Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think school sickness policy is a ludicrous?

181 replies

Pinkvoid · 01/12/2017 11:32

The same school that have ‘attendance awards’, are always hammering hard to parents about attendance and leave a comment in every school report about your child’s attendance, despite the fact they were off for things that couldn’t be helped such as chicken pox Hmm.

I missed a days work yesterday because DS (7) had been sick once the evening before, most likely caused by overeating but I erred on the side of caution. Explained this to the school when I called. He was fine all day yesterday so I sent him in today because why wouldn’t I.

I was already half way to work when I got a phone call telling me to collect him because it was ‘school policy’ that it had to be 48 hours from the last time they vomited. I was pretty furious tbh. Explained that I was two miles away on my way to work which I was due to start in fifteen minutes, I didn’t have anyone else to collect him and that he was absolutely fine/it wasn’t a stomach bug because he’d only been sick once and wasn’t unwell after- it was clearly either overeating or he’d probably been jumping around too much after eating. They weren’t accepting it, insisted I had to collect him and that he couldn’t be in school. So I had to turn around, call in sick at work last minute which they obviously weren’t pleased about and take him home. DS was also upset because he actually loves school and would much prefer to be there than at home bored with me...

AIBU to think they’re being ludicrously over cautious there and common sense should surely prevail? He’s now missed two days of education and I’ve missed two days pay because he vomited once, two nights ago Hmm. Also worth noting, I had no idea the school even had a policy, this is the first I’ve heard of it.

OP posts:
Rhinosaur · 01/12/2017 11:55

It maybe annoying and an inconvenience to you but you can not say 100% it is not a bug.
If my child catches a stomach bug the chances are due to their condition it’s a hospital stay and fight to keep them hydrated. Dreading them starting school and having to contend with parents who think the know best!

Viviennemary · 01/12/2017 11:56

I agree with attendance awards. Nothing is fair in life. I've known children who don't excel very much at anything, Sports or school work but are really pleased with their attendance award. You do have to use common sense. I agree with that.

CountessOfStrathearn · 01/12/2017 11:57

"My DDs school have a 24hr rule for sickness, only r8 if diarrhoea."

They are going against the advice of Public Health England then, actual doctors who know about how disease is transmitted.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/658736/Exclusion_table.pdf

Gileswithachainsaw · 01/12/2017 11:58

I was just using what I figured was common sense here, that he’d been sick once and it was shortly after eating his dinner and then proceeding to bounce around a bit too much... when they’ve had actual sickness bugs they’re wiped out and definitely vomit more than once

Common sense though would be that you can't be sure.

It probably is the case. However are you really willing to bet the health of the rest of the class and all their baby brothers and sisters and elderly relatives for whom a bug could hospitilise them, on something you can't possibly be sure about?

Gileswithachainsaw · 01/12/2017 11:59

Fwiw I'm also dead against attendance awards

hidinginthenightgarden · 01/12/2017 11:59

It is frustrating. Obviously it is a sensible rule for when the kids are actually ill but there are times like this you wish there was some discretion.
DS when he coughs alot panics and is then sick. He has always done it. I am dreading him getting a cough now he has started school.

Wolfiefan · 01/12/2017 11:59

You don't know why he was sick.
This policy is normal practice.
The policy exists to protect the pupils and staff at the school.
YABU.

Original poster
Pinkvoid · 01/12/2017 11:59

I don’t personally agree with them since the majority of parents do only keep their children off for actual sickness, not letting them skive the day so how is it fair they should be punished in some way?

I don’t know, it just set my day off on a really bad footing so I’m in a bad mood as a result Grin. At least I actually know the policy now for future reference...

OP posts:
MarthaArthur · 01/12/2017 12:00

That sounds like a very sensible policy not lile my old school. I had a bereavement and had to go spent 2 weeks with a dying relative as a result my attendence was marked as appauling and i didnt get an invite to the award ceremony lol. I think 48 hours after vomiting is sensible.

mrsBeverleyGoldberg · 01/12/2017 12:02

It makes me cross that you can only get an attendance award if you were lucky enough not to get ill. Ds2 was really upset when he threw up because it meant he couldn't get the award. It wasn't his fault he was absent. Stupid school!

Playdoughcaterpillar · 01/12/2017 12:03

I'm going against the grain and saying YANBU. Being sick in that context and fine after, with no tummy ache or fever or anything for a full 24h is very unlikely to be infectious on return to school.

Original poster
Pinkvoid · 01/12/2017 12:03

It is worth noting they once sent DS home because he seemed ‘too hot’ Hmm. As soon as I got him outside in the fresh air he cooled down Grin so they have prior for overreacting but I accept this policy is probably out of their hands...

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 01/12/2017 12:04

I don’t personally agree with them since the majority of parents do only keep their children off for actual sickness, not letting them skive the day so how is it fair they should be punished in some way?

How the hell is following nhs guidelines punishment ffs?

Children react to bugs in different ways. What has your kid puking once could have another puking for a week

It's not personal .

Original poster
Pinkvoid · 01/12/2017 12:06

No I meant attendance awards. They punish children who were off sick.

OP posts:
Glumglowworm · 01/12/2017 12:06

YABU

You increased your own inconvenience by ignoring the rule and sending him in anyway. You should’ve just kept him off to begin with then you wouldn’t have been on your way to work.

ImminentDisaster · 01/12/2017 12:08

I hate attendance awards, don't agree with them in any way at all, but I find parents who send their children in before the 48 hrs totally unreasonable.

If you'd ever been in a classroom when the child that was "sick through excitement this morning, but reallllly wanted to come in" or "was sick because he'd eaten something that didn't agree with him" does another massive vomit all over the maths books, desk and floor, you would maybe understand.

BoobleMcB · 01/12/2017 12:09

If he was unwell enough for you to keep him off the next day then you should have kept him off for the full 2 days as per policy. If he wasn't unwell you shouldn't have kept him off. YABU

RustyBear · 01/12/2017 12:10

I used to work in a school, often in the office, and I couldn’t count the number of times we’ve had a child throw up in class and then had the parent who collected say ‘They were sick yesterday but I thought they were OK/only overheated/ate something/ etc, so I sent them in...’

Gileswithachainsaw · 01/12/2017 12:10

My apologies

I hate them to its not right or fair and bloody lazy if you ask me. Every child should he recognised for someting not just cos they are healthy.

But the guidelines are there cos these bugs can be nasty and a wasted day is better than the alternative of either the kid spreading it or being more at risk of other infections while their system is busy fighting off a bug.

EvilDoctorBallerinaRoastDuck · 01/12/2017 12:10

At my DC's school it's at the parents' discretion. If they've only been sick once and seem fine, they can come in.

TheHolidayArmadillo · 01/12/2017 12:10

How do they punish children for being off sick?

Rewarding some doesn't doesn't mean the alternative is punishment (though I do agree attendance awards are a crock of shit).

48 hours for sickness is standard, and sensible. Better one child is off for 48 hours than a whole class has to be deep cleaned, or most of the class and the teacher all have to take 2+ days off.

Original poster
Pinkvoid · 01/12/2017 12:11

Ok maybe I shouldn’t have kept him off yesterday then. I thought the 24 hour rule was still in effect if I’m being totally honest, I didnt know it had been doubled. I literally just did it out of precaution to see if it happened again but it didn’t and he was totally normal. Point taken though, I’m a know-it-all that needs to get back in her box Grin.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 01/12/2017 12:11

I hate attendance Awards with a passion.

However if a school which pushes attendance so much still insists on 48 hours clear then surely that should show you just how seriously they take keeping sickness bugs out of School?

Lovemusic33 · 01/12/2017 12:13

YABU, 48 hours is the rule, they can’t bend the rules just because you don’t think it’s a bug, you don’t know it’s not a bug. It’s winter and bugs are rife at the moment.

Coldilox · 01/12/2017 12:13

I can see both sides. As a child I was extremely travel sick (still am but not quite as bad). I would vomit around once a week, if I had to miss two days of school every time I would have missed a huge proportion of my education.