole morning - so ensure you are on time. Dont keep your child off for being a bit under the weather. School will call you if your child gets worse and is too ill to be in school. With coughs, colds, headaches etc they should be in.

i don’t understand how you can be off work 44% of the time to care for your child but not take an hour off for a really important meeting? You need to go. If they think you are not engaging you will have the LA on your back, they could also try to escalate to social services. I’m amazed you haven’t been fined yet for poor attendance, I suspect you will be soon. use the meeting to your advantage also - ask for support from the school SENDCO. Is there somewhere your child can work quietly when she is feeling unwell or faint? Are all staff aware of how to deal with fainting spells so you are more confident to have her in school?

They can’t fine us for illness or medical appointments- these are all authorised absence so a fine isn’t going to be an issue as they’ve had proof of appointments and illnesses verified.

Home education is different for everyone it doesn’t have to be school hours or even the national curriculum. I could do work/ activities with dd at weekends and then she can work on things independently during the week or have tutors . It’s just looking like the best option for us at the moment till we can get things sorted out. I’m looking at all the options

This. They have responsibilities here, tell them you welcome the LAs involvement because they have a statutory duty to ensure your child is receiving suitable full time education. Also make sure you evidence every conversation and meeting after via email.

If your DD is so unwell and you say you have medical evidence to support this, ask school to explore medical needs tuition. Schools have an obligation to pursue attendance and your DD's education is clearly being impacted by her health needs.
You could ask for multi-agency support to pull together your family, school and health professionals to determine a clear plan - ask school for details.

Why can't your husband go to the meeting?

Poor attendance has to be followed up - the school need to show they are doing everything they can. It doesn't mean that they are trying to make life difficult although I realise some schools will be less helpful than others.

Could your husband fit in a video call if he works from home? I would work with the school even if it's just so that you can get catch up work and support for GCSEs. I teach children who are out of mainstream, and it often takes a long time to get funding for the right placement, so I would give the school a chance.

Taking on responsibility for education yourself or finding an alternative placement shouldn't be taken lightly - keep your daughter on roll and see what the school and LA will offer. If things get worse, then look into alternatives, but I wouldn't take her out of school just to get them off your back. What year is she?

We could do a video call individually or together we are waiting to hear after Easter if the school will accept this as they had been insisting on face to face

If you home educate you are supposed to actually educate your child, not just leave them in the house with someone working full time at their day job to sort them out & get a tutor for a couple of subjects.

whilst removing your daughter from education while getting her medical issues sorted my seem like an “easy option” you probably won’t be doing her any favours in the long term.

you could ask to be referred to the medical schooling service (not sure of its exact name) for support.

If she cannot attend school ask la to refer to the la officer dealing with children missing school due to illness and ask what alternatives they can offer whether tutor or small group focusing on core subjects . So this meeting is chance to see what they can offer to dd. What year is she? Is she geting very behind? .

I have endo and these have been life changing for pain for me

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