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

This sounds like half a story.

Damn.

maybe spend longer in school?

Strikes are not absence.

No they're not but the pupils don't learn much do they? My child has had all but 1 of the strike days off but only 3 days absent due to illness etc. I support the strikes but wouldn't take kindly to being hassled over sickness when she has had multiple days off due to strikes. I think that's the point PP was making, not that strikes count towards attendance marks.

And no OP yanbu, just reiterate you provided evidence at the time and you are not available for a meeting at short notice

What’s the intention of the strike? Is it that teachers are losing ££ just to piss you off? Or perhaps to show that they cannot be paid peanuts

I’ve taught for 31 years. I’ve NEVER seen shortages like this. If you’re happy for your kid to have no language or maths teachers you crack on

I support the strikes (even the rail strikes which aren't popular at the minute) I support the right to strike regardless. If I were a teacher I'd be striking too.

But as a parent the irony would have my eyebrows raised if I had multiple missed calls from school (which would have me thinking my child had been seriously injured or something) wanting to drag me in for a meeting about attendance after such an interrupted school career. Especially if as OP has, I had provided legitimate reasons and supporting docs.

If suggest that if the schools / Head Teacher really wants a meeting, that they are welcome to travel to where you work and you'll find time to slot them in. After all, it's them who wants the meeting and you who works full time. I realise most teachers don't want to support this nonsense but expecting working people to just drop everything is hugely entitled, especially given that they have all of the paperwork that you have provided.

Wind your neck in, illnesses with evidence submitted from a hospital, is not a reason to consider this a safeguarding concern. Don't be one of those busybodies who tout "safeguarding" at every available opportunity. I am safeguarding trained by the way.

89.9% is 90% rounded to the nearest whole number. They're being pedantic to say 89.9% is below the threshold of 90%.

Would you expect them to attend a meeting for something related to your child that is important to you? Or would you be fine if they said that they will not attend because they are not interested?

89.9% is 90% rounded to the nearest whole number. They're being pedantic to say 89.9% is below the threshold of 90%

What do you mean 89.9% is rounded up to the nearest whole number? it can be rounded up but evidently the school are not.

Not saying they are right or wrong, just making an observation.

YANBU

Illnesses are NOT supposed to count against a pupil's attendance.

The school are being ridiculous calling you in for a meeting when you've submitted evidence that these absences are/were medically required.

And as for the Receptionist talking to you like you're a child, dear god, I'm just glad you put her in her place.

I'd be writing an email to the Head to ask why exactly you are being asked to come in for a meeting when you've provided evidence of illnesses. Then tell them due to work, you are unable to come in for this matter during your working hours. Make it clear that you are happy to keep communication lines open with them via email.

Then you're not being non-engaging, and you're keeping everything in writing, which is good for you, should you need to take this further, or should they be ridiculous by taking this matter further.

I would suggest a short phone call with the headmaster as a compromise. Either that or they can bolt on the meeting at parents evening.

When exactly did schools start behaving like the Gestapo? It wasn't like this in the 90s/noughties when my kids attended!!

Aw. Was all a bit awks. Parents kept killing kids and everyone blamed the school 🫤

You’re a nice person that I am. I know what my response would’ve been to You’re not going to get told off 🤣

Our local Academy is run like young offenders unit. Actually, I take that back the food and education is better at the young offenders unit.

I actually work in safeguarding which I why I provided evidence of his illness when he was off for a prolonged period of time. The Covid and D&V were both incidents where the school rang me to collect him as was unwell so they knew he was genuinely ill as they contacted me. By the end of this week he will of missed 9 school days for strikes which is nearly 2 weeks of lessons.
also he attended throughout covid due to my job and is currently in his 3rd year at this school with both previous years being being 97 and 96% attendance so not a normal occurrence

89.9% would be 90% if the school rounded to whole numbers. As I said, pedantic. Thanks for correcting my grammar!

I had this last year with my youngest, her attendance was lower due to Scarlet fever, Covid, normal strep, and an extremely sprained ankle that she went to hospital to 3 times because I was sure it was broken as she couldn't weight bare at all.
It was all sorted over a phone call as school had all the paper work but it was just box ticking and the attendance officer said at this stage of the year it doesn't really matter as it all gets reset in September.
If they have the record of phone calls for why your child is off then it can be sorted over a phone call.

I struggle to take the attendance messages seriously with so many strikes.

Is under 90 percent really 4 weeks??

My DC's is under that but it hasn't felt like they've had 4 weeks off, all have been genuine appointments or illnesses. We are in Scotland and don't get these phonecalls it's just written in the yearly report card home.

It sounds like the receptionist was doing their job and has used clumsy wording to reassure you that it isn't the sort of meeting where anyone is finger pointing.

The threshold isn't set by school, certainly not the receptionist. Sometimes in similar meetings I've know schools ask if there's anything that they can put in place if a child has been unwell or missed large chunks of work.

I'd ask for the head or relevant leader to give you a call to discuss, especially as by the time the meeting happens your DC will have probably picked up the fraction of a percentage they're down.

Next time tell them because you agree attendance is important you will be attending your place of employment and that you are not prepared to be absent for a meeting explaining why attendance is important that could be just as easily explained by email.