Letters of absence

[Miracle29]

Since my dd was small she's always picked up every illness or infection going and this got worse once she hit nursery. She's now 6 and still picks up every bug. I've mentioned to the gp and they just say some children are like that and not to worry. After lockdown my child was off school for 2 weeks with covid and was really poorly. 3 months after that she got chickenpox and had a very severe case and was off school for 10 days as they took forever to scab over so obviously the school refused her in school. A week after having chickenpox she was rushed in hospital unable to breath and they said she had possible pneumonia and suspected asthma. It took me a month to get her diagnosed fully as the school refused her an asthma plan without a diagnosis. During her stay in hospital I received 2 letters of absence threatening to fine me and have patenting classes. I was fuming because theu knew she was really sick in hospital. I even sent them a picture of her in hospital along with admission letter to prove it because i felt they thought i was lying. I rang the school and council and they explained once a child hits below a certain attendance letters are automatically sent out as absences can no longer be authorised. I've tried my best to keep her in school this year with the thought process ill send her in with calpol and they can send her home if unwell. In December she was sent home due to coughing and tempreture and strep going around. She saw the gp who gave antibiotics, she was off for 4 days and back in with the antibiotics. Lastnight she started throwing up so obviously now needs 48 hours off school and we're only in january. I'm scared of getting another letter. It makes me feel like a bad parent. If my child is well enough she will go to school and I'm not the parent who will keep my kids off school for every little thing. She went through so much last year. How many days off does a child have to have before receiving letters? So far she's had 6 days off including today. Thanks

easy to say, but try not to worry. She’s genuinely ill so you are doing nothing wrong! (The opposite in fact, you’re keeping her home until she feels better which is what they ask you to do!)
it’s simply a case of targets which have geckme
much more harsh since Covid. All schools have to hit 95-98% + or they are penalised.
all you can do is chin up, provide medical notes where needed and perhaps ask your gp for a specific one stating some children simply pick up more than others and your dd is one of them.
then lather, rinse, repeat with each call/letter you get. It’s the same with my dd, almost exactly in fact, and I’ve had to put on a metaphorical shield as was getting so upset feeling I was being judged for her being off so much ☹️

These are just automated letters. There should be a way to stop them but in many schools there seems not to be. Not nice to receive at an already stressful time.

I had the same when my DS was in hospital for surgery and not allowed back in for a set recovery period. School knew and were happy he was absent for genuine reason but said they couldn't stop the letters.

You've done the right thing and spoken to school and given evidence to back up your situation. Nothing more you can do and theu won't do anything further for genuine absence. So please try not to worry.

I was a teacher for nearly 20 years. These are absolutely automated letters. If your child is vomiting or has chickenpox they can’t go in. I would keep a record of when she’s off and why. And focus on your poorly child. Not government targets.

Thankyou for your replies. The lady in the school office is lovely and really helped me where she can but has said unfortunately they can't stop the letters. When my dd was sent home she told me she didn't want to go home because she was worried I'd get in trouble. My child or any other child shouldn't feel that way. What annoyed me most is when my dd was in hospital, I know of 2 people who went on holiday and the teachers knew and parents didn't get letters but the minute my dd is sick I get a letter. We have an app that allows us to send absences. If its something I need to explain I will ring them instead. I fully understand its their job but its impossible to make sure they are in school all the time.

Why does your child know and worry about the letters? That’s not something you should be burdening her with.

When she was in hospital the school rang me because she wasn't in even though they knew she was in hospital and I hadn't rang them to let them know she was still there because that was the last thing on my mind. Whilst she was having observations that morning I rang the school back whilst the doctor was in the room so i could pass the phone over to him, with his permission, if they needed proof and i was quite upset. Whilst on the phone they mentioned a second letter that had been sent amd me explaining her absences and telling them shes only off when too unwell to go to school so dd obviously heard this. I was so angry at the time i didnt think of dd listening. Also when returning to school I took her to the office with her hospital letter to which the more understanding receptionist mentioned the letters of absence and asked me to try not worry she will help where needs be but it is out of her hands, again my dd was there but I didn't intentionally tell her about the letters and I have told her it's nothing to worry about.