DD gifted & bright but long term illness stopped school

[luckylinda]

DD is gifted & bright and due to sit 4 GCSE's in June 2007 although only in year 9 - problem is she been ill for 18months + and has been off school except for six days since Xmas - school now threatening to prosecute me for her non-attendance despite letters from hospital and GP confirming illness - no support from school despite imminent exams - anyone have any suggestions - I have been to the school virtually every week requesting work - to date I have had two maths papers (wrong ones according to her teacher), an English essay and a latin text book!

luckylinda - have a look here for some info

I'm assuming that you've had contact with the Educational Welfare Officer from school. Refer her/him to the national minimum standards and request that they are put into place for your child. They have responsibilities to your daughter that involve more than just threats to prosecute. As you can see from the link they should be providing your daughter with help to access her education.

Hope this helps. My own daughter spent alot of time off school in the last academic year although not as much as yours and like you I found that it was me that was doing a lot of asking for work and them not doing much providing.

Thanks for the support and yes I will investigate this avenue - the school have at times been supportive and we have tried to get DD back part time but this only works on good days - dependent on what she has eaten and whether the medication she is on is doing its job. Despite going to the school virtually every week and speaking to the school over the phone (student support!) the information being passed on to the attendance officer and DD's school mentor/teacher is that she is away from school because she doesn't want to be there - she is under investigation for an ulcer and is due to go into hospital for endoscopy and insertion of a probe - gp has written to the school and I have reiterated this on numerous occasions - DD has lost a lot of confidence and goes nowhere now unless I am able to take her and stay with her - difficult as a single parent with a full time job and another daughter who is jealous of the attention her sister gets!

Linda would it be less stressful for her not to sit the exams now ? She'd still be doing them early if you put back these plans until next year.

thanks slimmerjim = have discussed with school and DD at length if she says she wants to sit exams although she will not be doing statistical maths now as she was unable to complete coursework. have also talked about moving down a group at school but this would mean repeating all the areas covered for the next two years - a big step back although I think think this is still an option - will be tackling school again about this next week

Sounds like the school has been spectacularly unhelpful to say the least. Could your local councillor help to put some pressure on them to get your dd the support/learning materials she needs ?

thanks for your advise am going to visit the school again tomorrow - will let you know how I get on - hopefully better than up to now!

Well been back to the school - DD threw up twice before leaving the house - saw "new" student support leader - a bit more helpful - although she asked me to take DD home again - but following this visit to school and telephone call to Education welfare we have had the result of getting work home for DD at last! school have had visit from education welfare today - have had apology reference threat of prosecution. DD has date for endoscopy and probe in stomach so hopefully we may get answers before the months out and the exams begin - school have agreed DD need not sit any exams if she is unwell so pressure is off although she still has to play catch up with studies.
Will keep you posted