School appointment evidence

[GladGladys]

My DD is 12 and goes to a special school. They seem to struggle with attendance and have a lot of pupils off a lot. My DD has good attendance but has hospital appointments on average once a month. She always goes to school on these days and I collect her early for the appointment.

School have said they now require proof of appointments and will only accept the original appointment letter which they will then copy and return. I have checked their policies and they have not been updated since 2021 so don't reflect this change.

AIBU I'm saying I will happily send proof of appointment by email with a copy of the letter showing name, date and time but with the clinic she is attending redacted? I feel she is entitled to some privacy regarding her medical history and a workplace could not ask for this information, but wanted to gather opinions before I step on to my soap box!

Schools might have more of a reason to expect to know all medical info about a child in this day and age, and feel you're withholding things they need to know about as they are in Loco Parentis? So (with sympathy) I'd think hard on that before deciding on rocking boats.

But; I have to hand over original's of my PIP award including the descriptors to various places where it gets read by everyone in the chain including local gossips handling it.
So I've photo copied them for my own records, and then blocked in where the points are awarded (or not) on every descriptor on the originals. (inc. on the back)
The end enquirer has then received what they asked for - an original document proving the award, not a copy, and I have what I want, privacy about how my conditions affect me where it has nothing to do with the reason the award notice is being requested. (IE the student loan company wanting it as proof of my income, don't need to know my personal details of why I'm awarded it, just that I'm in receipt of it.)

It puts the ball in their court as what they asked for has been done, and leaves them having to explain why if they think they need to know more.

Yes, that’s what I was thinking by just covering up which clinic she is attending I am still providing the proof that she has an appointment and if they need to know the clinic (for some strange reason!) they will have to ask and explain why.

DD does not like people knowing what her appointments are for and I am inclined to support her in protecting her privacy.

If she has regular appointments and is seeing the same medical personnel (dr or consultant), could you get them or the GP even to write a letter stating she is being treated for an ongoing medical issue (not naming it) and confirming that she has regular appointments on average once a month.

In fact the GP would be better as then you don't need to get into issues of redacting the clinic name.

I would have thought this would help the school as well - because they are covered and its less admin for them.

I had thought of this too, but school day they need a letter for each individual appointment so they can see minimal time is being taken off. Also GP would charge for a letter 🙄

Also, while her appointments are roughly monthly, she is under three different consultants in three separate clinics. Two of them she is fine about, but one she finds very embarrassing.

I try and pick my battles (with her and school!) but I am trying to teach her about privacy and I feel that this medical info is not necessary to share so she shouldn’t be made to share it, but it seems maybe people think IABU!

I think if she is in a position to be objecting to people knowing then you would be reasonable to do that. Provided of course they have all the necessary information they need to care for her and to pass on to anyone in an emergency (e.g if they had to call an ambulance then knowing her medical issues on some level would be important).

We request this at our high school as some people do take the mick.

This is private information. I think it’s ok to do the redacted information you describe.
School are not the parent - you are. You have responsibility for your child - not them. It’s ok to push back a bit.

Thanks for replies. I totally get why they have to do it as it seems lots of people are off quite a bit and that is why I am happy to provide the evidence, just on DD’s terms I guess.

They have all the info they need to care for her and I update them regularly but felt that if she is asking for privacy I need to help her achieve it. Will stick to my ground with school about providing redacted proof and ask them why they feel they need more info and go from there!