5 yo poorly a lot - teacher concerned

[Usernamqwerty]

My 5 year old DS started school last September. He enjoys it and is making good progress. However, he seems to have inherited my rubbish immune system. He's has been off school a lot due to various viral things which he usually picks up in school in the first place - e.g. he gets a cold and it goes to his chest. The first hint of a cough and he gets (understandably) booted out from school / childminder for LFT etc. He's not tested positive despite numerous tests.

He's been off all this week so far with what has now been diagnosed as a chest infection for which he's on antibiotics.

However, when I had a chat with his teacher this morning so say he was still unwell, she said she was concerned about his absences due to illness I am feeling scared that we might get reported to SS for less than ideal attendance - is this possible? Anyone else had experience of lots of absences due to illness? (Non-Covid related!)

Thanks!

surely they cant report you if they know the child has been ill?

What is his current attendance? What is she suggesting, that you are keeping him off unnecessarily, or she thinks he maybe ill much more than average and it’s worth speaking to the GP or she concerned he is falling behind and needs help to catch up on missed work?

If he is unwell and being sent home for a LFT rather than PCR surely you can test him and he will be back in school an hour later.

It's hard, I work in attendance in a secondary school and lots of absence for any reason raises a flag.

At 5 though I would suspect it is more common, raising a concern doesn't mean she's going to SS.

And what are you counting as 'a lot'?

The last 2 years won't have helped though & that would be when they usually build up their immunity prior to starting school. The first couple of terms can be hard going in Reception wrt illness though, especially if you have a dc who's prone to picking things up.

All of my dc (12, 10, 9, 6 & 4) have all had more time off since September than I'd class as 'normal' (for us), it seeems to have been constant between covid, bad colds, tummy bugs & other viruses.

Because of the covid guidance for schools your hands are also tied if he's got a cough/temp currently. Just try & get him in on the days you can.

My DD missed more school in first term of reception than she had in school. There is no point sending them in if they are poorly and some kids are more sickly than others. I'd definitely go to the GP for advice but otherwise - let them report it, they've ticked their box. In the meantime you can also look into ways to boost DC immune system. No point overly worrying about school involvement I don't think.

As per PP, are you sure she wasn't concerned about recurrent illness and maybe thinks needs a GP appointment for a review given this is causing repeated absences? When you got the antibiotics did you mention it?

It may all be part of starting reception and similar to the new exposure and illnesses that come with starting nursery, if they went? It's been a tough 5ish months here so far but finally seem to be getting our money's worth! Attendance was about 50% for first 3-4 months - would get a bug, get better, back to nursery, pick up another, off again after a few days, and repeat.

It can be that if not had much exposure at nursery age then they get hit when they start reception instead. Or covid issues have reduced exposure also. Any concerns then you can always have a word with your health visitor or GP. Any weight loss, get straight onto GP

@ISayItLikeItIs

surely they cant report you if they know the child has been ill?

Ha.

Thanks for all your replies. Hopefully I am worrying unnecessarily!

No, it's all authorised absences because hes been unwell

At my 5 year olds parents evening they mentioned that his attendance was at 80% and it was too low and then in the next breath said they understood as he'd been off with covid, D&V and chicken pox 🤦‍♀️