To tell the school to get lost

[Maisemoo]

So had 4 missed calls from DS10 school today while I was in a meeting so I returned the call as soon as I saw this. Lady on reception told me I had to come in for a meeting regarding sons attendance as is 89.9% which is below the 90% threshold! I explained since Sept son had E. coli (for which hospital letter was shown), D&V and covid, he also finishes 20 mins early every 3rd Wednesday to attend CAHMs due to his ASD and anxiety- again school have the paperwork for this. Receptionist kept telling me I wasn’t in trouble and not going to be told off- to which I replied I am an adult so was not in fear of being ‘told off’. Receptionist said I had to attend Monday at 10.00- I start a new job Monday so told here I won’t be attending- all the absences were genuine and I had no interest in a pointless meeting. Receptionist rang 3 more times with different days and times before getting the hint I was not interested- AIBU to refuse this or should I just of sucked it up and gone

They are ticking their silly boxes. Keep telling them to look at the paperwork you have supplied. The poor reception lady is just doing as told but should pass your message back to the person in charge.

I think they’re incredibly unreasonable given your circumstances in that you’ve provided evidence already. I understand they are just following orders from higher up though and the line has to be drawn somewhere. Personally I’d expect them to look into your particular circumstances and that your son is right on the cusp of what’s accepted and draw a reasonable conclusion. They could have put a letter in the post asking you to book an appointment that suits you, the level of urgency is unnecessary.

I think it was the constant telling me I wasn’t in trouble or going to get told off that got my back up- I am not a naughty child

Yes by Monday he should have made up that .01%

4 weeks off is a lot. Finishing early wont affect the attendance score as that will go on the afternoon registration, which he attends. Was he iff for two weeks with ecoli?

Ridiculous - they need to give their heads a wobble.the Wednesday 20mins early won't count, as he is present for PM registration.

That would bug me too. You've provided ample information. There's nothing that they are going to tell you in a meeting that you don't know already. In your situation I would handle it exactly the same.

F* that noise.

I'd be writing an email to the HT to say, Back Off. If they have all the supporting documents that should be enough.

89% is 4 weeks lost. Is that how much he had off for covid, d&v and ecoli?

Email then ignore them.

My DC was in hospital when they contacted me about attendance. It really added to my stress levels. The school secretary actually told me it was just a box ticking exercise!

And how many days off due to teacher strikes?

He had just over 2 weeks off for the E. coli as doctors first thought was a uti and kept trying different antibiotics and he needed specific one - urine cultures took a few days after waiting a few days to actually see a GP.

I think the attendance think is crazy and I am a teacher.
People get ill.

The reason the government and school are hot on persistent absence (which is the category your son has fallen into) is because his chances of gaining 5 good GCSE drops on average from 81% to 57% so you won't have to worry if you know that he is achieving really well and is more than capable of working up on any content he has missed.

I am sure when you picked his school you paid attention to the Ofsted rating. Ofsted look very carefully how schools tackle attendance. They will use the evidence they have attempted to meet with you to support improving attendance as they will have done with all other parents whose children fall into that category. Even if parents don't choose to engage, the inspectors will recognise the work of the school.

I wouldn't get worked up about it. The receptionist was just doing what she was told. I would simply write an email politely detailing what you've put in your OP.

These are the boxes that Ofsted inspects. So while YANBU to not attend, don't give credit to their Ofsted result you've contributed to.

Email the headteacher explaining you will not be attending a meeting as you work Full time and that you have given proof he was unwell and that's the end of it.

A child missing that much school could also be considered a safeguarding concern.
Whilst l don't agree with them hounding you, l believe schools are under a lot of pressure regarding attendance and as pp have said, it all contributes towards the ofsted rating.

As others have said, don't blame the receptionist, or even the school. They have to make every effort etc to show they have tried to resolve issues over attendance. Believe me, the staff in school would probably prefer to get on with the 101 other things they need to get done by end of term, but they don't get to pick and choose what policy the DfE want them to apply.

Rubbish, my son missed lots of school due to an anxiety disorder, l deregistered him age 14, never set foot in a school again, he still passed all his Exams, A**.
Ask what the attendance is like for teachers because they seem to have a lot more time off than most pupils, esp with these strikes.

Schools have got a dam cheek pestering parents about legitimate absences for illness after 2yrs of covid shutdown and now a 3rd academic year interrupted by strikes. Yes, tell them to get lost.

So sick of the shit school system and their fucking red tape

I'd have just said personally I can be 10 minutes early for pick up will this be sufficient or something. I wouldn't have issue with doing it to be honest, even with the evidence it's a step the government has needlessly put in but if I could make the timings work I'd work with the school rather than against them. I'm sure they hate having to do it as much as you find it intrusive, if not more!

Slightly mad. If the schools usually good then I'd offer to do a phone meeting

School staff are sick of it too. I guarantee no teacher and no support staff actively enjoy chasing parents for stuff like this.