how much school does a child need to miss before the parent is reported?

[redhappy]

Just got dss school report, he is behind in every subject, 85% attendance rate

They are both healthy, no reason for absences. Basically their mother often oversleeps so they don't bother going in (teenage boys who should get themselves there anyway).

So frustrating! As they don't live with us. I don't want their mum to get into trouble, but maybe if she had a warning might frighten her into sorting it out.

85% doesn't sound too bad I spose. Until you think, out of every two weeks they miss 1.5 days!

I'm surprised she hasn't already received a letter from the school telling her that if she misses anymore school she will be reported to the EWO.

Everyone in our school gets one automatically once they fall below a certain point. I don't know what the point is - but I'm sure it's higher than 85% because the parents who got it, got it just because their kids were sick a lot.

I would also be surprised like Indigo - the school I work in would be sending letters out.

At my ds's school if you miss 21 days the school fines you!

when my kids were on the register they were very unhappy if it went below 80%

How for them. Have you and dp/dh had a chat with the dss?

My DD has an attendance rate of 87.5% this half term BUT she was extremely ill and missed a week off school.

However, the school are not concerned as she made sure she caught up and I called the school and they sent home work.

I don't think it's necessarily all down to attendance rate but also how it is dealt with.

Yes MF but you sound like a responsible parent. You dd isn't off because you sleep in.

Some schools just fiddle the figures.

Some EWOs are incompetent and useless.

When you hit 90% we would send letters home and an attendance interview would be held with a senior teacher. Once you get to 85% the EWO would become involved. It would be different if there is a known illness

As with Vespian
90% warning letter
At 85% EWO letter

If there is a known illness, it is likely that the EWO will give no assistance whatsoever.

In my opinion, if the government wants to save money, they should seriously consider making most EWOs redundant.

Our EWO does very little, beyond a letter, until 80% but she is then very good. I teach in an area that has relatively few attendance problems.

Ours is very good
Below 85% and the letter is sets out targets for improvement
No improvement in a month or any worsening and the parent is called in to meet with our EWO, PSO and attendance officer
We have had a number of court cases, including students in Y11, which imo is the mark of a good EWO

The EWO should be able to make an early intervention. But in our case the EWO met me once in the early stages of my childs illness, then never got in touch with us again. The EWO could have done SO much to hep and support us, but instead he was totally incompetent, and caused so much trouble.

Court cases are NOT the mark of a good EWO.

A good EWO should help solve problems and work with other professionals.

85% here unless there is specific circumstances.They may be involved in those to see if they can help with home tuition etc.

Lucinda ... sorry ... intervention by our EWO is great
What I meant was the mark of a good EWO was the fact that she is still prepared to proceed when kids are in Y11

I have had a very bad experience with an EWO, he could have given us help and support.

A nurse made a referral to the EWO, I met the EWO. The EWO intervened before we had any discussions with the school. The EWO never followed up his initial contact. DD was off school for 12 months, and the school made no attempt to find out how they could support her back to school. In fact they marked the register as EOTAS wrongly so that she would not show up as an absence.

Lucinda ... that sounds crap

I have certainly known some very poor EWOs and think that good ones are rare

Ours works with the school and works with the parents and children building relationships with the kids

I suspect part of the problem is that they have a massive area to cover. There will be even less of them soon when the local authority cuts begin to bite. I know for a fact our LA team is going to reduce by over 50%.

If they are teenagers and, as such, should be able to get themselves to school, could your dh put a rocket up their arses have a firm word and get them to sort themselves out? Or speak to his ex (although I'm guessing if you are posting this, that is not an option).

Agree it is a tricky situation.

Wow, a lot of responses since I last looked on here!

I don't know if they have contacted her, not something she would tell us.

Dp talks to them about it every sunday night before he drops them off. But because he is not there cannot enforce it, and of course being teenage boys... add to this that their mother discourages them from leaving the house without her.

Have not seen eldest dss' report, but he is in year 11, very intelligent boy who had he been born into a different family could have got all As. Very unlikely he will reach his potential atm

Dp is on contact with the school for other issues, so this will have to be added to the list now I spose.

Wish they did fines at this school! Financial pressure seems to be the only thing that works with dp's ex!

I will leave it there, should have namechanged first I think