To have emailed the attendance officer!

[SummerDays2020]

Today my DD had an ASD assessment and she was diagnosed with Autism. She was in school before the appointment and again after even though she was tired and upset because I thought I better send her back in because of her attendance. She has been at this school since a few weeks before Christmas and has had 5 days off. 3 for a heavy cold with a fever in her second week and 2 as she had D&V last week. She has severe anxiety and struggles every morning with the transition to school but apart from when she was ill she's gone in every day. She was in every day this week.

I got home from picking her up from school and checked my emails. I had an email from the attendance officer. Telling me that she may not authorise absences without medical evidence. All sorts of nonsense about 'support' and a 'plan' which amounted to - DD must have 97% attendance over the next 6 weeks and the threat about not authorising absences. Oh and she also reminded me that term time holidays can only be authorised in exceptional circumstances! I've not asked for a term time holiday!!

It honestly made me so angry. Every morning is a battle. It is so hard, I sometimes have to literally prize her fingers off me. She tries so hard and does so well, but instead of a well done we get this! It was just the kick in the teeth I didn't need today.

I replied that sending me this on the day of her assessment was nicely timed. I told her how hard it is for DD and me but I've got her in every morning except when she was unwell. I told her it was her choice not to authorise absence but as a nurse I knew how irresponsible it would be of me to send her in with a fever or D&V and equally how irresponsible to take her to the GP in these circumstances for 'medical evidence'. I also said I could see nothing about support or a plan only a threat and although I have worked very happily with school staff to support my DD I would not be threatened.

I wouldn't have minded if she'd emailed to see if she could support us. But it was just judgement and certainty not an email that encourages me to want to work with her on Dd's attendance!

Because of the ridiculous pressure put on them to keep attendance up, as shown on this thread.

With respect, that person is doing their job.

I am shocked at how low the attendance rates for kids at school has dropped since covid, it's concerning and I don't understand why tbh.

Her email caught you on a bad day, so I'd honestly just let it go. As for the holiday thing, so? She was just reminding you (as she will with other parents of low attendance kids) so again, I wouldn't take this personally.

I think you were absolutely right to send that email. I don't understand why anyone thinks threatens will help in those circumstances. And the nonsense about 97% attendance rates makes me so angry. It is like there should be one size fits all when it doesn't.
There is no wonder why home education is rising and there are so many anxious children .
Good luck to you and your daughter and don't let anyone tell you that you are not doing your best.

Well done. That sounds like a perfect email.
We recently got a letter from our head warning of flu and Covid circulating - and in the same letter telling parents not to keep their kids off for a cough and fever and just to give Calpol in the morning!!
I DGAF about school attendance quotas, I won't be sending my kids to school ill to impede their recovery and put other children at risk just so the school can tick a box.
A fellow school mum had hers off with flu for five days and called in every day, but school still reported them to SS and she ha a social worker come to her door!! It's outrageous.

You did the right thing.

Why are schools obsessed with attendance? Surely illness and mental health should have equal priority. 100% attendance but the kid is suicidal, or 70% attendance and the kids is managing…? All I can think is that schools get some sort of financial compensation for attendance figures!

It'll be the standard letter... But it still really hurts when you are doing your best to get your kid in school and support them with their disability.

We're expecting one soon. Surprised we have not had one yet already this term. I have significant evidence that I have been working really hard to get them in school so that should help.

Attendance does drive me bonkers. DS was often sent home for being sick. Then the school would like him off for 48 hours but because he is sick so often, they’d like him in every day but then call to have him collected and moan that he should have been off for 48 hours. There is no joined up/ individual child thinking.

The Gp thinks he has excess stomach acid so he takes medication which has helped but not eliminated the problem.

Exactly! I would expect grown adults who describe themselves as professionals to have enough about themselves to use their fucking words rather than parrot government policy mindlessly.

I've had similar with my daughter who has a heart condition so I understand your frustration @SummerDays2020. I've even had the school nurse tell my daughter that heart palpitations and dizziness were "normal for her" and to go back to lessons. I had to send a copy of the letter from my daughter's cardiologist disagreeing with this. I shouldn't have had to though. How on earth can someone responsible for the welfare of children possibly think a heart rate of 235 bpm is absolutely fine? So frustrating the complete lack of any critical thinking. As highlighted by the above post "duh it's the government's fault, blame them, I'm only following orders"!

I've had an autistic child call from the toilets in a state of sensory overload and having had a panic attack following a day in isolation, a sanction the school had received express written advice against using by their Paedatrician, because of the potential for harm. I called to see if I could collect DC and had the exact same response. Should have reported it to the LA as safeguarding concern. Will do if it ever happens again.

Ah yes. The Nuremburg defence.

Nobody heard her being sick! As you say unless they are suggesting they have someone on duty listening to DC using the toilet which would obviously be very disturbing, what on earth does that mean!

Well, of course it could be because the attendance officer has threatened not to authorise an absence due to the DC being unwell.

So kind, thank you!

Believe me, I need the break, while mine are at school/college! Having to be stuck in with an ill DC is no fun. And I completely agree about the 1 day off rather than it escalating.

I went through the appeal process to get my DD into her secondary for all the reasons you mention. She needs support and somewhere quiet she can go. They have a Learning Support centre she can go to before school at breaks and after school. They take her there in class time too if necessary. She often goes there before school to do a bit of colouring or drawing before school starts and to run through her day with one of the staff. They help with any worries or issues and help with homework too.

Yes, I did take it personally. It was terribly timed.

How would she know that though? The attendance person is hardly likely to know that you had been to this appointment and been told this.

It is also interesting that you say you appealed fir this school because your dd gets good support. You then chose to send a snippy email to someone doing her job.

Maybe she should ask some questions before sending a threatening email then.

Behind your email is someone doing a minimum paid job, who send a standard email to all absent students parents.

They work in an office - they are not their to offer support - there are other staff members who’s job it is to offer support. Why have a dog at the wrong person? Why not seek the support you need?

Why be upset over a standard letter? You’ve been in the school system at least 7 years and you khow it works.

Well down one the email? You haven’t made any difference to anyone long term - maybe focuse on positive change and join a SEN group to further the cause?

These sort of letters may well constitute discrimination arising from disability under the Equality Act. Disabled people and their families do not have to put up with demeaning, upsetting and potentially unlawful behaviour just because other people don't understand their obligations. Schools are publically funded institutions and need to get this stuff right, including by training their staff who have an interface with the public.

*publicly

They are just doing their job. There is prob an attendance officer reading this thinking ffsake

Good. People deaing with the public need to understand equality legislation.

And attendance officers should be familiar with DfE's school attendance guidance which explicitly states that schools SHOULD NOT routinely seek medical evidence in order to authorise absences.