Unauthorised absences wtf are we supposed to do!

[dreamingbohemian]

Surely everyone knows that it's nearly impossible to get GP appointments these days. And surely everyone understands that sometimes your DC are too unwell to go to school but not unwell enough to get an emergency appointment.

But my DC's school are now saying any absence that doesn't have medical evidence will be unauthorised. They will only accept things you can get from a GP, like an appointment card or prescription.

So what are we meant to do??? We are finishing the year being this close to persistent absence, which doesn't seem fair. We can't help it if DC was ill a lot this year, but with routine bugs that a GP would never see him for or prescribe anything (including norovirus -- are we meant to send him in and spread it then?)

AIBU to think this makes no sense?

(not school bashing here, they say they are just following policy)

Not true @User9753224 - council can issue fines for unauthorised absence

How does this actually prevent either of those things?

Send them in to throw up at school seems to be the only answer that school will be ‘happy’ with so do it🤷🏼‍♀️…..

I’d like to see them deal with legal challenges (and MPs) where schools are recording unauthorised absence because people aren’t dragging their kids with D&V to the GP for no reason other than to show an appointment.

Why did you put up with that?

There is no way I’d be videoing me taking my sick child’s temperature to prove to a school they were ill. I’d be complaining to the governors about intrusive and inappropriate school policy.

The govt guidance specifically says - my bold -

"Code I: illness (not medical or dental appointments)
Schools should advise parents to notify them on the first day the child is unable to attend due to illness. Schools should authorise absences due to illness unless they have genuine cause for concern about the veracity of an illness. If the authenticity of illness is in doubt, schools can request parents to provide medical evidence to support illness. Schools can record the absence as unauthorised if not satisfied of the authenticity of the illness but should advise parents of their intention. Schools are advised not to request medical evidence unnecessarily. Medical evidence can take the form of prescriptions, appointment cards, etc. rather than doctors’ notes"

School attendance guidance May 2022 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

I would be inclined to send an email referring to the above. They should not be routinely requesting evidence, only in cases where they genuinely believe the illness may not be real.

If you read the case of Lauren Wright (I think strict medical evidence policies came in after this serious case review, or a similar one) it gives an example of a child kept off with "gastroenteritis" but who was actually being starved to death. She was failed in lots of ways but one of these ways were that staff just believed the stepmum, as she worked at the school. This is why schools now have to be strict. No exceptions.

Wow I just can't imagine living in this system. Live in an European country (I'm english) the doctor won't let you go to school for a snotty nose. Both kids had strep throat off for 10 days...didn't even have bad symptoms. Can take kids out for vacations (even though more than 2 months Sumner holidays). You need 70 per cent attendance or your in trouble (if grades are good they don't care).
Like another world.
Oh and the school day is like 8-12.

Oh thank you, that's very reassuring

I just to caveat I don't think schools need evidence for one days' sickness, I'm assuming the OPs child has low attendance.

Would you really drag an unwell child to school? That's terrible!!

Can you mention it on school whatsapp group/ FB page and see if there are any GPs, primary care nurses, Practice managers amongst the parents you would take on the headteacher regarding this issue. The schools is demanding that you misuse the NHS, which is unacceptable.

In your shoes OP I would send letter/email to the headteacher so your response and obvious engagement is on the record. Set out the dates and reasons for absence. You could also include details like whether they saw GP and what symptoms they had. Note what you said here earlier about making up work and your child performing well in school work. If you have never requested an absence for a term-time holiday then tell them that - in this world of pupil attendance that shows that you prioritise their education.
i’d also send a copy of this letter to the chair of governors.

if the absence progresses to a fine then you’ve got this effort to communicate with the school in the record and you can appeal.

except that demanding evidence doesn’t solve the problem. And the government is clear they should not routinely be doing it.

If a school believes a parent is deliberately keeping a child off school, they should be escalating that via the appropriate channels. Not demanding appointment cards are handed in at reception.

This crap will disproportionately and punitively affect parents of disabled children and children with serious health conditions.

It’s ludicrous and places additional demand on health services.

Ignore them. Review this link to find your local council's rules on issuing fines:

https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence/legal-action-to-enforce-school-attendance

It takes a bit of digging but normally you need 5 days unauthorised absence during a term and then you get a written warning.

Is the school doing what an employer might and having trigger points where sick absence needs to be reviewed only instead demanding a doctors' note?

If som has the school shared clear information as to where the trigger points are in terms of days and/or spells of absence??

As already stated it's unreasonable and may be disability discrimination.

He does go in when he's not 100%, we only keep him home when he's really unwell.

He does keep up with everything, thankfully all the homework is set online and there are lots of explanatory resources posted, so it's been ok -- he hasn't been a burden on the teachers in that way.

Get your local pharmacy to give you a minor ailments clinic card. Everything they issue a over the counter medication they will write it up and sign. This is what we used to do for DD in primary when they got hot on medical evidence and it seemed to be accepted.

I totally understand. Ds has great attendance (usually 99%) this year however that has taken a big dip compared to recent years (93%)
He's had many viral infections and Dr's obviously don't treat them with AB's so just keep him at home with otc meds. Nothing we can do 🤷‍♀️

That's very interesting, thank you! I will look into this.

Ask for a copy of the school complaints policy. Follow it to the letter, have mtg with class teacher and if you are unhappy with the outcome, then the HT and if you are unhappy with the outcome then Chair of Governors.

Our school thought about this until I as CoG, advised the HT that GPs would not be sending letters unless the school wanted to pay for them. HT saw the light, we now have a rigorous screening procedure when parents ring in to check that the child is actually poorly enough to remain at home. We have a cultural issue with parents of younger children keeping them at home, when in truth they are not ill but our approach has reaped rewards with very little issues with children being ill in school.

All that will happen is you'll get a shitty letter from the schools Education Welfare Officer.
In which case, send a snotty letter back referring the EWO back to the schools stupid policy and tell them to take it up with the Head Teacher.

Thats what i did anyway!

Thanks for this, I have seen this and referenced it in my emails, but they just keep repeating that they are following Council policy. They are not really answering my questions.

I thought they might just be asking us as DC's attendance dropped lower but they sent an email to all parents saying medical evidence was required. I don't understand how they can do this given that government guidance but they are.

They will only accept GP appointment cards, medical records and prescriptions.

DC's head of year is sympathetic but she can't really do anything.

Down load the NHS App and you can access your son’s medical records and appointments.