To find it increasingly annoying, that parents send clearly ill children into school

[Howarewealldoing]

As the title states really, why do parents continue to send clearly ill children into school . When they should
A. Be at home resting and recovering
B. Stop spreading their illness on to everyone else
It’s not fair on the child and everyone else , and I find it incredibly selfish

Because the school has such a shitty attitude to children being absent? In my experience,the only reason that an absence was permitted was because they were in hospital,in a coma! When my DD was at secondary school (quite a few years ago now,late 90s) they were just as hot on absences. I had my DD's form tutor having a go at me because she'd been off school for 2 days with kidney stones! How they expect someone to attend school with that going on I don't know.

Depends where you draw the line. I would send mine in if they were ok to manage through the day. If they had a cold, cough or said they felt sick but could still walk around normally. If they were throwing up or had a high fever, or couldn't get up and dressed, obviously not.
It's harder for some people to have the day off work than others.

Temperature, vomiting or diarrhoea I’ll keep them off definitely. A common cold etc I send them in.

Not true, doesn’t sound like you’ve worked in places that do this, which are often low pay jobs in any case. Your posts are screaming privilege - do you work?

Hate to say it again and again....we are not babysitters but educators. Your kids you need to have a contingency plan for when they are ill

In a perfect world, yeah. But that's not that case for a lot of people.

Schools have been put under ridiculous pressure to maximise attendance figures. It is a big factor in getting a postive OFSTED inspection report.

There is extreme pressure from Govt Dept of Ed downwards, all the way to the individual school, to attain 97%+ attendance. Very worthy in itself. Holidays in term-time are a separate issue (and a bugbear for schools).

However, taking time off school to stay at home in order to recover and refrain from infecting other children and teaching staff is the correct, socially responsible course of action.

Meanwhile, I'd be encouraging ALL PARENTS in EVERY SCHOOL to put pressure on their schools and on the school's Governing Body to introduce air-purification machines in every classroom, assembly hall and corridor.

Plus natural/normal ventilation (i.e. open all windows during breaks and lunchtimes).
Finally, masking (FFP3) when airborne viruses are cutting people down like ripe corn.

Not anyone’s else’s problem though . You don’t know other families personal circumstances; and by sending your unwell child to school then you are potentially making other family members, as well as children themselves, incredibly poorly.
Not only that - but the unwell child themself being sent to school. It’s shit parenting IMO and so selfish: when all they need is rest and recovery.
Find childcare or look after your children.

Someone talking sense . Thank you .

Sorry I have got to jump on this and say yes stop spreading the germs around and ruining everyone else’s plans and general holiday cheer! My sons off sick along with half his class, and now I’ve got it so I’m trying to get Christmas ready with a sick child in tow while feeling like absolute shit myself and getting no sleep because he’s up every 2 seconds at night
I don’t know what the answer is but I do feel bloody annoyed that we’re sick just before Christmas and all my ideas for festive days out probably won’t happen now because we are unwell. Cheers to whoever spread that one round

I think you have been lucky op. My child was ill for two weeks. First with an ear infection and then the antibiotics given caused nausea and vomiting for some days. She was barely eating so I definitely wasn't going to send her back. Despite this got a nasty phone call from school office saying was I aware attendance had dropped to 88% and this wasn't acceptable. If she wasn't in soon they would be forced to take further measures and contact the truancy officer or some such other name.
I had emailed the school every day she was sick and updated them so was in contact. And the years previously was in the high 90s for attendance.
I stuck to my guns and sent her back when she was ready but I can see some parents may be fearful of this.
I agree completely sick kids should not be in school.

My daughter is in a school nursery and was off for a week with bronchitis. School still moaned about it and asked for evidence even though she’s not compulsory school age

Our school effectively punishes children for any sick days off. Those without 100% attendance, no matter the reason, are excluded from treats and competitions. Parents also demonised as not taking education seriously if child has sick day. It's vile, multi-level pressure on parents to put a sick child among the healthy.

My child has had 1 day off sick in 5 years of primary school. We recieved a letter accusing us of lying about the sickness. 1 day in 5 years. If your school is not like this consider yourself very lucky. It is insanity but it’s not the parents’ fault.

My child got sent out for coughing - as a punishment on her first day back after two days off with Covid 🤣🤣

complained to school - got ignored 🙈

Probably because if they can’t go to work too often they’ll get fired and then be in financial difficulties. Duh.

because employers give their staff shit for taking time off, and who do you think is volunteering for child care of a sick child

because schools give parents shit over absence/attendance

i’m lucky that both mine are healthy so far, and I work from home so it’s not so much of an issue (they’re not primary age, so don’t disturb me while working)

Agree with selfishness, does my head in! My daughter has complex health needs and a compromised immune system and has barely been at school since October holidays. Covid, flu, sickness bugs. I know some of it can’t be helped but I’ve overheard on the yard parents talking about they’re child being sick the night before but seem ok now - people don’t realise how if they’re child deals with something mildly how it can effect a child that’s compromised. I’ve dropped her off 20 minutes late and saw kids in the office being sick already. I get that school are cracking down on attendance but even so if your ill your ill. I get that childcare can be an issue but school aren’t babysitters for poorly children, if your child is ill and you don’t have any other childcare you unfortunately have to take the day off work.

If they have a chronic medical condition which causes hospitalisation, regular days off, appointments they should be exempt. My daughters attendance from October is 15%. I don’t receive any letters about her, all her absences are authorised, council is aware of her needs and she is not included in the school/class attendances

But it's ok for other parents to face the same problem with financial difficulties / risk of job loss because you're too selfish to keep your child at home when they're sick?

Well firstly I don’t have any kids at school. Secondly, why do you want parents to do? Get fired and lose their home etc? Kids get sick… they’re festering germ balls. It’s what happens.

@MaddestGranny agree. Investment in these things will pay dividends in the long run.

I don’t think they do. Lots of kids are sniffly/have colds this time of years and are germy from that but not properly unwell with temperatures etc and going in.

If you never left the house due to a cold they’d be off more than they are there.

@MaddestGranny I think it should be made mandatory to air classes every hour for ten mins which means every window open (some only open a crack) and doors open .

I think parents having to work is the biggest factor.