They should let DS on school trip

[Justwhy7233]

So DS is in year 7 at school they always have a school trip at end of year for those with 90% attendance. My son has under 90% attendance due to being in hospital for two months but other than that has been in for pretty much EVREY other day. We didnt think they'd let him go which we new he'd be upset with but one of his other friends also has under 90% attendance. We got an email saying they hadn't had his forms for trip. His friend did not get one of these emails. Sol we thought they were letting him go as they realised there was NO way he was going into school. We sent the forms in and got a letter back saying he couldn't go. During the week befor DS was getting really exited about going planning the day with friends. Now he's crying. I don't mind them saying he couldn't go. I do have a problem with getting his hopes up. AIBU to think they should let him go now?

Email Headteacher and Chair of Governors, and point out 100% attendance apart from absence caused by longstanding medical condition so DS is being discriminated against due to disability. Make sure you say exactly that, as long as it's true (a long-term condition is a disability, but possibly a minor one) and I suspect this policy will get re-thought.

On a more general level, it's a bonkers policy. Rewards for good behaviour, absolutely fine. Rewards for attendance whilst having policies that say 'no school for 24 hours after vomiting' make no sense - do you want to encourage germ-ridden children to struggle in and spread disease, taking whole classes and members of staff down? Bonkers.

Hate this kind of thing. Punishing children for being ill or having a health/medical need or disability - just not on. Its discrimination.

Reward children for other things - not whether they manage a year of not falling ill (or even in many cases rewarding a child for having to come to school when ill and consequently infecting half the school!)

What about asking for an adendum to policy so if a pupil is off because of school policy i.e exclusion for d&v, hospitalisation, notifiable illness like chicken pox or has a medical certificate for prolonged illness then they have allowances made in the stats.

I believe the attendance policy is awful for children who don't have control for example DS friend is a young carer and is why his attendance is down. But I do believe if a child has a certain amount of unauthorized absences (especially if known for truancy) should be talked to (not imediatly told they shouldn't go) and be told there's a chance they won't go iyswim

OP stop farting around on MN and bloody well complain! Who cares if you get on the wrong side of the head of year - stick up for your child. No one else will.

Call and speak to the head of year/ head teacher, worth a try.

I know he doesn't have 90% attendance but it's not like you kept him home for a cold he was in hospital

I have to wait till after half term to ring. Now as office closed at 4:30 today. Give me time to bring a structured argument

Does your son's condition mean that he satisfies the definition of disability in the Equality Act? It's set out here.

If so, for goodness sake don't worry about annoying the head, s/he can't object to a polite but firm inquiry about whether they are aware that your child is disabled and that excluding him from the trip because of his disability is unlawful. Explain about how he has been particularly hurt by them getting his hopes up only to say no again. Ask him ever so nicely if the school will reconsider. If he still won't, ask for a copy of the school's complaints and equality policies, and ask who the governor with responsibility for inclusion is, and send in a formal complaint addressed both to that governor and the chair of governors asking them to consider your complaint urgently. If none of that works, I would strongly suggest you go to lawyers who specialise in discrimination law and see if you can take proceedings in your son's name with legal aid.

I forgot to say, DON'T phone, put it all in writing. Emails would be fine. Mark them "Urgent".

Structured argument:

Why are you punishing a child who has been long term sick?

/End of argument.

Dear Nob-Head,

                      As you'll know, my son Jonny has been unwell this academic year, including stays in hospital and surgery. We have endeavoured to keep his attendance as high as possible, and understood that his absences for ill health would be recorded as such. I was therefore, perplexed and disappointed to discover that he was not allowed to attend the end of year event as his attendance was deemed to be less than 95%. I had obviously assumed that this 95% figure was excluding sickness absence, over which he has no control.

I am very much hoping that this is an oversight, and that the school is not flouting the Equality Act of 2010 by treating my son detrimentally as a result of his illness. I look forward to your response as soon as possible.

Sincerely.

OP said she didn't expect him to be allowed to go. She's upset because she had the email asking for forms to be returned, which is indication that he WAS allowed. This seems to have been a mistake as when the forms were returned, DS is told he can't go after all!

I do think hospital admissions shouldn't be counted, as these are likely to be longer absences than the average childhood bugs, and obviously more serious.

But regardless of policy, they have effectively told an 11/12 year old boy who has recently been seriously ill that he could go on a trip, and then turned round and said he can't. That is horribly unfair. Unless he was a persistent, deliberate truant I don't think there's any justification for that. I know people make mistakes but the way to rectify it to let him go

Absolutely shite idea.
'You don't deserve to attend the trip, you shouldn't have got ill / had that accident / had an ongoing medical condition. It wouldn't be fair on all the other pupils who came to school whilst you lazed around in your lovely comfy hospital bed.'

You could always hand the form in myself without ds knowing about it assuming the school would give you an answer not him. As it is half term, you may want to post the form to the school and follow it up with a phone call.

Did he see any teachers in the hospital or attend the hospital school? when my DC was an inpatient long term they had a few lessons each week. perhaps this should count?

I understand rules are rules, but surely common sense has to be applied too? A poor child that has been ill enough to spend months in hospital should not be punished for it. What on earth are the school thinking?

Horrible policy :(

Creased up brilliant letter! Yes I'll write a email/letter and get the head Otto contact me that's what me is thinking

I would speak to the head teacher. Surely a child should not be punished for a hospital stay?
I get annoyed at the 100% attendance awards. My son was taken ill in school and I took him to the doctor who stated he needed the week off sick. Penalising a child for being ill is just really stupid.

I would just add to creasedup's letter something along the lines of:

As you know, ds has struggled with his [long term health condition] and had an excellent attendance record other than his stay in hospital. I am surprised and disappointed that you are not rewarding and encouraging his commitment to attend school when he possibly can. This policy seems discriminatory under the Equalities Act 2010. I would welcome your reconsideration of the school's decision not to allow ds to attend the day.

Good luck .

Wow. Am appalled that your son shouldn't be allowed on the trip.
Ask nicely ONCE then kick up a fuss.

This seems so unfair. Would it be worth approaching MP?

I read this happened to a boy last year. His attendance was low due to hospital admissions and the school refused to budget, saying that it would then be inundated with requests from others about extenuating circumstances. Bit ridiculous really. Maybe they just shouldn't bother with these trips for attendance...I don't remember getting trips for attendance and it never did me any harm. Granted I liked school and would beg my mum to send me when ill (young enough to not understand the consequences and mum would only keep me off if I was really ill).