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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be slightly pissed off with this letter ??

87 replies

CrackerNut · 04/03/2009 18:20

Ds has come home today with a letter address to me about his apparently poor attendance.

It says that his attendance percentage is currently 84% and that the schools target is 96%.

It then goes on to say that unless a child is ill or you have an agreed and authorised abscence from school then your child must attend every day.

It then says that they will be monitoring the situation closely and if my child's attendance does not improve significantly over the next few weeks then they will contact educational welfare.

I am hugely pissed off with this letter and the threatening tone.

Ds is 6 and in yr 1. He had 5 days off in Sept for a holiday authorised by the head (old head, she has since left). I agree fully that this will have contributed to his apprently poor attendance record, but this was in Sept.

Unfortunatly for him, Ds has also had about 10 days off ill. He was very poorly before xmas with a virus and scalp infection and then just after xmas he had impetigo and had to stay off for 4 days as advised by the gp.

I have no problem with them pulling me up about the absence for holiday even though it was authorised, but I do have a problem with them insinuating that Ds has been off school alot when not ill as this isn't the case.

OP posts:

Ineedmorechocolatenow · 04/03/2009 18:53

Sorry to hear that cory - it certainly seems like the head was being totally out of order. What a cow!

Schools get pulled up on their % of pupils who are below 85% - I can only think that she was overly, anally concerned with that.

It's unavoidable that some pupils are poorly more than others. I always tried to be understanding in these cases and offer support and opportunities to catch up (this is at secondary level). It doesn't help to add to the stress of parents of poorly children by sending out bitchy letters or being accusatory in meetings.

Unfortunately, there are also parents out there who condone absence (don't think for one moment that this is referring to your case). These are the ones that the EWO will be concerned with, these truants and school refusers.

Sorry to hear about your DD condition x

Ineedmorechocolatenow · 04/03/2009 18:57

nickschik - They will enforce it by unauthorising absence without a GP's note. When pupils have over a certain number of sessions (am and pm registration count as two 'sessions') then the EWO can start getting a lot more serious. I can't remember the exact number. I think it varies between LEAs but can't be sure (I haven't been involved with EWOs for a few years so can't be more specific).

At the moment, it sounds as if the OP's DS has authorised absence, which means that the EWO won't be overly concerned.

Original poster

CrackerNut · 04/03/2009 18:57

He hasn't had chicken pox yet either so god help him and me if he gets that this school year now.

OP posts:

CrackerNut · 04/03/2009 19:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

nickschick · 04/03/2009 19:02

By Ineedmorechocolatenow on Wed 04-Mar-09 18:57:53
nickschik - They will enforce it by unauthorising absence without a GP's note. When pupils have over a certain number of sessions (am and pm registration count as two 'sessions') then the EWO can start getting a lot more serious. I can't remember the exact number. I think it varies between LEAs but can't be sure (I haven't been involved with EWOs for a few years so can't be more specific).

At the moment, it sounds as if the OP's DS has authorised absence, which means that the EWO won't be overly concerned.

Im dreading tomorrow now ....my poor ds2 has under 60%

Original poster

CrackerNut · 04/03/2009 19:05

Good luck for tomorow nickschick. It's awful that they are putting you through that when your ds has genuinely been ill.

Just remembered that Ds needs the morning of for the dentists in a couple of weeks

OP posts:

Sorrento · 04/03/2009 19:15

Honestly don't worry about this, the people they are really targetting couldn't give a shit when they get these letters.
Mine got sent home with nits then that was count as a sick day
As for wanting dr's notes, I pointed out if they went down that route I'd de register them, it was never mentioned again.
Oh and I got "the letter" because I have three children and they all had a Monday off together.

CarGirl · 04/03/2009 19:17

you've put your son's name on MN, perhaps you should get that post deleted?

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 04/03/2009 19:20

I see this from both sides as I am a primary attendance officer - so send the letters (standard usually) and get the grief - and I'm also the parent of a child with chronic illness.

The school has to send the letters - they have no choice and are under pressure from the LA and the DCFS. If a child's attendance slips under 80% then the EWO will be involved. My EWO is fab and recognises that there are parents who condone their child's absence and parents who are basically doing their best. If you are doing your best then bin the letter and keep sending your child to school as often as possible, illness aside. The letter has to state that the EWO will be involved unless there is improvement because if it doesn't some parents use that as a defence when it gets to court, 'school didn't tell me this would happen' And it does go that far sometimes.

If you take a holiday in term-time early in the academic year then you're playing catch-up attendance wise. 10 days holiday plus chickenpox for example and you're struggling to meet the target.

dd has had attendance as low as 75%, luckily the EWO I deal with at work is the same one I'm involved with through her school lol!

MarmadukeScarlet · 04/03/2009 19:23

This may be an impertinent question, but why are you taking DS out of school to go to the dentist?

Surely school finishes at 3.30 and the dentist is open until 5pm or later?

My DC dentist only works 2 days per week, but with proper planning I can get an appt after school or during hols for check ups.

Ineedmorechocolatenow · 04/03/2009 19:24

Please don't worry nickschick - if the school has authorised the absence and there is a valid reason - you have nothing to fear. Kids who are genuinely ill obviously cannot attend school.

Please try not to let it add to your stress. It's all hoop-jumping and back-covering on their part, I'm sure. The LEA will be concerned at 60%, and the school need to show that they are aware.

Sorrento is right. The parents who they are really targeting don't give a sh*t.

Oh, and dentist (doctor / hospital etc) is covered by a different code on the attendance register Crackernut. Tho' classed as an 'absence' it's not one that they will query at all (in fact, until a few years ago that code classed as 'present' on the register).

Good luck tomorrow Nickschik x

chipkid · 04/03/2009 19:27

One cold friday I was in our local park with ds 6 and dd 3. ds is in an independant school and for some reason their holidays always start on the Thursday. I was approached by a police officer and a school educational welfare person who asked why ds and dd were not at school. I explained about ds having finished his term the day before and that dd was too young for school. Thought that would be the end of it-but instead they took all my details and said they would contact the ds's school to check. I felt pretty affronted to be honest.

Original poster

CrackerNut · 04/03/2009 19:38

Marmaduke - I do normally take all 3 dc to the dentist out of school hours. However at the last appointment ds was suposifly refered to an orthadontist because the dentists was very concerned that his top milk teeth were in danger of digging into his lower gum.
Thing is, I rang to chase the appointments up and it turns out that the dentist never made the referal and has now left the practice. Therefore they wanted to get Ds back in asap to get him looked at by another dentist. They were booked up for after school times for the next 2 mths so I booked for 9:15 and will take him in straight after, so probably about 11am as his sister is also being seen.

OP posts:

Original poster

CrackerNut · 04/03/2009 19:39

Sorry fot typos, have got dd2 talking my ear off.

OP posts:

nickschick · 04/03/2009 20:04

This dentist thing is ridiculous my eldest ds has to be seen by the ortho at the dental teaching hospital such is his severity but the dental hospital is miles way from us and we are sometimes there for quite a long time so unless i can schedule an appointment for late afty then almost a full day is missed.

crackernut its very tricky to get ortho appointments every time within school hours and I do sympathise.

nickschick · 04/03/2009 20:06

By CrackerNut on Wed 04-Mar-09 19:05:11
Good luck for tomorow nickschick. It's awful that they are putting you through that when your ds has genuinely been ill.

Thanks cracker unfortunately he doesnt seem to be making any sort of recovery and is actually off now with tonsilitis the second bout since January anything like that knocks him for 6 on top of his illness.

nickschick · 04/03/2009 20:07

Thanks for your good luck ineedmorechocolte - keep ya fingers crossed for us .

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 04/03/2009 20:16

nickschick - if your ds has a chronic illness, please don't let them bully you tomorrow. Try to turn it back on to them a little - he has a right to access a suitable education, what are they going to do to help you ensure he gets access for example flexible schooling. The school/LEA should have a policy for this - ask them about it.

wibblewobbly · 04/03/2009 20:26

I would try not to worry about it too much. I work in a school and know that schools have to be seen as trying to improve attendance within school and therefore letters like these have to be sent out for anyone who falls below their target level.

Try to realise that it is the school under pressure to achieve targets.

If it makes you feel better ring the school and explain what you have explained to us and that you dont expect Ds to be off school again and so his attendance will improve and they will be fine.

Pristina · 04/03/2009 20:27

Who/what is an education welfare officer?

This whole thing sounds ludicrous to me. I believe if you wanted to leave the entire education system altogether and home ed, that there were no legal obstacles at all to doing this and hardly any supervision/monitoring afterwards?

A bit all or nothing isn't it?

nickschick · 04/03/2009 20:30

By Saggarmakersbottomknocker on Wed 04-Mar-09 20:16:29
nickschick - if your ds has a chronic illness, please don't let them bully you tomorrow. Try to turn it back on to them a little - he has a right to access a suitable education, what are they going to do to help you ensure he gets access for example flexible schooling. The school/LEA should have a policy for this - ask them about it.

I phoned the LEA and asked for advice and they seemed quite positive but its all a bit out of the orrdinary and M.E isnt always an easily understood condition.

I did use to H.E when he first became ill but he was so determined to go to secondary school.....

RustyBear · 04/03/2009 20:41

Marmaduke - it's not always possible to get dental appointments out of school hours 'with good planning' No amount of planning would have got my children after school appointments at the orthodontist, as they were reserved for private patients.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 04/03/2009 20:44

It would be in their interest to provide you with a few hours home tutoring because they can then say he's dual educated or educated 'elsewhere' and he'd be off the stats.

They should have a written policy - many of the ones I've seen have specific reference to ME . It's a disability at the end of the day and therefore they can't avoid the duty they have to provide a 'suitable' education.

seeker · 04/03/2009 20:50

These letters are just standard ones sent out to anyone whose attendance falls below the baseline level. Nothing will happen to you - they just want to draw people's attention to the amount of time their child has had off - sometimes people just don't realize. The letters have to go to everyone - if you explain your circumstances no more action will be taken.

Schools have a responsibility to get their pupils to school and to work with families who find it difficult. I know you're not one of those families, but the school doesn't necessarily unless they've talked to you about it.

SourCreamnChive · 04/03/2009 21:16

When I read the OP I thought you were going to say he was 15 or something! Fancy writing a daft letter over a 6 year old.

YANBU. School is being bloody stupid imo.

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