Why would school refuse a call and insist on a meeting

[Insistingonit]

My dd is in year 5. Attendance hasn’t been good due to frequent illness. Once she got to 90% the school insisted on a GP appt to verify Illness each time which we did. We already supply the appt letters for appts in school time.

She is now at 88% . We have continued to provide proof of illness. They are insisting on speaking to us we agreed and said we will arrange a phone or video call. They said it has to be in person. Why? We are happy to discuss but don’t see the difference?

I can see it from both sides.
My youngest suffered with ear infections on a rolling ten day cycle when he was in year 1. So start with an infection, need time off, get anit biotics, clears up, one week later starts with an infection......and so on. Doctors put him on longer term anti biotics but they didnt work. Burst ear drum several times, ear constantly leaking, he would go into school in the morning and they would send him home as he was in pain and had a temp. this went on for three months before we got referred for grommets. His attendance was well below what it should be and the school wanted a meeting.......I said whats the point, you know why he is off, you even send him home. I sent him in with his ear leaking crap if he felt well enough but they insisted and I refused! There was nothing to be said, he had recurrant ear infections that made him too unwell for school sometimes and the anti biotics made him sick a lot (and even when i explained thats why he has been sick they still refused to have him in) and so it was what it was.
Having said that, i also worked in a school reception and there are some proper shit parents out there whose kids are off at least once a week because the parents cant be bothered to get their backside out of bed. But we all knew who they were and why the kids were off! My sons school knew he was unwell and had been to the doctors becuase they had to give him the anti biotics.
Stand your ground and let them take it further if they want to. I understand safeguarding but there is nothing more to say in your case

I agree. You can tell a lot more in person and also hide a lot more on a video call.

What illness should she have thought twice about being off for chicken pox? Or the D&V the school sent her home for?

Oh no my kid has chicken pox. I was going to keep them home but I've thought twice and I'm going to send them in because I dont want the hassle of a face to face meeting in the middle of my working day

There is no evidence that suggests any of that anyway. All absences have medical evidence and when OP's child is well, she is at school.

I imagine it is a policy because some parents may respond to this more and be inclined to be less lenient with their child if they have had an in person meeting.

Also as pp said there are physical clues and interactions that are easier seen in person than remotely.

I suspect that is exactly what this is. Which makes no sense in this context because no one wants a child in school with chicken pox or a vomiting bug.

20 pages. Time to start a second thread and have fun running in some more circles 🙃

But you do pick up and drop off every day so why can’t you arrange for the meeting to be around then?

Next time @Insistingonit I'd do a video of you taking DC'S temperature and show it at the end. Obviously these days you could fake it but who the hell would. As a PP said a terrible waste of NHS resources. It is also a waste of the school's time too chasing around after attendance like this- they obviously have a duty to support kids and if there were worries about neglect etc then they really should come down hard and keep a close eye. But in the case of a child where there aren't otherwise any concerns I think it is over the top having all these meetings etc. Surely school should just call the parent and say- look, X having less than 90% attendance means she has missed a day of school every two weeks. That is a lot and will negatively affect her attainment - which could have an impact on her future if her missed time causes struggles going into GCSE years. NHS advice is to do XYZ to support children's health (vitamin drops, wash hands before eating etc etc). And leave it at that. For some families sharing the advice might actually be helpful. Surely that's better than just bollocking you for a poorly child. Some people just have shit immune systems.

I will email them tomorrow and set out how we have met all requests so far for medical
evidence and enquire what the meeting seeks to address point by point. Then I will
offer again to have a video call. Unless they can tell me a valid reason to have it face to face I just don’t see how it will affect the situation. My gut feeling is some kind of attendance contract as you can’t something over video call? Not that I’d sign anyway as can’t improve attendance when it’s a cause beyond my control

A sensible way forward. Why not add that they are not following the guidance by saying for medical evidence for each absence.

Yep. And schools still talk about attendance as though it's a choice even when there's clear evidence that a child is ill, and they know full well that you can't choose to have hospital appointments outside school hours.
Some of them love to drag parents around by the nose and endlessly repeat "it's our policy" to justify their idiotic or heavy handed orders.

If they push back again, I would quote the attendance guidance pp posted which backs you up too.

The most I would offer other than the call is in person at drop off/pick up if you will be there anyway.

I'd be blunt. You've had to take time off work when she is sick and will only be able to attend the meeting virtually as you need to minimise absences from your work place wherever possible. You have provided verification of all absences as requested. They see you every day for drop off and collection and you were recently at parents evening where they had the opportunity to discuss this in person but did not. Whilst it is not ideal for her to be absent so much, she is working above requirements in her classes and the teachers have commented on her positive misdemeanour. She will be getting blood tests over Easter to see if there is any underlying reason for her being ill so often however her doctor has noted her level of illness is not outside of normal levels for children her age. You are eager and willing to work with the school, but will need to do this virtually due to your work obligations.

Oh and Op - are you sure you are not on a Notice to Improve ? I issue those to families with very low attendance.
it specifically states that all absence will not be authorised without medical evidence. Without evidence the absence is unauthorised. After 10 absences we then go to fine the family.
These are used as a last resort when families do not engage with improving persistently low attendance.

Ask for the meeting in the 15 minutes before school starts. If they can’t do that then tell them you really can’t take more time
off work and it will need to be a video call.

I’m the attendance officer at a primary school. With attendance as low as your DC we would be very concerned and would ask you to come and meet with me, the Head and the local authority Educational Welfare Officer and possibly a nurse from the local school nursing team. I couldn’t offer you a video appointment, my ancient computer doesn’t have a camera!

The most I would offer other than the call is in person at drop off/pick up if you will be there anyway.

I'd go for drop off so that you have done your day at work!

she is considered persistently absent, so inviting you in is standard.

An invitation that can't be refused?

Show your child a good example and show up.
The school has made a reasonable request.
They might wish to have multiple teachers in on the meeting. They might want to show you some of DC's work and maybe give you catch up work etc.

I would also seek a second opinion from a different GP.
Your child is missing a lot of school. It's great that the school cares.

@EverythingElseIsTaken I couldn’t offer you a video appointment, my ancient computer doesn’t have a camera!

That's a you problem, not the problem of the parent

If you do pick up can you, I’d tell them that if it must be an in person meeting, it will have to be immediately after pick up.

I do agree with you that it seems like an unnecessary faff.

It becomes the problem of the parent and means the meeting has to be f2f.

Why would you be very concerned if the parent has provided medical evidence for all absences as OP has? I understand if OP can't explain any of the absences but she can with medical evidence.

What would roughly be discussed in the meeting since chicken pox and vomiting bugs are difficult to prevent in school? I'm extra curious considering my son's attendance is lower than OP's child and his school have never asked for any meetings as I could also provide medical evidence.