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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

school calling me a liar

316 replies

noodels2002 · 05/06/2017 13:56

Hello im new here. my dd ages 4 had the chickenpox for 2 weeks and i provided medical evidence for the school. however when she was well enough to return to school her grandfather died. i went in explained to the school and filled in all necessary forms. we went out of town to be with distraught mil which we told school we would be. my daughter took the news very hard and obviously was upset over it so my husband and i decided to take her to butlins for the weekend friday to monday and on our return we were greeted with a letter from the school dated Wednesday of that week informing us she hadnt been off due to bereavement but infact a family holiday and they had information could i come to school by friday when they broke off for half term ( impossible as we was out of town and which they knew we was) as they had been "given information".

the hakf term went by and i went to the school this morning to ask the head what the meaning if this letter was and what evidence she had to suggest this. she replied weve been given evidence by a reliable source and would not stipulate any further when asked by whom.

i also asked who had hand delivered the ketter to my house again to which she would not answer. i informed her the claims are incorrect and she said the school believe you are lying due to this reliable source. i said how can i defend myself if you have no evidence to give me. and she said she had evidence but wouldnt share it with me. i again explained about the bereavement and why we went out of town i also honestly told her we went to butlins at the weekend and showed her confirmation to which she said thats fine but we dont believe dd was where you said she was during the week. so at this point i got very distressed and said she had no proof and things got heated which resulted in me being escourted off school premises. ive shiwn her medical proof of rhe illness and proof we went on a family holiday friday to monday not the monday to friday she is questioning. this isnt the first run in with the head as the first time they accused my mother if child abuse and breaking my dd arm on idle gossip which resulted in a visit from ss to which they closed the case instantly and said the school was wrong to accuse people of this on idle gossip and no evidence. the second time the school called me and another parent in as a teacher had saw us arguing nor me or the other parent knew each ither or what she was even talking about as said parent wasnt even at school that day.

anyway back to original point. am i wrong to ask for their evidence and for the head to withold it from me before making these false claims. any help or advice appreciated as i feel i am being harrassed by the school and feel the need someone had been to my house and hand deliver a letter knowing we was out if town totally unacceptable. i feel due to the death of fil i have been hounded and harrassed by the school a trespass has been commited and a total lack of compassion shown from the achool in these difficult circumstances.

OP posts:
AnneElliott · 05/06/2017 14:22

I think you should also do a data subject access request to see all the info they have on you. Send the School a cheque for £10 and make the request.

I also agree you should ask them to put their request to you for the death cert in writing.

noodels2002 · 05/06/2017 14:22

her attendence was 97% due to the false claims to ss about her nanna breaking her arm so was off a few days then with the chickenpox as medical evidence for that was given to the school so not really a poor attendance rate

OP posts:
Lm2015 · 05/06/2017 14:23

That's awful, sounds like a clicky school!
Is your child in nursery or reception....
I'd be moving her

noodels2002 · 05/06/2017 14:24

reception due to move into year 1 in september

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 05/06/2017 14:24

I think that's possibly why then OP, that's a bit of a drip feed!

Blinkyblink · 05/06/2017 14:25

You lost me at the point you were escorted off the premises.

Don't behave like an unhinged extra in Eastenders and school won't doubt you in future I reckon.

noodels2002 · 05/06/2017 14:25

please explain what you mean by this please damediazepamthedramaqueen x

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 05/06/2017 14:27

What bit didn't you understand OP?

BertrandRussell · 05/06/2017 14:27

If there has been social services involvement, the school will take absences much more seriously. Quite rightly.

noodels2002 · 05/06/2017 14:27

the drip feed bit im not sure what you mean by this

OP posts:
Lunde · 05/06/2017 14:28

Point out to the head that your child does not legally have to attend school until the term after her 5th birthday

Wolfiefan · 05/06/2017 14:28

Schools have to be hyper vigilant when it comes to safeguarding.
Broken arm and claims a family member caused it.
Parent claiming bereavement then going on holiday (I know that's not what happened but could be how they see it.)
Parent getting "heated" (I know. Hard to stay calm if they're not being reasonable.)
They could be misreading this completely and be scared for your child's welfare.

noodels2002 · 05/06/2017 14:29

but the school involved them to which the social services said within a day no further action needed and the school were wrong to contact them.

OP posts:
TooLazyForDrama · 05/06/2017 14:30

97% isn't great to be honest. 96% triggers a council letter of concern in our LA. They've definitely been heavy handed but I'm stunned that you had to be escorted off the premises. Upset or not, a primary/Infant School is not an appropriate place to act like that. If you were that upset and angry then you should have walked out and contacted the Chair of Governors.

Bishybarnybee · 05/06/2017 14:30

Taking a four year old to Butlins to help her get over the loss of a grandparent is quite an unusual choice and may have led them to question how distressing the bereavement had been for the family.

Also, 2 weeks is a long time to be off with chicken pox.

Schools are under a lot of pressure to maintain high levels of attendance and that is why they are pressurising you after your child has been off for three consecutive weeks.

It actually doesn't sound that unreasonable to me that they are asking for proof, and if your MIL was understanding enough to cope with you going to Butlins for the weekend after the funeral, she might well be able to cope with giving you a copy of the death certificate to show them.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 05/06/2017 14:30

They are being extra careful as there has been SS involvement. I really wouldn't get into heated arguments with them. Just provide them with the evidence and leave it at that.

Wolfiefan · 05/06/2017 14:30

But also why two weeks off for chicken pox. That seems a very very long time.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 05/06/2017 14:31

Tbf you can be really ill with CP.

MrsD79 · 05/06/2017 14:32

Stand your ground or better still apply to a new school. It's not worth the agro. In my experience once your cards are marked they just make everything difficult for you and will always pick at things. Ask yourself if you will be happy and comfortable knowing your child is there all day. You were honest with them but they refuted your argument so have they really given you much choice?

noodels2002 · 05/06/2017 14:33

i just asked her to produce her evidence after she called me a liar and she got the caretaker to escort me off the premises not exactly kicking off.

OP posts:
MrsD79 · 05/06/2017 14:33

Schools are businesses. They don't care if you are on your last legs as long as their attendance figures are high.

Maudlinmaud · 05/06/2017 14:34

Why did you get escorted off the school grounds?

Maudlinmaud · 05/06/2017 14:35

X post sorry.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 05/06/2017 14:35

I think unfortunately it may be your attitude that is causing things to be dealt with this way by the school. If you had to be escorted off the premises I can't imagine you reached well to the accusation of a family member breaking your child's arm. 2 weeks also seems quite a long time to be absent for chicken pox. If you could keep calm and deal with the school like an adult I think you may find them more accommodating. I'm assuming by take things further they mean informing the LA absence officer. Hardly the end of the world and normal procedure. I think your behaviour might be ringing their safeguarding bells.

GandolfBold · 05/06/2017 14:35

You need to tread carefully, and shouting and screaming so that you are escorted off the premises is not going to help.

If SS are involved the school have to take it seriously. How long was your DD off altogether?