to keep my DC off school?

[pregnantpause]

My dd has been vomiting for the last two days, only once or twice, but a day, and she is eating and drinking. I spent last week vomiting, so I know it's a bug. But the school have phoned to say that we'll be seeing the education welfare officer as it's now policy if they're off more than twice a year (chicken pox got us last term) my problem is that when they come they will find a happy laughing child playing in the garden. She is vomiting, but she's sick wipes it off and carries on. She's not 'unwell' just vomiting and a bit of runny poo. I am right to keep her off aren't I?

Is there a chance they are saying that to "scare" those who are pulling a sickie to go in? Or to stop people ringing in sick when they are actually on holiday?
It seems likely that at just 2 sickness episodes they are trying to ensure attendance falls no lower without good reason.
D&V is good reason to stay off, YANBU to keep your DD home.

Look, there is no way a school would even refer two illnesses in a year in a 5 year old to the EWO - particularly when one was chicken pox- unless the child was kept off for 4 weeks per illness or something. It's a misunderstanding. Either forget about it all together, OP, or ring the EWO and clear it up. But don't worry.

You may get a letter or a phone call rather than someone at the door! Bit ridiculous when it's 2 valid reasons that they wouldn't be allowed in school anyway with those illnesses.

Are you sure it's the EWO and not a school-based Family Liaison Officer?

My DD's school has one and she does do home visits if they're concerned about absence - my DD had 2 V&D bugs in the space of about 3 weeks in the first term of this school year so her attendance % was bloody awful until it evened out as the term went on - she had 4 days off school in total

The second time she came round, saw DD doing her dying swan impression with a sick bucket and went again, and nothing more has ever been said or done and as the year has gone on with no more sickness her attendance is back to acceptable levels

Madness!!!

My DD (4.6yo) in reception has so far in this school year had: chicken pox, tonsilitis, UTI (v bad with vomiting and high temp), D&V and last month Scarlet fever!!

I'm surprised I don't have EWOs and SS encamped outside in my drive in portacabins then.

This is the most ridiculous policy I've ever heard. They haven't got any legal right to enter you home anyway, have they ?

Definitely keep her off. My son has had two runny poo incidents in three days and I have spoken to the school and he can't return until Friday.

I had prearranged plans today and he came with me. He has spent the morning on a farm feeding newborn lambs and climbing hay bales and the afternoon in Soft play. Doubt he'll ever wAnt to go back to school again !

They haven't got any legal right to enter you home anyway,have they?
no they most certainly do not!

I am so glad that my DC school days are over! My friend has a DC with numerous health problems. She therefore has numerous appointments and he has weekly injections This does mean sometimes a day out of school because they have to travel to a major hospital that specializes. She showed me ALL the letters from school, even they know about his illness! She certainly feels stressed out about these threats and I advised her to see her MP (when she has a minute!!). Was that the right advise or is there a way that with genuine illness, parents don't have to endure this?? Would love to help her on this. I was gobsmacked by the tone of some of the letters.

I really would like advice to tell my friend.... MP? Anyone got any advice please...

Are these letters just from school?

If so, I'd speak to the EWO myself if I was being harassed like that by school.

They're welfare officers, there to help parents as much as schools.

Could also contact the governors to complain that bombardment with letters when dealing with serious health issues is doing nothing at all to help the education of your son, and does the school no good either.