To ask for your help in composing

[kappadelta]

A response to an attendance letter from DS comprehensive school.
The letter reads that my son's attendance is to date 86.63. If it does not exceed 92% by 23rd February the school attendance team will notify me of the procedure ahead.

I must admit my son has had time off due to an emergency appendectomy and a subsequent infection due to the rupture.

I'm fuming but would like some help with a well worded response.

Thanks in advance.

Don't worry about it - it's just a standard letter that's automatically sent out when attendance drops below a certain level.

I understand why you're fuming but don't take it personally. It's just procedure.

I would just reply politely and objectively, saying that your son had appendicitis, had a subsequent infection from the rupture, and he was in hospital on x dates and recovering at home on x dates, and that you notified the school by phone/letter on x dates. The leave it at that.

Then write a sweaty, ranty letter that says what you really feel about why the hell can't the school actually use their common sense and only send a letter if they think there is really a problem or at least word it politely. Then burn it.

• sweary not sweaty!

Shhhhh thanks for your reply. It makes me really angry that the target they have set for him is actually unachievable.
Even if he attends every day until 23rd of Feb he will still fall short of the 92% they want!!

It's not even on letterhead either.

It came through at the same time as the letter which informed me he was part of the more able cohort group that had been put together
It took the shine right off that.

I don't think you should ignore it. If people don't address such stupidity it will just continue.

I don't think I can help you compose a reply unfortunately, I go to heavy on the sarcasm in these situations.

Oh that's funny, kappadelta, I did actually wonder that about whether it was an achievable target but without knowing term dates I couldn't do the calculation!

I don't think it's worth kicking up a fuss about the letter - the school is just ticking boxes and the wording seems to be pretty standard across schools. Or bring it up at a PTA meeting rather than in a letter. One letter isn't going to make a difference but if other parents feel the same way, the school might take note.

On the other hand, it is good to send a reply to show that you are concerned about your son's attendance and to point out that they have set an impossible target.

Ifgrand please feel free to offer up any suggestions you have as I'm going to write a response once the little ones are asleep

I would do a really short letter just giving dates and reasons of his absence and no more. This sounds like a standard letter so don't worry.

Dear x

Perhaps you should ask the 'more able' cohort in Yr A to work out your percentages for you. If you did this, I am sure that they (including my son) would be able to tell you that it is impossible to go from x to y % in the time you have allowed - my son would have to attend twice every day to reach your target.

If you refer to your records you will note that my son was hospitalised with appendicitis which resulted in the poor attendance this year so far. I'm sure that you will agree that this is a reasonable illness to be off-school with, and doesn't count as 'skipping' school in any way. You will also have the Drs note which covered his recovery time on record which clearly indicates that he was not able to attend school for a valid reason.

Please could you confirm, by return, that your proposed target is unattainable and that you will not be progressing matters any further, given the health related issues my son has suffered this academic year.

Mistle - I like it

Letter sent

I'd have treated it as a misunderstanding and given them a call. Looks like they sent out a bog standard letter with personal stats and didn't give individual absence profiles much (any?) thought.

Fas - I don't think it was a misunderstanding as it was on the back of my son getting a 'talking to' in school about attendance.

Even if he attends every day until 23rd of Feb he will still fall short of the 92% they want!!

In that case:

"A hospital stay's not much fun
And prevents school attendance. My son
Has been sick for so long
That to ask this is wrong.
Mathematically it can't be done."

Boris - very good

kappadelta Wed 28-Jan-15 16:46:06
Fas - I don't think it was a misunderstanding as it was on the back of my son getting a 'talking to' in school about attendance.

A talking to? How do they think a talking to is going to help when he was off due to an emergency appendectomy and a subsequent infection due to the rupture?

Fry - god knows, it's bloody disgusting.

kappadelta
Fas - I don't think it was a misunderstanding as it was on the back of my son getting a 'talking to' in school about attendance.

Was it a one to one, or a group talk to everyone whose attendance was below a certain threshhold? If it was a one to one, you would expect individual records and reasoning to be considered - i.e. in your son's situation, absence fully explained, no further action required. If the chat was for all students not meeting the designated target, then they're using a very blunt tool to address attendance. Clearly the finer detail of absence records should be considered before any action (talks, letters etc) is taken.

Fas - it was a group discussion. I'm not sure what they were trying to achieve but I agree with how you have put it

Further to this I have received a letter today informing me my son's attendance is still not at 92% and the explanations given for my child's absence are not considered reasonable excuses within the meaning of the Education Act.

I would like to challenge this and would be grateful of any support.

Look up the Education Act online and see if fecking arsing bloody 1,;"@"@,;,$, appendicitis fits into one of the permitted twatting shitting reasons.

Then send a copy to them with the appropriate bit highlighted.

Madness!