Just received a letter informing (threatening?) possibility of referral to educational welfare service re: attendance - AIBU?

[iscott17]

Just received a letter informing (threatening) 'possible referral to educational welfare service' - DS attendance was '94.39' - 'below school attendance target of 96+%' (Sept til now).

Part of this was due to SCHOOL sending him home for mandatory 48 hours absence when he puked in lunch room.

Have requested a meeting with headteacher - tempted to go in all guns blazing, esp when checking school attendance policy on the school website which says 'letters will be sent to parents when attendance falls below 90%'. AIBU? Any suggestions/recommendations on how to deal with this (short of ripping headteacher's head off!)

Its statistical, not personal.

I don’t even bother reading the letters anymore.
I know what they say.
The head of year was apologetic at the last meeting we had regarding my dd because her name has to go at the bottom of the letter.
Don’t worry about it op.
They won’t want a meeting because of the first letter sent.

Ignore it. I'd suspect it was a straight-up error, but if not, let them refer. The EWO will not care about attendance of 94%.

Head teachers deal with a lot of bad behaviour, and are not any more impressed by it if it comes from an adult.

I try to avoid getting offended by standard school letters. They don't know our familys immensely complicated circumstances. But I understand they have to go through the motions to screen out the unavoidable absences and get to the problem situations.

But even if all the absence is authorised and/or legitimate, it's still of concern. If a child is chronically ill then could the school or LA be doing anything to help with supporting their education at home? If it's actually lateness rather than complete absence, does the family need more support?

If it's pure chance, fair enough. If it isn't, it's useful to say "actually, your child has been off quite a lot - can we help?"

Ds1's attendance is well below that. He has a lot of medical appointments, and also goes down hard with every big 8 he comes into contact with.

We have had the odd standard letter, but no actual grief from the school. They understand. Fortunately, he's fairly bright and is staying on top of the work.

Don't get upset about it.

(Bug. He doesn't come into contact with any big 8s )

"Is it her fault your ds's attendance is low".

We no, but its also not ops or her ds fault for being sick either, is it.

when checking school attendance policy on the school website which says 'letters will be sent to parents when attendance falls below 90%'.

Are you sure it only states this? This is very unusual as schools usually state that the child will be monitored if their cumulative attendance falls below the school's goal, and then letters are then sent if they fall even further at 90%.

Could you cut and paste the whole paragraph of the policy?

Sorry, I meant a further letter will be sent for 90%, but initially a first letter is sent when attendance falls before the school goal.

I'm impressed that EWO are interested tbh. Dd has school refusal and I phoned asking for their help when her attendance was 80%. I haven't had any letters from school even. EWO's response was that her attendance would have to be far worse before they would be interested and if I was engaging with school and asking for support then they wouldn't become involved. Dd's attendance is now 70% so no idea how bad it has to be before there is any involvement from anywhere as referral to CAMHS by school was refused as not meeting their criteria.

Tbh it did gripe on me a bit when we got one after DS was off for a week with chicken pox.

I got one for ds2 last week
His attendance is 92%
Not great...but is due to a horrific dose of noro - week off
Really nasty chest infection requiring 3 lots of antibiotics - week off

I read it
Then binned it

I’d email an acknowledgement for receiving letter.

Dear HT,

Thankyou for letter dated xxxxx informing me ds attendance is xxxxx and below the schools target of xxxxx.

Ds was absent for the mandatory 48 hour period when he vomited at school. He has attended all sessions since then.

Can you confirm that the register is marked correctly for the other days and then confirm this letter is just a automated one and not triggered by mandatory sickness absence?

It will not trigger ewo but if they do try and trigger anything calm and collected communication between yourself and school will be the evidence you need.

What youarenotkiddingme said

My DD's attendance is below 90 atm because she got chicken pox on the last day of half term 6 weeks after the start of the new school year. Spoke to her class teacher at parents evening. I think he knew I wasnt happy about her having that week off but I went to the doctors to prove that she was ill. DD's attendance in the previous years hasnt been under 98%. Really hope for no more sick days this year.

I think its just an automatic letter sent out.

We got one once when my ds had a sickness bug, He puked, the next day his sister puked, he stayed off 48 hrs then the night before he was due to go back to school he started been sick again. He had 6 school days off in total and we got the letter. They were his only days off and the teacher apologised as she gave me the letter and said to just ignore it as they went out automatically if they hit a certain attendance.

They're usually automatically sent out, plus they HAVE to be at ours - we don't decide on that, the LEA does. Not our choice.

It's generated automatically and flagd up attendance issues. If a parent isn't taking the piss (this isn't including weĺl known medival issues etc) then they'll make sure their kid's attend regularly and the % will go up.

If they are piss takers then they will keep the kids off still, drop below 90% (which is one day off a fortnight) and the school will take action.

But even if all the absence is authorised and/or legitimate, it's still of concern. If a child is chronically ill then could the school or LA be doing anything to help with supporting their education at home?
This. We put in support for chronically ill children, children with mental health issues, child protection children etc.

What would bother me as a member of staff is a child not attending + an aggressive/confrontational parent/ parent who doesn'y engage etc.

94% is nor that low. I'm surprised you've had a letter. There are some in my year 11 class with attendance around 68% now that I could understand. Lots of kids are genuinely ill at this time of year. Bet the school have had to send out loads of letters if you've had one for 94%.

its an automated letter than triggered by dropping below 95%.

You don't need to 'level' with anyone.

I get these as DD is prone to stomach bugs and the schools own policy of 48hrs absence means she drops below.

All I do is email the school FAO the Attendance Officer and point out that her absence rate is due to the schools own quarantine policy and if they have any issues, they ought to take it up with the HT.

i got one at the end of may once, it was a second stage letter, so i sent them this

Hello,

Yesterday I received a letter from Mr AO informing me that DDs attendance was at 94.2%. Apparently this is not significant improvement from the 91/92% I recall the last letter being about that I was sent in March or April. The letter stated that as he has had to contact me before about it, that any further absences will have to be backed up by evidence from the GP, and a referral to the Attendance Support Team.

Having looked at her attendance record he so kindly enclosed, DD has had a total of 9 days off all year. I would like to point out to Mr AO that 5 of those days are due to [the schools] own sickness/diarrhoea 48hr exclusion policy, which as a conscientious parent I have always made sure to adhere to for the sake of the staff and other students.

While I am aware that the school needs to monitor attendance, and these letters are automatically generated and a box ticking exercise, the tone of the letter is unnecessary and unwelcome, especially when her attendance is only just under the 95% school target, and only because I actively support the schools own policies as I understand the need for them.

In light of the threatening tone in the letter, can I assume that if DD suffers any more incidents of vomiting or diarrhoea that I will not be expected to abide by the policy? If so, I would like  confirmation of that in writing, as I am sure you are aware it is not current policy for children to be seen by a GP in the event of normal childhood stomach bugs, and the surgery do not welcome ill children in their waiting room for the same reason the school chooses to enforce a 48hr exclusion. 

I would also ask Mr AO to confirm that he will reimburse me for any cost of any Dr’s Notes as our GP charge £10 for each one they issue if he continues to be insistent on them being provided.

I got an email back from the AO informing me that the above wouldn't be necessary

I'm also surprised to have not had a letter, DD had to have 2 weeks off school because she had her tonsils out, A day off for D&V and I'm sure her attendance would be very low now.
I don't however think going in all guns blazing is the way.
Seek an appointment with the member of staff who deals with EWO referrals. Explain the situation.
Ask them what they can do to support you if they think there's an issue.
Let me tell you. You'll leave the meeting with a good rapport with this member of staff and they'll have explained this is a generated letter and in reality there are no concerns.

They can and will go through the absences- they'll see it's all genuine.

Home educate OP. The State wants total control of our children. None of their sodding business if your child needs time off.

Calm down.

Just ignore the letter.

Don’t go and rant at the head. If you want to complain to anyone, complain to whoever decided that schools must show how tough they are on attendance.

I think the letter is automated, the school may have changed the policy, or have had to respond to pressure from the LA. Check the policy.

Do go and see the headteacher though, as she needs the feedback, and you will be able to explain your child's absences. The fact that you are upset by the letter shows you actually care about your child's attendance, or at least the consequences.