Is this normal?

[sinusworries]

My daughter just started secondary school and is off today due to tonsillitis. I logged the absence on the app, school rang to ask if she was ok and if I needed anything. It was head of year who called. My son was at the same school (left this year) and they started doing this for him in the last year as he was off often with infections. Is this normal? Are schools now doing this, or are we on some sort of list?

Not something I've experienced. Do they think you maybe need some extra support, as in maybe need help affording medications or something? I'd wonder why they were asking too.

Maybe if he was often off with illness then it has been noticed and there are low level concerns, hence the check in about your daughter. If she has only just started and already ill maybe there is concerns with your family regarding the genuine nature of the illness and if support if needed.

Or it could be coincidence. As a new starter maybe they are checking that there is nothing else going on for her to be off so soon (DD worrying about homework, lessons, lunchtime etc) so giving you a chance to talk about things if needed.

Never had that and my son had a few hospital admissions last year.

Most absences in the first week of a new school are due to things like anxiety or other school refusal rather than illness so its probably just a routine offer of help given to everyone off during this period.

Probably on a list of families to keep a closer eye on in case it escalates. No big deal though.