To feel a bit harassed by school

[lunkitsmum]

My reception aged son had a chest infection and was off for 4 days we called and explained in depth everyday even spoke to the head of year aboutwhat was going on. He saw the doctor and got antibiotics. On the 4th day his teacher phoned me late in the afternoon asking me to explain again exactly what was going on and the reasons for his absence. She was quite brisk on the phone. He went back today and she called me at lunchtime and asked me to please explain the circumstances of a small scratch near his eye. It's obviously a scratch not bruised. I'm feeling a bit like I'm under suspicion of something. I've 2 other kids go through the school and never had this before...should I have a word with the teacher or leave it and assume it's just ticking boxes 😬

It’s box-ticking and the poor teacher having to follow rules. Don’t worry about it.

It’s ridiculous if the school needs to call you every time your child has a scratch. Kids get scratches! Personally I’d be ringing the head teacher and asking why I was being harassed about a scratch?

Good grief! My 5 year old does karate and football as well as tearing around the garden with our new puppy! If the school called me every time he had a new scratch or bruise, I'd never be off the phone?!

What a strange reaction from the school... I'd have to follow up and find out what on Earth prompted such an extreme reaction. Especially as the doctor has prescribed antibiotics so they know it's a genuine sickness...

Personally I’d be ringing the head teacher and asking why I was being harassed about a scratch?

Because there will have been one precious (twattish) parent who made a massive fuss and scene about their child coming home with a small scratch or bruise one day. We had this before in two schools I worked in. It had to become policy to inform a parent about any minor head bumps or scratches on the face via phoning to avoid parents kicking off at school pick up. Blame those parents. It’s sad that schools need to protect and safeguard themselves against that kind of abuse.

Something doesn't seem right.

They're challenging your child's absence (do the school count it by the days off or the episodes of sickness?) And then your challenged about your child's injury.

If your son is often absent from school then they seem like they're monitoring your child's poor attendance.

If this is your child's first episode of sickness and they count it by the episode and not the days off, then I would be asking myself why they are so overly concerned about your son's welfare.

Just all seems a bit strange to me, he started in September he's the youngest in the year and has found it all quite stressful. He's been off twice before but only because they sent him home for "vomiting" at lunchtime, he tends to shove too much food in his mouth at once 🙄 they acknowledged that's what it was but said they still had to send him home. My other children have never had less than 98% attendance at the school. 4 days for a nasty chest infection didn't seem a lot to me I've known lots of parents keep kids off longer for less.

things that happen early in the term make more of an impact on the percentages.

dd had 75% attendance at one point. She missed the afternoon of the second day in hospital for an injury sustained in school.

Next time he comes out with an injury ring them and ask them about it...