7yr old ill a lot and school attendance

[name77]

My 7yr old is ill very frequently, once or twice every half term, and is very susceptible to throat infections, mostly vital. He gets high temperatures, swollen sore throat with white spots and general cold/cough symptoms. He has had antibiotics 3 times in last 18 months and the rest painkillers. GP not very helpful, just tells us he will grow out of it. Our problem is with school. They are very hot on attendance and are threatening us with fines. On Friday, he began to develop a temperature during the day (he was off with ear infection on Tuesday) and the school took the decision to keep him in school and not call us, culminating in him falling asleep in the corner of the classroom and coming home with a temp of 38.8.

Does anyone have advice about how to deal with a) school and b) ds's weak immune system? Both things are causing us a lot of stress.

Not had any experience of this but could the school write a letter to include his attendance figures for you to take to the doctor?
That would also show the school you are trying and give you something to throw back if the doctors can't do anything but they still threaten.

I would ask for bloods to see if he is lacking in anything that supplements could help.

Also as maybe a last resort with the school but not particularly nice for your son, maybe send him in one time when he isn't well, I'm sure the school would be quick to call and ask for him to be picked up

I would be furious if school kept my child in school when they were feeling so poorly. Both my children went through a phase around that age when they both had loads of time off with ill health. Thankfully school were happy to accept my decision not to send them in. I would agree that you should ask for drs support on this but I never feel guilty keeping them off school for illness at primary school. Fines should be only for children who go on holiday in term time.

somethingsosimple I was livid. But they were very apologetic and admitted a gross misjudgement. He's been so ill all weekend so I won't send him in tomorrow but I am braced for another fearmongering letter. I'll take him to the doc tomorrow and hope they can advise me. The last time I asked for a letter to show school they got very irate and told me that was not their job and school should not be asking for GP letters. They even gave me an NHS document that showed they were under no obligation to provide sick letters for schools.

I don't feel guilty keeping him home but just hate the stress I feel from school pressure.

youlemming bloods is a good idea
I'll ask GP tomorrow. And sadly I'm not sure school would send him home if I sent him in ill. See what happened on Friday!

Thanks both for the moral support!

Answering b first, have your son got an weak immune system, or is it actually over reactive? My daughter is also off school a lot, 21 days so far this academic year as she has PFAPA. In short her immune system overreacts and thinks it's fighting something when it's not. If you are noticing a pattern developing it may be worth asking for a referral for someone who works with Periodic Fever Syndrome patients.

Answering a, obviously my daughter has a name to her situation and lots of hospital attendances and letters which the school have copies of so they have backed off from us now as they no it's beyond our control. It took a long time to get to this though and school realised very quickly that if they try to keep her in school they are creating more work for themselves as she needs more attention.

Our daughter has an immune deficiency, and her previous state school were far more concerned about keeping their attendance rates up, than actually trying to help us in any way. It is appalling that schools behave in this way.
I know some children do have recurring throat infections, but they do not in itself point to any immune disorder as such. There are usually a range of infections with immune disorder, not just confined to one site. I would ask your doctor to write a letter that documents your child’s valid absences, then ask the school what THEY intend to do to support your child. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Thanks for your messages.

I have spoken to education welfare at the council and they think the school is being overly heavy handed. They advised meeting with them after GP with documentation of all GP visits and a letter from them.

I'm waiting for a GP appt to discuss ds recurrent illnesses then will speak to school. Gp has already dismissed immune problems, saying it's within normal range for his age. Hard for us though with the added pressure from school.

Thanks again. I appreciate the support