Long term absence year 9

[5608Carrie]

Ds is year 9. He came ill towards the end of October and has missed a lot of school since. He had been back for a while doing part days but then that became too much.

Despite an MRI, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, blood tests etc etc we haven't really got an answer to why he is ill.

I am very anxious about his education. School have been very supportive and are not putting any pressure on him but I can't cope much longer!

Really just posting here to get it out but I am so frustrated. He is very bright and goes to the top school in this area but he needs to make his GCSE choices on Friday.

Has anyone else been through this?

Hugs to you and your DS.

I haven't been in this situation from a parents POV but

Talk to the school about his options and make sure that they are happy for him to drop some if it gets to much, Where I work they will if possible focus on English, Math and Science.

Hopefully your school will be as understanding.

Yes have been through this when DD was in Year 10 and 11. I was the same as you and really, really worried about the education side of things but I now believe that it is important to put health first and you can make up your education later on. The local authority have a duty to provide suitable education once your DS has not been able to attend for 15 days - search in google for "education provision for long term illness" or something similar - there is a Dept of Education pdf file that comes up. You should also be able to search on your local authority website. Really the school should be advising you on this but sometimes they don't seem to know, or they just hope the situation will resolve itself. It sounds like the pressure needs to be removed from your DS for the moment by reducing his subjects. The local authority are required to provide home tutors and link in with the school to, hopefully, ease into a return when his health improves.