School won’t authorise absence for illness

[G172125]

Looking for some advice. My Daughter is off school with chicken pox and will probably be off for most of the week. The school are requesting medical evidence before they will authorise the absence. I have sent a photo of my child showing her spots but they said I needed to go to a chemist and get them to give me some calamine lotion with her name and a date on it. I’ve been to three chemists and they have all said they don’t provide proof and are fed up of schools sending parents to them. They said it would be going against nhs advice to put calamine lotion on chicken pox and they won’t print a label for me to stick on the bottle if I buy some. Her Gp won’t provide a sick note or appointment. Her attendance is at 97%. She was sent home in September and also just before half term with a sickness bug both were marked as unauthorised even though she was sent home from school vomiting. Who can I complain to about this? She is only on day two of chicken pox so will definitely be off most of the week and I want to avoid getting a fine that I can’t afford at the minute.

Tell them 'the pharmacists at Boots, Superdrugs and Bloggs and Co all said calamine lotion was not the correct medicine, and confirmed the CP diagnosis. But they don't go about the place printing labels for OTC products. You are welcome to call them all to confirm this.

She has chicken pox. She is not coming in because she will infect the other children. This is not up for discussion.'

The LA can't fine you for this I'm sure?

I would tell them they authorise it or you are sending her in.

This. And encourage her to run into her classroom and hug her friends. That will get them squirming rather than paper pushing.

How ridiculous…

I think you've uploaded the wrong thing.

I solved this nonsense with my child's school by unleashing the force of the wrath of the GP receptionist. Rang the surgery sounding very flustered that school were adamant I had to have medical evidence for this and I didn't think that was the case and didn't want to overload an already stretched GP practice.

Receptionist went thermonuclear, rang the school, school's expectations changed the same day :D

Did you speak to the GP over the phone or online? I just ask because ours has a messaging service, so if you'd messaged them and said she has chicken pox and school have asked for this, if they replied saying nope you could also send that to school.

They're being knobs either way though.

I had a similar experience when my dd had braces. The place she had them only did braces and of course the majority of their patients were school children. Therefore it was incredibly difficult to get an appointment out of school hours.

They would not give pit appointment cards for a similar reason, everyone wanted them for school. They were annoyed at schools for making everything harder.

The school would not authorise the absence without proof.

I started emailing a photo of dd holding up the date on her phone in front of the sign. The whole thing was ridiculous.

I'd write a letter to the governors, along with your pictures so they have proof and don't pass it as you trying it on. I'd include details of what the pharmacist said and outline how their ridiculous policy/advice/request is putting a strain on the already stretched NHS and that them advising chamomile lotion is against NHS advice.
ETA- I'd include your education authority in this. Clarify if the school are doing this off their back or advice of the LA and make the LA aware of the strain this causes to other services as well as parents. As if it's not enough to juggle work and sick children off school

I’d take her up to the school, get them to come to the car to see her.
it’s ridiculous

i don't understand why you care. You have told them the kid has chicken pox.You don.t need to engage any further.Let them do their worst!

Tell them what you've found out and if they continue with this you'll be raising it with the local education department, OFSTED and your MP. Idiots.

I'm guessing the proximity to half term is falling into the reasonable doubt where they can ask for evidence clause in the guidelines.

It is right that 10 unauthorised sessions kick in a fine but likely they probably wouldn't do that if there is some doubt over if she is ill or not esp if you kick up a fuss and even if they did you could appeal with all the evidence you have.

DS school would take a parents word for it. I also I live round the corner for the office receptionist who takes the calls so its an easy spot if I am lying

Well then I would take her to school and say “Apparently you can’t accept my dd is sick, so I’ve brought her to school since No pharmacist or GP will give me proof that you’ll accept .She feels dreadful and isn’t really eating much but she has had Calpol, her fever is 98. I’ll come back in four hours and give her some more Calpol and then collect her later. Byeeeeee”

If you don't hear from Head Teacher beforehand, take her into school around time of school pick up and ask to speak to Head Teacher or Deputy, if neither available whoever is in charge. The receptionist will soon go off and check if the school are happy having her in around children leaving at the end of the day.

take her into the school office

make sure no one is pregnant first and ask to see whoever has asked you for this "evidence"

Do so in a calm manner and explain that you are unable to get 3 chemist to do as they request - as it's against NHS guidance. Could the school medic come and inspect the child ( no school medic is there) but if they keep requesting these things who is it deciding what to randomly request

Or alternatively write to the school governors requesting that they stop sending parents to chemists asking for evidence in this manner as it is nt something they are able to do. Explain you have photographed the chicken pox and sent in but this is apparently not adequate.

Its about time these Gestapo tactics from schools were ended. Who do they think they are? Have they forgotten that classrooms are petri dishes for infections and viruses?
I would be writing a strong letter to the governing body as you seem to be being accused of lying

This is ridiculous, I get they want to improve attendance but they need to apply common sense

school will then call social services

parents can't win

I mean. who cares what they think. I wouldn't give it any further thought unless it was to complain to the governors.

Your child is sick, end of.

Ofsted aren't interested in such things.

The OP should use the school's complaints procedure to make a formal complaint, using the advice/evidence provided by other pp that they're acting incorrectly wrt medical advice, etc.

I suspect the pp who mentioned the proximity to half-term was right - they suspect the OP has taken her child on holiday. I'm not usually one to go along with 'take your child with her obviously visible pox up to school' suggestions, but in this case, it might not be a bad idea!

I’m more furious about them not authorising an absence that they instigated (sick bugs). Ask them for guidance: “Please advise how I can avoid unauthorised absences when the school sends my child home vomitting”

Or sod that and go straight to the governors.

Don't do anything, you have spoken to your Doctor, taken photos. If they push it for a fine, you have enough evidence. They are being ridiculous, and wanting you to dance to their tune. I would be telling them to do what they like, authorised/un-authorised that's their problem!

She wants to avoid a fine.

The incubation period of CP is 10 to 21 days. DS 2 got his spots at the end of the Christmas holidays, some children had been off school before they broke up. It's highly contagious and you're supposed to stay at home. Nobody will be pleased with an infectious child turning up at school.

Nobody will be pleased with an infectious child turning up at school.

The school will, these teachers are being ridiculous