Roughly how many days a year do your kids miss school through illness? (is there a time when school would question too much time off sick)?

[pepsi]

Just wondered whats considered "average" for time of sick during a school year. Im guessing I must be very lucky because mine have only had 2 or 3 days of ill during a year (so far!), since they started school. However, my brothers kids always seem to be off. Ive always noticed on their school reports that each have around 15-17 days of ill a year. Their youngest who is 9 has only been to school twice during the past ten school days - although this time I know she has had a bad throaty coldy thing. Are some kids just more likely to get bugs than others. I can imagine have a bad year every so often but they seem to have a bad year every year. Am are being picky here or are they just unlucky.

DS1 last had a day off sick about 8 years ago and ds2 never in 5 years apart from an accident in the school yard where he ended up in hopital.

I'm lucky in that they are fit and healthy but they also know that unless they are 'really poorly' they have to go to school.

If you have 10 days off a year you'll be looking at around 95% attendance which is usually deemed acceptable. Anything less and most schools will start sending letters reminding you of the benefits of full attendance.

DS1 and 2 always had excellent attendance but dd is currently less than 50% - so I send out the letters at work and I'm in receipt of them at home lol. No-one is going to hit you with a big stick if your child is genuinely ill. There are those parents who keep their children off at the slightest sniffle and those who keep them off for their own convenience - usually pretty obvious because all the siblings have the same bug on the same day - well that almost never happens in my house

Sounds like your sister has wholly differnt problems pepsi but she is likely to have the EWO on her back if she lets them have too much time off.

DD had half a day of last year (first year at school).

pepsi - noticing the age of the children she is likely to find the school more on the ball. Regular abscence is expected with littlies but not so much with the older ones.

DD1 has only had 3 or 4 days off in total since she started school (she'll be 10 in April).

She very healthy and doesn't usually succumb to most of the stuff that goes around but also she loves school so will insist on going in when others might stay home (ie. if she has a bit of a cold).

Yes I thought that, the eldest has just started secondary and its a very well respected school. She's only had 3 days off this time (that I know about anyway), which isnt a problem, so fingers crossed. Im hoping that now she takes herself to and from school it might increase attendance. Only time will tell. My SIL has an appointment with the dr in a few weeks to get another perscription, weve had a chat and she said she will definately ask about counselling again. Im amazed that you have to pay for it.....I think I'll start another thread on that subject actually. Surely counselling isnt just for the rich!

Does anyone's schools give out certificates for 100% attendance at the end of the year? My Ds1's old school did (we never got one as he always get pukey bug in winter!). But I'm not sure I liked the idea though ...

DD got one of these in her first term. She then had to go into hospital and after that broke her foot. Obviouly through no thought of her own. She was gutted when she didn't get one when they were handed out

Poor Bananaknickers DD! That must have been awful! That's what I mean -- the majority of kids can't help being off, can they? Would the school rather I sent a pukey DS in??? Just to get a certificate!!

Incidentally, one of the girls who did get a certificate last year HAD puked all over the school! .

My mum never believed me when I was ill and hardly ever let me stay at home. I once gave about three quarters of my class chicken pox because she didn't believe me when I said I felt ill!

Pepsi, you sound a very caring and supportive SIL.

(and I missed the rather important bit about the children's ages, sorry)

'watch a DVD whilst eating chocolate cake'

Sounds wonderful [sighs]. I've got a bit of a bug today and where's the cake, I'd like to know???

Last year my dd1 had 1 day off and that, too, was for the 48 hour rule - she was really upset about it as she was better by then (it was monday she missed). Year before she didn't miss a single day and yes, got a certificate at the end of the year.

My neices on the other hand are always off with any kind of cough or cold. I've known them be off because they had nits(!) and sil didn't want them to be teased and if one's off she'll keep the other at home too!! I think a lot is down to the parents

If your kids are sick, they're sick, and they certainly should be kept at home. Children are all different; some pick up every bug that's going, specially when they first start school, and often again during puberty/growth spurts. Others seem to sail along with no problems. But as a teacher, can I explain about the standard letters with percentages. Schools don't have a choice about this. State schools have targets to meet with attendance, it is one of the factors looked at by Ofsted. The school also has an obligation to send out the same letter to all parents, which as a tutor is bloody annoying, as, for example, you might know that one kid has been off with flu which has pushed them just below the magic % level, while another might regularly have odd days off here and there for no good reason. But I suppose that's the way society is now - we're not allowed to discriminate and have to send the same letter each time. So please don't blame the school!! We don't like it either!!

At the end of last term a girl in Year 6 who was leaving got a certificate for 100% attendance for her entire 7 years at the school.

at the end of dd1 year one year, her attendance was 88%

she has asthma, and was off for three days ebcause school missed her havign an attack. she needed a neb.

and if anyone sends their kdis into school less than 48hours after a sickness bug, then i will go bloody mad if my kdis get ill.

yes but as you dont know what one you have, surely just follow the guiudelines.

15-17 days a year sounds a huge amount to me, I can't think of any children I know who have that much time off unless they have a serious illness/accident.

My own three tend to have 0-2 days off a year each. Their friends probably not much different - I'm guessing simply on the basis that it's very rare not to see them in the playground in the mornings! One friend does have more time off because of her ear problems, but even then I don't think she has more than say 3 days a term off sick.

That really is a massive amount. I think the school might say something, although it depends on what reason/excuse is being given. If you're really sick, you're sick! Our end of year reports always give attendance figures, and any requests for holidays in term-time are always cross-linked to that child's attendance record.

Mine are anywhere from 0 - 4 days per year.

The exception is my youngest who gets asthma symptoms when she gets a cold. I tend to keep her off school when she seems to be at high risk (this was through nursery and reception). Saying that, she seems to have grown out of it, so this year so far, she has 100% attendance.

DD is almost 5 and has had 7 days off this term already. TBH I don't care, if she is ill, she is ill. I help her keep up with her work. After all I don;t remember what my attendance levels were when I was at school. How important is it? It is all about meeting govt targets. I always send her as soon as she is well enough.

Be aware that schools report absences in "sessions," i.e. number of half days missed. That can look like a lot when added up. Our schol gets many parents querying the absence data for their child because they have mis-read the form.

You are doing the right thing, emandjules.

one max two days a year i would say - some years full attendance
15-17 a lot