To be annoyed over school attendance letter

[constantlylactating]

Just had an email from DS5's school regarding his attendance. It has dipped to 94.5% and so they are warning me that if it doesn't improve in the next 4 weeks then it will be taken further.

I do understand why they have to issue these, but they have marked him absent on occasions when he has had a 9am dentist appointment, but gone in straight after. Also his last absence was two days because they sent him home after he caught a vomiting bug from another student, and had to stay home for 48 hours.

What am I supposed to do if he gets ill again in the next 4 weeks? (Perfectly possible). Am I expected to just send him in? Or keep him off and have it 'taken further'.

I'm so annoyed I think because it feels so heavy handed when there obviously reasons that they are aware of.

DD high school recommended this. I thought I have read the letter wrong as they end up missing more school this way.
we are lucky to have an nhs dentist who does an evening surgery but I’m guessing not many people are that fortunate. OP ignore and file in the bin.

OP clearly values education. So this is just a dick comment really.

I think you are being OTT to be “outraged”.
These are generic, automatic letters. School attendance is important and when it drops below certain levels attainment suffers.
There are, sadly, some feckless parents who simply keep their children at home because they can’t be bothered to bring them in, or keep them at home for very minor issues. The letters are aimed at parents like these.
OP your child has been off for genuine illness, you know his absences were justified, school know they were justified.
I’m sure everyone can see the benefit of encouraging certain parents to get their children to school - these children are vulnerable and low attaining as a result if their absences. The letters are one part of the jigsaw in improving vulnerable children’s attendance.

But the parents who take their kids on holiday in term time or just can't be arsed to take them to school aren't going to be at all bothered by these letters. But to tell parents of a sick or emotionally struggling child that they are a crap parent and need to start doing better immediately or be prosecuted as they are destroying their child's life - thats absolutely soul destroying. Battering a parent's mental health isn't actually helping the child. It's very clear now that attendance numbers trump welfare concerns regardless of circumstances.

To the OP - absolutely ignore, you won't get a sensible conversation with anyone in the school on this point. Just bin any and all attendance letters.

I hate this approach, it's just ridiculous.

Do they really think that the crap parents who can't be arsed to take their kids to school are going to be bothered by a letter? Of course they're not! It's the good parents whose children Jave missed school for no fault of their own who are going to feel stressed and judged by it.

We are one of the honoured few NHS patients at our dentists. The dental surgery is slowly, slowly going more and more private. If you are an NHS patient you are given a day, a time and a dentist- no choice. Refusing the appointment or not turning up leads to you been kicked off the NHS list and only added back on as a private patient. Mornings before 9am, Afternoons after 4pm, Saturday morning appointments and school holidays appointments are for private patients only. All NHS patients are seen between 9.30 and 3.30 Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays term time only. As an NHS patient you must ring up 3 months before your next appointment to book in, you will get no reminder when you need to book in and if you don't book in then you are removed. If you are a private patient, you can book your next appointment before you leave your current appointment, you get a reminder by text the week before and then a reminder the day before. You can chose any day or time you like.

There was a school in my county a few years back trying to do a big crackdown on absence, and they sent out a letter to all the parents which included telling them there was no need to stick to the 48 hour rule after a vomiting bug and if the child seemed well, just send them back into school. At least one parent put in a complaint.

These letter really annoy me. My DD has a disease which requires her to be admitted to hospital once every six weeks for drug infusions. She also has to have additional appts with various consultants to check her treatment plan.

School know all this and yet they sent me a letter threatening to report us to social services if her attendance percentage went below 90%

I pointed out to school that I would also be reported to social services if she didn't attend her medical appointments so what the hell was I supposed to do!

And when exactly was it that you were able to make these appointments at the time that suits you. Unless you pay for private you have to happily take whatever is offered to you and for the vanishingly few number of NHS dentist appointments still available they do not tend to offer the prime time after school/weekend/school hols as they know their private patients want them.

Even going private doesn't guarantee the availability of after achool appointments at our dental surgery.

I went private for DD's orthodontic work and was told that priority for after school appts would be part of that. Sadly when it came to it they just didn't have enough slots and I frequently had to take DD out of school.l while she was having her treatment.

That's awful! Sadly to be expected with NHS appointments, but you'd expect better if you're forking out for it.

I think it's just a supply and demand mismatch. Parents are pressured over attendance, and orthodontic patients are disproportionately school age. People who have the skills can choose when they work, and they don't necessarily fancy doing so many later afternoons, evenings and weekends.

Had one of these for DS(10 - Yr 5). He has a very good attendance for every other year, but Y5 has been one thing after the other. I read it and filed it in the bin. He was off ill last Friday again and I didn’t really give two hoots. He was ill. The end. Don’t sweat it.

As long as you tell school you have an appointment it shouldn’t be such an issue.

You should try working in a school… it’s a nightmare trying to get appointment's after work or in the holidays!!!! At the end of the day, you can only take what they give you, especially as hospitals/Gps won’t book very far ahead.

I got one too. My child was off school due to them accidentally slicing the top of her finger off in a door on their premises.

I was really unimpressed after being so understanding about it in the first place!

I made an appointment with the head and received an apology.

Oh I’ve got one of these in the past. Perfect attendance then got really ill with a bad cold. I’m not going to send him in with a temperature and he belongs in bed. Believe me, it’s far more of a pain having him off school than in, for a working parent!
There are kids out there where poor attendance is a red flag that they need support, amongst other factors.
For the majority of parents though it’s just bean counting bollocks. Also, the attendance certificates get on my nerves too! Well done, you haven’t been ill! Probably the same kids who were sent in poorly and spread their germs far and wide!

Authorised absences shouldn’t be marked down . Ask for their records and compare to your notes. But in reality 2x week absences with a big illnesses can put you in the letter zone.

Bin it. They are standard letters sent out automatically to parents, when their child's attendance falls below a certain level. The school doesn't have a choice in sending the letters, they are required too. I had one when my son was in Reception, as he'd time off due illness. Don't worry about your son being unwell in the next 4 weeks, he may be perfectly fine. If he isn't then, call the school and explain.

My son has just had a second appointment through to see the Orthodontist. It's during school time. NHS, I get given a date and a time. There's little wriggle room. I can't refuse appointments, it's taken 2.5 years of being on the waiting list, to even see an orthodontist! Our normal dentist sees NHS patients on certain days and times - all during school time. Sometimes, you can't pick and choose, it's that simple.

Politely send a letter back advising if school policy had not sent said child home for 2 days, said child would have an attendance above 95%. Advise them that in future if attendance must remain over 95% not to send home said child when they have been sick and keep them at school to spread the germs amongst all the other children. They may want to invest in more sick bowls in anticipation of this.

Good advice. Imagine if all kids wanted their appointments in the holidays (bearing in mind everyone struggling to get any appointments)
Also the policy makers live in cloud cuckoo land, their kids probably go to private schools and have private health care so just don't get it.(No restrictions on taking kids out of school if private)

"Am I expected to just send him in?"

Yes, that's exactly what you are expected to do.

I would email the school detailing why the late and non attendance so that you have a paper trail of proof, do that going forward too. It’s amazing how they can gaslight you into thinking it’s your bad parenting ( parent of Autistic child speaking from experience)

My DD11 Is in her last couple months of primary and this has been her worst absence 89% constantly getting something and I'm not someone who lets her off for nothing if she's got a cold but no fever I send her in. She's had 3 migraines, flu and a sick bug since August and sore tummies which I thought was her getting ready for her period. School must think I'm at it lol! Never had a letter or warning. X

Exactly. I mean at the very least someone's having to put the letter in an envelope and seal it? Surely that person should be given the discretion to put the letter in the bin instead of the post, especially if the child is known to be in hospital!