School fines.

[Steveo68]

I think I'm about to get an attendance fine even though I've given a couple of doctor appointment slips.This women is a right dragon, always talks over you and she isn't happy that I haven't given enough info. My daughter was off 6 days the last term through various issues and only ever been individuall days but they still expect a Dr.note. who goes to the Dr for one day unless your on ya death bed then its Normally lot long than a day. Even been to the Docs for depression, it's not good enough though.Any ideas guys ☹

That sucks - all the pressures of sick children and an officious and unsupportive educational environment too

I doubt you are going to get a fine if it's individual days and at least some of them have Dr.'s notes. A few years ago my kids school sent out a letter that told us we needed to have a Dr.'s note if they were off sick. I complained to our local councilor and the school stepped back. It's a totally unreasonable expectation, would be even more crippling for the NHS and it's rarely in the best interests of the child (or all the other visitors to a Dr.'s office) to drag them to the clinic every time they pick up a virus.

But, if you do get a fine you can always fight it. Under the law you are allowed to keep your child off school if they are sick and there is no requirement to have that sickness verified by a doctor. I would suggest keeping good, contemporaneous notes so you can refer back and use them as evidence.

I would go over the schools heads and contact the EWO (Education Welfare Officer) if you have provided letters for appointments and called in when your child is sick then you are doing exactly what is expected of you, it sounds like it's the school being awkward because they are worried about their statistics! It would really worry me because they obviously don't have your child's health and welfare as the primary concern, they are more concerned how they will fare in the league tables.
We moved our daughter into a wonderful school who are holistically focused, the children are really well looked after & they don't put stress on the children for the SATS, yet they came in the top 10 in the country & it's a small village school so have done amazingly!
My daughters attendance levels are low because of health issues & so long as we provide the appointment letters they are fine.

I hope you get on ok with the EWO