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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School absences.

14 replies

Mumof3here · 15/02/2025 16:15

Hello everyone looking for an advice here.
A few week's ago my son 15 yrs old caught bad colds that's makes him really ill so end up absent from school. Then last week he twisted his ankle during PE lesson and came home limping and ankle were swollen. He walks to school back and forth and roughly 30 mins or so. He was absent for another 2 days because of it. Today we received a letter that he needs 100% attendance until the end of next month and any absent due to illnesses will be class as unauthorised. My question is what will happens if he gets ill again before the end of next month? Shall I still send him to school? If the school rang to say to pick him up, can I refuse so that he can have 100% attendance to satisfy the school or I will pick him up and then they might send us a letter again. Thank you.

OP posts:
HelplessSoul · 15/02/2025 16:22

I'd tell the school to shove their letters where the sun dont shine.

If they are that hung up about it, tell them that its on the school to pick him up/drop him home.

100% is just woke bullshittery at its finest.

flumposie · 15/02/2025 16:31

Teacher here. Ignore them. Absences have been made a priority by the government. We are given a break down of whole school and each year groups attendance every day. Not sure what I am supposed to do with that info, I can't improve it🤷‍♀️

Original poster
Mumof3here · 15/02/2025 16:35

HelplessSoul · 15/02/2025 16:22

I'd tell the school to shove their letters where the sun dont shine.

If they are that hung up about it, tell them that its on the school to pick him up/drop him home.

100% is just woke bullshittery at its finest.

Thank you fornthe reply. I don't want to be called off.by the school board because I am worried that it might affect my other 2 kids o I might end up getting visit by SS.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumof3here · 15/02/2025 16:38

flumposie · 15/02/2025 16:31

Teacher here. Ignore them. Absences have been made a priority by the government. We are given a break down of whole school and each year groups attendance every day. Not sure what I am supposed to do with that info, I can't improve it🤷‍♀️

Thank you that gives me a little bit of reassurance since the only time my kids is off were if they are ill or hospital appointment.

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TruJay · 15/02/2025 16:43

I’d tell them to go whistle. You know your child, if they’re too ill to go that’s your decision. No one can help getting ill. The obsession around 100% attendance is bullshit and so are the ‘awards’ kids get. Well done, you haven’t been poorly 🤷🏼‍♀️
I understand that schools have a duty of care to their students and absence can be an indicator of other issues but it seems common sense is nonexistent these days.

HellofromJohnCraven · 15/02/2025 17:12

My dds secondary school sent letters out stating that they would only authorise absence with a doctors note.
The doctors surgery put a note up in reception. "We will not be writing notes for school age children with school age children illnesses. Please feel free to photograph this sign".
Ss have more things to do than they can ever do. A child with a couple of bouts of genuine illness is not one of them!"

Thepeopleversuswork · 15/02/2025 17:36

The obsession with attendance is something mandated by councils I think. It’s utterly absurd and the schools tend to acknowledge this.

My DD has asthma and missed a lot of school in year five due to it. We got several threatening letters from our council and I was told by the head and form teacher to ignore it.

Yes there are safeguarding issues sometimes when children are kept out of school for long periods but mandating 100% attendance is lunacy. Ignore it.

lastintheQ · 15/02/2025 17:59

Both my kids school send out really offensive attendance letters telling us that we are ruining our children's lives not sending the kids to school 100% of the time and that we should be working with the school to ensure this happens. Neither school actually gives any support when you ask for it. One of my kids just happened to be ill a few times as you describe with a previous really good attendance record, the other is a regular school refuser but doesn't meet any threshold for extra help as his attendance is around 80-85%. Unfortunately schools care more about attendance than child or family welfare as thats what the government tells them is most important. You can try and engage with the school, but will almost certainly just get another statement of attendance policy with no understanding or empathy. So I would ignore any and all letters like this, I certainly am now!

Merryoldgoat · 15/02/2025 18:02

HelplessSoul · 15/02/2025 16:22

I'd tell the school to shove their letters where the sun dont shine.

If they are that hung up about it, tell them that its on the school to pick him up/drop him home.

100% is just woke bullshittery at its finest.

This.

ThesebeautifulthingsthatIvegot · 15/02/2025 18:04

HelplessSoul · 15/02/2025 16:22

I'd tell the school to shove their letters where the sun dont shine.

If they are that hung up about it, tell them that its on the school to pick him up/drop him home.

100% is just woke bullshittery at its finest.

I mean, your overall point is fair enough.

But I can't even begin to imagine what you think woke means.

Thepeopleversuswork · 15/02/2025 18:16

HelplessSoul · 15/02/2025 16:22

I'd tell the school to shove their letters where the sun dont shine.

If they are that hung up about it, tell them that its on the school to pick him up/drop him home.

100% is just woke bullshittery at its finest.

You’re fundamentally correct but you don’t understand what woke means.

MrWise · 15/02/2025 18:25

I have three unauthorised absences for my DC and I am a teacher.
Her attendance is 93%
Her school always make absences unauthorised after one warning letter that their attendance is below 95.
The only thing that would stop this is medical evidence i.e. a GP's visit/sick note.
GPs do NOT want shitting/vomiting kids in surgery or those with COVID or those with flu or those with headaches...
So - as a teacher - I would take any of this horseshit with a pinch of salt. You can quote from the 2022 statutory government advice if you really want to piss them off Wink

MrWise · 15/02/2025 18:28

"IS MEDICAL EVIDENCE REQUIRED TO AUTHORISE EVERY SCHOOL ABSENCE?" https://notfineinschool.co.uk/home/f/is-medical-evidence-required-to-authorise-every-school-absence

Original poster
Mumof3here · 15/02/2025 20:23

Thank you everyone for all the advices, I really do appreciate it all. I will take notes including the statutory agreement so that I would know what to do next time I will receive a letter.

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