To think there is far to much emphasis on school attendance

[Starwisher]

My dd1 is in year 1. I got a letter telling me off the other day as her attendance has only been 92% when it should be 95% to date. Apparently the educational welfare officer will be keeping a close eye on us...

For goodness sake, dd has been ill! They know this, yet I still get the letter.

Im sick of parents smugly telling me how they just "bung a bit of calpol in the kid and chuck them in school" so they dont need to miss out on the gym or shopping.

They are the one's getting everyone else ill and causing more problems so they can avoid a sick child, yet get rewarded with attendance certificates.

I try and do the right thing and stop dd spreading bugs and getting better at home- and get in trouble.

What is with OFSTED threatening to drop a schools rating if attendance is below some target figure? What if a particular nasty bug is doing the rounds- why should a school be penalised? (Another reason why OFSTED means nothing)

Im not saying attendance is not important but its becoming ridiculous!

Like I said: in many jobs people taking random days off causes chaos. It's up to people to manage their annual leave and look after their wellbeing.

Well you would ilovesooty wouldn't you lol. I'd hardly expect a public admission that a teacher might get something wrong once

Once

no I won't calm down zookeeper - you don't know what you are talking about

Yawn Cornsilk. I'm off to bed. Wouldn't want to be late for the school run

In many jobs random days off would cause chaos but as far as I know my DD isn't performing surgery we are talking about children.

Yes, people are responsible for well being can be enhanced through guilt free days off. Or a day if because you just have had enough.or because your having a tough time. Or for no reason at all.

People are people not work horses.

It's only 3 days.

starwisher

I suggest you keep wishing. Because it'll never happen. And quite rightfully so.

yes I'll just go and carry on with my chaotic lifestyle

Heswall when you can provide concrete evidence that most secondary pupils find a generally directed assembly on attendance and punctuality upsetting, I might give credence to your opinion. In the absence of that I think I knew my audience, thank you.

Heswall - if your DD(?) has anxiety issues then your view of things may be different to many other peoples. I agree with Ilovesooty - I don't believe most children are traumatised by an emphasis on punctuality and attendance. Certainly not any of the secondary school pupils I see sauntering along to school every morning, or any of the teenagers I know.

Starwisher are you in the sort of job that accepts people having random days off regardless of their commitments or the effect on the workloads of others?

The odd duvet day (which to me sounds more like sensibly nipping an illness in the bud) is NOT going to cause chaos in a school, though. Nor is it going to lead to adults who get hangovers and stay off work.

It happens in other countries.

Like you wouldnt welcome the days if you could 3 extra days off!

Doesn't really matter me to anyway, I'm only a little ol SAHM

And one should always have dreams and wishes. I like them.

Duvet days used to be called truanting, when I wad at school!

She didnt have any anxiety issues until the school put them there and now it's been transferred from being the schools problem to Dds problem to being my problem as I am nnecessarily womb at the crack of dawn so dd doesn't get told off. The teenagers ambling along who couldn't care less are the ones that should have their issues individually addressed and their arses kicked is that such an outlandish suggestion?

Sooty my boss doesnt let me have any time off, the cheeky girl. Pay is dreadful too.

Sometimes she is even sick on me

Duvet days is truanting If a child is anxious and not physicall ill then it should be dealt with and sorted Duvet days is ignoring the problem Imo ,

Womb = woken

LOL Starwisher

In my job someone just calling in unexpectedly for a duvet day when they're not actually ill might result in all sorts of knock on effects. Even unavoidable, real illness causes difficulties, unfortunately.

Nipping an illness in the bud?

Either you have picked up a virus/infection of some sort in which case you will be ill, or you haven't in which case you won't. A duvet day won't change that.

*Sooty my boss doesnt let me have any time off, the cheeky girl. Pay is dreadful too.

Sometimes she is even sick on me*

I'd be more worried by what Matthew does to you...

Nah, because duvet days are agreed and expected. Not same thing at all!

School is not a job.

It's just a school.