To write a stroppy response to the "Amber attendance warning" received from Dd's high school?

[PingpongDingDong]

Last term Dd had 4 teeth out for a brace. She had one and a half days off for this. A few weeks later she had the brace put on. She had one day off for this. She then had a migraine so another day off for that.

All authorised absences, all pretty much unavoidable. Today we received the above mentioned letter with all sorts of doom laden predictions for those without 100% attendance ending with "we trust your daughter will aim for excellent attendance this term."

Is it me?! She was having 4 teeth out and a brace fitted and she had a migraine (the school know this). I really object to this heavy handed, ridiculous approach for kids who do not have a "problem" with attendance. Should I write and complain?

I feel for you Shazza! Sorry you're going through such a very tough time.

Are parents seriously finding these letters "really upsetting?"

If, like so many PP, you know you have valid reasons why your DC have been off, what possible reason would you have for being upset about a stupid letter from the school?

Schools can stress all they like that orthodontist appointments should be made out of school time. But it doesn't mean it will happen.

For our local orthodontists all NHS appointments are pretty much term time, 9-3pm. To get appointments out of school time you need to be a private patient and be paying for treatment. Hence, why I am buying a lot of money for DD's brace treatment - mainly as I work in a school and it is hard for me to get the time off to go with her! It is frustrating though as she did qualify for NHS treatment.

i had one after my daughter spent 3 days in hospital and a further 2 days at home after an asthma attack. its annoying, but i just binned it and moved on.

Idefix that's it though isn't it? They are not only annoying/upsetting but they are utterly pointless letters! Your Dd can't help having her health difficulties so why penalise her as if she or you have some control over it just because a few people are irresponsible and don't send their kids in?

I had a tooth out and I felt like shit and was drugged up for 3 days. 1 1/2 is bloody heroic. Just ignore it OP and bin it. They are standard things, school just print them off and send them when you hit the "magic number" of days off. I think everyone in DS year got one last year when chicken pox went round in November...

The school also know the reasons are valid little so why send the letter in the first place. It is pointless back antagonistic.

Agreed cranberry. I very much doubt many adults would go into work straight after having 4 teeth out or having a brace put in!

I would defo take a half day to recover after that.

Do previous posters understand how painful it can be after having a brace fitted ?!

Yes they are really upsetting, especially when you spend every school report trying to encourage a hormonal teenager that they should just ignore this part of the report.

I guess it would help if you have a less competitive dc who was less driven. Would be easier for dd if she didn't battle to cope with chronic pain and exhaustion during flare-ups and school.

I think the upsetting thing is the lack of personalisation, that it is not possible to alter the grade to reflect that this is outside the child's control.

But obviously in the grand scheme of things this is a small thing.

Exactly Ego, thank you! I'm a teacher myself. Children who have a few days off in a term (or occasionally more for a longer illness) are not the issue here. So why the ridiculously heavy handed approach?

Another one who doesn't get why you need a day off for a brace fitting. I took DS in straight afterwards and arrange all his other appointments in half term and the holidays and yes, I have had a brace but couldn't see the point of him sitting around at home after the fitting

Doh not grade meant attendance

4 hours Having...one of which would have been lunchtime.

Did you or your son have 4 extractions at the same time, Having?

you are being unreasonable op... should have sent her in to dribble blood and sit in the corner moaning. ha, you would not have got her past the office

Yadnbu, I hate the way schools deal with things like this. Far too heavy handed and normally completely inconsiderate of valid medical reasons.

True Ego. I honestly don't agree with the dire warnings either. Regular non attendance or even regular lateness can have a big impact on progress but I've taught for 20 years and can honestly say that a child having a few days or even a week or so off very occasionally due to illness doesn't impact their outcomes, it really doesn't! Anyway, what's the alternative? Sending kids in whe they're really poorly?!

We had this last year with our son. He has a blood disorder which means his immune system is poor and last Winter he had one cold after another and because of his impaired immunity a cold can really knock him about. School are aware of this and I always mention it in absence emails just to remind them but we still got a letter when he hit 92.something% attendance, stating that he was being monitored by Education Welfare due to his poor attendance record.

I was furious and gave them both barrels. The deputy head was very sympathetic and explained that they have no choice but to send these letters - whatever happened to looking at each pupil as an individual before doing so?

This is the new 'everyone is tarred with the same brush' attitude that worries me so much.
There is no incentive to try, or to stick to the rules with this system.

YANBU but it will get you put on a stroppy list IMO.

No point in writing a stroppy response, but YANBU to be pissed off about it.

One of the things I appreciated about the Aussie school system was their rather more flexible approach to school attendance, sickness, authorised leave etc. - until March last year when they decided to copy the UK system and introduced all this bollocks about 100% attendance. I LOATHE this in primary schools. I understood the point in secondary schools, were it is designed to prevent truancy and improve attendance, but ffs, primary schools? They also got very heavy handed about lateness in the morning - almost none of the younger primary school children are responsible for getting themselves to school, it's the parents who bring them late, but it's the children who get penalised. This really pisses me off.
And as for the children with health conditions who have to miss school for appts, well. Don't get me started on the unfairness there.

So far, and if I can prevent it I will (being part of the P&C, which is the equivalent of PTA), no one has suggested rewards other than certificates for 100% attendance; but if they start with the idea of having treats/parties for 100% attendees I will be vehemently against it. I can't be doing with a culture that insists attendance is more important than taking time to recover from illness, and I don't want the school to become a hotbed of germs because children are so worried they will lose their 100% attendance record if they stay home.

It's all so STUPID!