Does the school have a right to photocopy children's medical appointments?

[AidaN8]

I am becoming slightly frustrated with this and would appreciate any advice. The school my children attend insists that we give them all medical appointments letters for them to photocopy and keep as proof (that children are not skyving). As much as I understand this, it has become my nightmare, so to speak. Two reasons for this. 1. DD1 attends so many appointments and they are frequent (locally audiology and dentist and then GOSH for audiology, ENT, endocrinology, CAMHS, gastro-enterology and is regulary being admitted to GOSH either for tests, observations or surgery). I have three other children (one of them autistic and one a young baby) and just keeping up with everything is a major task! When I take the letters to school, I then often leave them in my pockets, handbags, changing bag etc and spend ages trying to locate them! 2. There are issues that my DD has that I feel very strongly are strictly confidential and I actually do not want the school to know about them.
So far i have complied and produced all the letters, some of them I have photocopied myself and covered the details, just leaving dates and times. Becoming very tired of this, DO I REALLY HAVE TO DO IT???
Any thoughts appreciated.

We just have to write a wee note to dc won't be in at whatever time ad they have an appointment, never heard of photocopying appointment cards/letters!

I'd talk to them. They may be willing to make an exception for a child who demonstrably has ongoing health issues. Otherwise see if you can write a short letter explaining the nature of her treatment (ongoing and with x, y and z hospitals) and ask the consultant to sign it at your next appointment and see if they'll take that to out on file.

Thank you for the very quick replies.
The school already has a letter saying that my daughter will have frequent regular app at GOSH. I did this after I received a letter from the school saying that my DD's attendance is well below average and they would be monitoring her and hope for an improvement. This happened last school year, despite them having every single app on their file.
TheSecondComing, my daughter's problems are very complex. She is deaf, which th eschool obviously knows and she gets support for that. Her other issues are of a very different nature and they are very hard to deal with (which is why she is seeing a psychologist and also discussing who she should share this information with). These issues do not affect her academically in any way so there is nothing the school can do for her. I have disclodes this to the SENCO, to whom I trust. My daughter herself is not fully aware of the life long effects of her (genetic) condition and I see it unfair that other people, who are complete strangers, should have more information about her than she does.

I write a letter every time dd has an appointment detailing when the appointment is and if she will be returning to school that day or not. We dont have to provide copies of the appointment letter.

I can see why they have the policy but in the case of a child like yours who has an ongoing condition requiring frequent treatment I think they should make an exception.

It must be very hard work for you with 4 children 1 of whom is your DD with a raft of appointments to attend, one with autism and a baby, without the additional organisational stress that this puts on top.

Not to mention the difficulty with maintaining confidentiality which you are well within your rights to be anxious about.

I would think that a meeting with the appropriate person at school to explain all of this and see if there is some way that a compromise can be reached that will be satisfactory for everyone.

If they say no to that then I think they ABU and I'd be back on MNto ask people how they think you should proceed.

Incidentally my DD1 has just started primary school, and she has an eye appt in school hours. They said just to put a note to the teacher with the date and time, I did wonder if they would ask for copy of letter but they haven't. So on that basis I would say you are looking at a school policy here rather than a national policy and so they really ought to be flexible.

Yes, they need to have some sort of proof. However dd2 has regular appointments with a particular hospital and they accept a general letter that will cover her for a year.

Annoying though it is I think the school is acting in an understandable manner and actually is " on your side".

You dd will have significantly low attendence statistics- just because all the those appointments add up. The " attendence police" can't remember the right term! Are going to be interested as would in any child with lower attendence. The school having the letters and coding absence correctly means that they can simply point the "busybodies " at the evidence and no one will worry.

Up to you if you don't want to share this info but I think it's a fair request.

How will you be giving the school more information than your daughter has about her condition if all they get is a photocopy of the letter that says " your appointment with dr x at clinic y on date z"??

Presumably your daughter knows who she sees, what the clinic is for ( in terms she understands) and when it is?

i think it's afair request as they are having to 'prove' to educational welfare that there is a reason for dd's low attendance.

so i think that they are attempting to shield you from further harassment by educational welfare, rather than making your life a misery.

but how you proceed, of course, is up to you. do you not get copies of appointments by mail though? i would just give them the letter confirming the appointment if you are concerned about medical confidentiality?

i like the system we have here, where they give you a 'school excuse' chit printed with the professional's details, the patient, and the date/ time of appt. it's perforated, and printed on both bits, so you get one to keep, and one to tear off and give to the school.

it's such an easy solution, it's bound not to catch on.

i think to a certain extent it is extremely useful for school to have an up to date list of which professionals are involved in the team around the child though. information sharing is often key. they can't do that without your permission, but it's no bad thing that they are aware of dd's issues?