To be angry at Children Sick Notes

[Manclife]

DC school has a new head teacher who is laying down the law. Amongst other things they're insisting parents get medical evidence when children are off sick. A quick search online shows most Drs either won't do it or charge for the letter. Also most minor children's ailments don't require medical intervention in the first place so there would be no record. AIBU to be angry that just to appease a head teacher I've got to tie up NHS resources? Has anyone challenged this successfully?

Cigars my DB used to nick wodges of the appointment cards and sell them in the playground! I was beaten to it with the suggestion of medical proof with a photo of D&V. I was going to suggest an actual sample.

What happens if there is no note?

I assume in a worst case kind of scenario if there was a string of illness absences for one child marked unauthorised due to no note, and it got to the point where attendance reduced below 90%, then the LA attendance officer (is that what their title is?) gets a call?

At which point you show them the emails to the school notifying them of the illnesses and it just makes the school look silly?

Isn't this all about Ofsted results and the requirement for a certain attendance %?

It's because so many people lie and say their children are ill when they go on holiday.

One of my kids was throwing up on the morning of one of their GCSE exams and the GP wouldn't give us a sick note for that, said it wasn't necessary. Exams officer rang him and he did do one then but he was very unpleasant about it.

My DD's 15 school has just introduced this policy, it was announced in assembly. If they want a Dr's note they can pay for it because I certainly will not be.

I cannot see many if any surgeries agreeing to write notes for children for ONE day etc. It is a complete waste of resources and cannot see how they can justify doing this.

We had this. I wrote to the head.

I deal with many occupational health issues and can confirm that GPs are not obliged to provide a fit note prior to the 8th day of absence/illness. Professionally there are occasions when I require this but as an NHS physician will levy a charge I expect the employee to submit the receipt for reimbursement.

I am sure too you appreciate that NHS resources like school resources are limited and it is inappropriate to abuse or misuse them.

If I can provide any further assistance about the statutory position do give me a call

Mrs OhTheRoses, Chartered FCIPD

Never heard another word. DD left the school two terms later due to poor leadership and declining standards due to a crap head.

I'm guessing this is because the school had an attendance issue.

Possibly piglet but as at dd's an effective manager would target the culprits not the entire school. It belongs with the whole class detention to deal with 2/3 pupils whose identity is well known.

We did this at the school I used to work for. We accepted appointment cards as evidence. This stopped the parents who would claim a medical appointment was their child didn't get to school until 1100 when really they hadn't got out of bed..
I never saw a parent bring in an actual doctor's note for sickness though

Ridiculous, the last thing the GP needs is a parade of children with colds, d&v and chicken pox taking up all the same day appointments!

Our GP will give a copy of the consultation notes. This was fine when we had medical problems that needed a GP appointment. The teacher said the LEA had changed policy and threshold for absence and head teacher wasn't allowed to automatically authorise absences without medical evidence anymore. They were very apologetic and understood parents annoyance.

I really wish Ofsted could relax about attendance and concentrate on more important things. I don't think I even took my kids to the GP for chicken pox, or similar. I did keep them home of course!

Sending ill kids to school, pestering parents about ridiculous notes, this is so stupid. It hasn't changed anything about holidays, look at posts from parents saying that the fine is a bargain compared to the reduced price they get by going out of season.

I don't even blame the heads, it's all coming from above. I am not sure how us parents can try to change this nonsense.

I'm a GP. Nope, not going to happen. So glad you all seem so sensible.

If every school insisted on this, my whole day would be taken up with children who do not need to see me, such a waste of resources. It puts the parents in a very difficult position. I send a stern letter to the headteacher of any school in my area that tries to dump this work on an already stretched NHS practice.

My dc's school insists on copies of medical appointment letters and any correspondence from specialists with diagnosis etc so they can "make reasonable adjustments to their school day" which is bull shit because they still make them fully engage with PE, climb stairs for classes and not permit use of crutches inside the school corridors

Complain to the governors (and I speak as one..).

This sounds beyond daft.

What the hell is an appointment card? I've never received a written confirmation for my GP appointment

If you go to the actual surgery to make the appointment they ask usually if you want them to write it down for you. If you ring in you don't get one.

@BlackeyedSusan, the bucket of vomit/poo would be my suggestion too 😂.

I don't think I can add anything else and I'm pretty sure my gp would laugh me out of the surgery if I asked them for one. They rolled their eyes when I had to ask them to prescribe ibuprofen for Ds1. Apparently a Drs note/letter that he has to have it is not sufficient. They can only give it to him if it has a pharmacy label on it and they won't accept the same bottle back if it has been emptied (they record every tiny detail off the bottle I think) and refilled at home.

As a teacher, indeed as any employee, one is allowed to self certify for up to 4 days(?) then I'm sure a parent can certify for their child.

The only time a teacher has to produce a note for short term/one day illness is when there is industrial action. ( otherwise you loose a day's pay.)

Ridiculous policy. My DD has only just started school but if I encounter any of this sort of nonsense they will be told in no uncertain terms that I can decide if my child is too ill to attend for a short period without the proof of a doctor. Furthermore, taking a child to the GP with a bad cold or a sickness bug is plain irresponsible.

Tell the school that its now YOUR policy that they write and tell you personally, about any illnesses going around your DCs class, within 2 days of a diagnosis.

• it's a pointless, massive waste of their time, but they should be quite happy to oblige, as they think the doctor can do similar .

The other response at dd's school could have been "do you need a letter from my bank manager if I can't afford the £300 annual voluntary contribution?" As you have had that without a fuss perhaps have a little think about inferring whether I'm a liar or not.

I have said many times teaches need to work for two weeks in a customer facing service at the la for two weeks every summer. Things like the bins, parking services, etc. Would help their communication skills with other grown ups immeasurably.