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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School or employer?!

24 replies

Catcrazy08 · 14/12/2016 14:11

So my son as been of school for over 5 days, he has seen Dr, it is a upper respiratory virus, no treatment given.
He has been very unwell, rundown etc.
I have decided to keep him off the rest of the week to get him 100% back to health, bearing in mind school rife with bugs also!

School have rung demanding a sick note, in my day parents wrote a note.
IMO doctors have enough to do without providing poxy notes to school who are flapping about attendance records!

OP posts:
HaveNoSocks · 14/12/2016 14:13

YANBU lots of doctors won't write notes in that situation (I think until it's been 2 weeks).

xStefx · 14/12/2016 14:13

If you feel that strongly about it just send him back in and everytime they call you to demand a sicknote just say" ooh I haven't got time would you like my doctors number so you can get it scene as its you that wants it so bad"

Trifleorbust · 14/12/2016 14:18

You don't have to provide a sick note, but the school so not have to authorise the absence. What is your son's % attendance for the year? Obviously they have to cut off authorising absence at some point.

harderandharder2breathe · 14/12/2016 15:07

Most employers ask for a note after 5 days, so it makes sense for schools to use the same cut off.

I do understand why you'd keep him off longer to get 100% better, especially since it's unlikely a huge amount of learning will be going on this close to the end of term.

Either get the note or accept that it'll be marked as unauthorised.

bakingaddict · 14/12/2016 15:20

I don't know what the schools are playing at my DS had no previous absence for the year but the school wanted a Dr's note for D&V on the 2nd day of illness. My DH told the school receptionist there was no way he was going to waste the GP's time or take time from work himself getting a note for D&V

OhSuckItUpDucky · 14/12/2016 15:39

Just say no
Bloody hell Drs are overworked already without this shit

DontTouchTheMoustache · 14/12/2016 15:42

Most surgeries charge for sick notes as well. Is school prepared to reimburse you?

woodhill · 14/12/2016 15:44

Just ridiculous, your dc is not their employee. Your GP has enough to do.

Wolfiefan · 14/12/2016 15:45

Did the GP suggest he stay off so long? Does your child have a good attendance record?
Over five days for a virus seems a lot.

Original poster
Catcrazy08 · 14/12/2016 16:10

Yes it is a long time off.
No, they are not exactly working at school this week.
Dr said send him back when I feel he is ready.

If children stayed off school when ill, less bugs would spread and attendance levels would be higher

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 14/12/2016 16:11

They aren't working all week? Really? When I taught we were working up until the last day.
Is he actually ill or a bit tired and run down?
How is attendance otherwise?

Sirzy · 14/12/2016 16:14

So he had already been off 5 days and is going to be kept off at least another 2? In that case in the defence of the school I can see why they are asking questions as 7 days is a lot to miss.

Randytortoise · 14/12/2016 16:29

You self certificate for the first 7 days, you can download the form from the Internet (my doctor did it for me at the appointment) she said she could issue a doctor's note after the 7 days but not before.

Topseyt · 14/12/2016 16:34

So, he is just a bit below par now but you are still going to keep him off?

I would send him in to be honest. Few people I know are totally100% at the moment due to the time of year. All still working.

That is a long time to be off and will have flagged as an attendance concern I should think.

You also say that you are keeping him off because school is full of bugs at the moment. You should be keeping him off only when HE is particularly unwell, not because you think other children are.

Topseyt · 14/12/2016 16:38

A cold can be referred to as an upper respiratory virus sometimes.

If he has a heavy cold then I can understand two or three days being needed, but not seven unless he got a bad secondary infection, but you said just run down.

AreWeThereYet000 · 14/12/2016 17:29

You say he's been off for OVER 5 days...so how many days has he been off? You can only self cert for 7 days so you may already be past this point, hence needing the drs note.

DailyFail1 · 14/12/2016 17:37

A week off for a heavy cold seems an overreaction. No way would a dr sign that off unless there are preexisting conditions that could make it worse.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 14/12/2016 18:25

So how long has he actually been off for? You say over 5 days plush the rest of this week.

That us a long time for a cold.

melj1213 · 14/12/2016 18:49

Did the school ask specifically for a Doctor's sick note or would a sick note written by you do?

I know when I was at school, if you were off for a day or two mum or dad would ring up on the first morning and tell them "X is ill so won't be in for the next day or two" but if you were off for longer then you were also expected to take a note in when you returned so the school could put it in their records to account for the long absence.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 14/12/2016 18:54

The school can ask for a note from a doctor if they have reason to doubt the reason of absence. In this case I can see why they might doubt you.

ForalltheSaints · 14/12/2016 18:55

Write to the chair of Governors pointing out the request is unreasonable.

Ditsyprint40 · 20/12/2016 21:52

From a school's POV.. if his attendance is usually good (say over 97% pre this) I wouldn't ask for evidence. If attendance was previously lower, I might be asking for evidence and I think it is reasonable. 5 days and we might suspect a holiday!

lougle · 20/12/2016 21:59

Children shouldn't be kept off school because they're a 'bit run down'. Fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, up all night coughing and listless with no appetite...day off. Sniffles, coughs, sore throat, etc., go to school.

user1484429451 · 14/01/2017 22:07

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