Has anyone else home educated to avoid hassle over attendance ?

[backedintoacorner]

We can’t get the required level. Combination of pre existing medical issues and constant viruses etc .
can’t sign a contract as I know we can’t influence the % so there’s no point.

At this point seriously considering not returning after Xmas hols and just de registering to home educate as it seems to be either you are fine and can go 97%+ of the time or you’re not ok but there’s no allowance made so it’s constant hassle and threats of legal action causing stress on the whole family

Yes attendance has always been below but it’s only since September that is been an issue previously it was just authorised and we got the letters saying it was below the E or yes level but weren’t required to go to meetings or provide proof which we are now since September

There has been a change in staff (attendance officer and deputy head) that’s the only difference so could be the reason ?

Does your child enjoy school? Have they got friends? What are their thoughts on home education?

Yes loves it. She has 2 very good friends so not loads but she is quite shy. I haven’t discussed home education with her as it’s not really my preferred option but in all honestly the stress and pressure is getting to me so much that I’m really considering it as the current situation is unbearable. I’m trying to manage and juggle so many things and the letters and calls, meetings, pressure , requests for proof is draining me. I might have a chat with dd and talk about it because I feel like I’m very close to just de registering

What are her underlying conditions ?

What is the condition?

I admit I have a different viewpoint. I have a medical condition, but am strong as an ox, never ill, and even when I am I go to work. Dh the same. Ds's same, never ill, and just go to school if they are .

Surely your focus should be on getting dd healthier, building up her resistance, etc. doing everything you can to facilitate that. why are you not focusing on that? Rather than thinking of home Ed, which is a big step?

The OP can have more than one focus.

I have a medical condition, but am strong as an ox

Good for you, but not all medical conditions are the same. Sometimes no matter what you or HCPs do you can’t get DC healthier or build resistance.

I would chat to your gp too OP, get them on board. They may be concerned or have a broader picture of whether the school is being over zealous or not. Other parents may be in the same situation too (just to reiterate as missed word out in my last post - our school told me ds is by far not the only one, long covid is affecting many pupils too) and it sounds like they are potentially wasting gp resources in making these demands.

Also wondering if some kind of hybrid schooling might help? No idea if possible but imagining some work being set to complete at home and some in school to minimise exposure to germs and viruses- basically keep trying to demonstrating a desire to work with school to help improve things - that should be all they need really to get off your back.

Home ed will help that

I think in all dealings with school you really need to turn this round to focus on your DC's medical needs rather than it being an attendance issue.
Anything the school asks, just refer them to the hospital consultant. The contract they are asking you to sign, tell them you can't as you're not medical but, again, refer them to consultant.

Keep it all at a medical level.

I’ve worked in school attendance (secondary) for years.

It isn’t uncommon for parents of pupils with low attendance to deregister them for elective home education; most of these children achieve no qualifications as a result and eventually go on to college for basic skills / entry level courses. Home educating (and actually educating) is a big commitment, especially as they head towards the exam years. It’s possible, but it is hard.

What I would recommend is the following:

• meet with the attendance staff AND the SENCO / ALNCO to discuss the child’s medical condition, and her impact that this can have on picking up illnesses and longer recovery time.
• provide ‘free’ medical evidence as often as possible (photo of a prescription, copy of appointment slip etc). Offer to cooperate with the school nurse (they are likely to back you up to school).
• maintain VERY regular contact with school. Speak to the attendance staff every day that your child is absent. Contact them before they contact you.
• don’t be afraid of the Education Welfare Officer - if they get in touch, just talk to them openly and honestly. They would probably tell the school that they’re barking up the wrong tree (the ones I gave worked with gave no interest in chasing proactive parents if unwell children - their job is to deal with unnecessary absence, so they would likely listen to you and back you up with school).
• contact the school governors and express your concerns that the school’s attendance procedures are inflexible and unrealistic.
• but, do get your child in on every day that they are able to attend - for example if they’re poorly Monday - Thursday, but then improve DO send them in on the Friday. Extra days off add up quickly.
• finally, if it is just letters and meetings, don’t worry too much. The school will have a procedure that they feel they need to go through (varies from school to school and some schools are more rigid than others). Look up the threshold for a fixed penalty in your area (it’s usually only based on unauthorised absence) and if you don’t meet that threshold, there’s really nothing the school can do except nag.

Flexi schooling is possible but would need the school to agree. Many aren’t keen. Though the school wouldn’t send work home.

If DC can’t attend full time due to their health they can attend part time (or not at all if they aren’t able to) and the LA must provide alternative provision to make it up to a full time education. This should begin once it becomes clear 15 days will be missed. The days don’t need to be consecutive or have already been missed. The school don’t have a duty to send work home.

Op has been offered very good advice on this thread. 3 things she could practically do suggested to her, before she makes the step of considering HE and talking to her dd about it.

It may well be a good thing for dd, it can be if it's done properly, for the right reasons.But it is a big step and it's worth considering that if she does the things suggested it may not be necessary.

Thanks that’s really helpful

We’ve tried everything. She had bloods done in case she was anaemic or had any other issues and all results were fine.
The consultant suggested to take extra vit D which she has now for 4 years plus a whole range of other supplements. We tried elderberry syrup too and manuka honey.
She has a very healthy diet and plenty of sleep etc.
I don’t know how else I can build up her resistance the idea of catching illness and building a strong immune system doesn’t seem to work for dd as since she started nursery it’s been like this

What is her underlying condition?

The point about unschoolers is well made. We are are on the slacker end of a classical style education in our home and am often shocked at the curse of low expectations of homeschooling.
We have shifted my my eldest from being 2 year levels behind in maths to slightly ahead in about 15 months of homeschooling. It's taken a few trail and errors finding the right curriculum and knowing when to push and when to rest.

How do you homeschool if working? How do children make lasting friendships if not through school.

In a lot of areas there are active home schooling groups where families work together giving children the chances to socialise with others and access a wide range of experiences.

home Education doesn’t mean staying within your home with no outside experiences.

School attendance policies are ridiculously applied. We had stroppy letters and a visit from the attendance officer (which we missed because we were all at school!). I called my son's school and explained very clearly that my husband and I were both teachers, we valued education and it was a massive inconvenience for us to keep our children home when unwell. We were not doing it lightly, but they would not be in school when sick, however many letters they sent. I also pointed out that perhaps if schools did not have the policy of encouraging students to attend when unwell, my kids wouldn't be repeatedly catching things. They apologised and we've not had any issues since fortunately.

I would only be home educate if you feel it would benefit your family and you could do it well. Don't be bullied in to it.

Others have mentioned that the school should have taken action as soon as your child had missed a total of 15 days in a year, or looked likely to do so. From what you say, that should have happened years ago, and certainly should be in place now.

By now, your daughter should have a named contact at the LA whose responsibility it is to ensure the school/LA take the necessary steps so her education doesn't suffer. That could involve sending out a tutor or liaising with the school to make sure they help her catch up when she misses things. Assuming the school never made that referral, I would inform the LA yourself. You say that your daughter's attainment is very good, so it may be that this person will simply monitor the situation and decide no extra help is needed at the moment, but they'll be on hand if things get worse. Secondary might be trickier because of all the different teachers you'll be dealing with.

The LA contact may also be able to intervene to prevent you getting hassle about attendance. They will be familiar with kids who are genuinely too ill to attend school.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/941900/health_needs_guidance_accessible.pdf

The 15 days don’t need to have already been missed. Provision must start once it becomes clear 15 days will be missed. Even if the pupil is coping academically the LA must still provide alternative provision to ensure the pupil receives a suitable, full time education.

Juggling work and home ed is probably the biggest challenge for most people. The education side of it takes far less time than at school. Being targeted at the child's specific needs and interests and with one-to-one attention, home ed is very efficient. In fact, where children are too ill to attend school and the LA sends a tutor out, that is typically only for 5-10 hours a week. So even families who prefer a formal school-style education won't usually be sitting down for anywhere near 30 hours a week.

However, there's still childcare to consider for younger children. Even kids who are old enough to be left alone still benefit from having someone around to keep them company and help them get out of the house to do things.

Options include working opposite shifts (if there are two parents in the household), getting a job compatible with being at home with children, or using paid childcare during your working hours and educating your child during the hours when you aren't working. I used to use a childminder, which worked really well for us. My child enjoyed playing with the CM's kids, who were also home educated, and being taken out to home ed groups and museum sessions etc. I only worked part-time, however.

I’ve never heard about the 15 day thing. I think in previous years they’ve been ok but something has changed this academic year