School asking for proof of illness

[YukoandHiro]

My DD is in reception and has been so ill this year. I'm sure it's the lockdown catch up thing but it's been awful. Since September she's had:
A week off with covid
A week off with chicken pox
Three rounds of norovirus
Tonsillitis
Loads of random days of for PCR checks in the autumn term
And also as she's asthmatic she's had loads of severe viral wheeze which has required time off too. Last night we were in a&e again and I doubt she'll be well enough to go back til Friday.
The school called me today and asked for medical reports. We're seeing the GP tomorrow anyway for a review of her inhalers so I presume they will be able to provide this?
I'm so exhausted by it all and now feel like the school doesn't believe me?
All the way I've been following the rules. Eg she was basically fine in herself with both chicken pox and covid but I followed guidelines and kept her off.
Just feel really fed up today. Any advice on the documents I might need?

I imagine a GP would charge for it. I would go back to the school and tell them how much it will cost them.

You don’t give documents! Just calmly tell the school that isn’t possible.When did you dd turn five?

Ask on what grounds they are questioning you? If they start getting funny about attendance offer to send the vomiting child in to infect the school

@LilacPoppy she hasn't yet! She's a summer birthday but we decided not to hold her back a year (which was the right decision) and so I'm even more irritated as legally she doesn't even need to be in school.

It's not like I've wanted my two children to have been permanently unwell since October. I'm so exhausted and drained and my work is suffering. The idea that I'm just keeping her back to hang at home is madness

When did she turn 5, and how much absence has been whilst she has been compulsory school age?
In any case tell them your daughter medical history is confidential. You don't need to provide anything

X post
Just ignore or give a tingly laugh and say you haven't time to be chasing down such nonsense especially as she's only 4

I suspect it’s their policy rather than an individual judgement on your honesty. Erratic attendance at school is one of the early warning signs of significant child welfare issues at home. It is equally possible for young children to be off lots with big after big. Our youngest has been the same as yours and had so much time off school this year for bugs etc.

They’re not doing it to judge but to protect children potentially at risk. The policy has to apply to everyone to catch the few. Our GP would happily write a note (likely a charge for it). Either tell school you don’t feel it’s necessary or ask GP. Ours is a little rural school and our other 2 children went to school so I just popped in to Head’s office when I was passing to say hi and we chatted about our youngest’s latest visit to hospital for a roaringly high temp.

I've had this loads in the past with mine. They even expect them in for their mark to see they're unwell before summoning me to collect them.

A doctor's appointment usually does, even if you make one and cancel. Not sure how that would work these days like.

Honestly, it’s probably the education welfare officer/attendance officer needing it for their evidence. It absolutely won’t be personal.

Schools are LEGALLY obliged to track attendance. It’s incredibly important for safeguarding. In some cases, obviously not yours, lack of attendance could be due to all sorts of child welfare issues. None of us like to feel that a finger is pointing at us, but we all want systems in place to safeguard children.

Try not to be offended. Ask the GP for a brief letter/fit note type thing.

This is a good thing. It means your school takes their duty of care seriously.

I have had this many times with a new school. Your DD is in reception so the school doesn’t have much medical info on her yet. In the past, I just ask the GP to print a patient summary this shows all the diagnosed chronic health problems like asthma and dates of recent Dr appointments. If you reported the chicken pox to the GP as well, (I did over phone and sent photos in) it will note that & the dates too. This has always been sufficient to cover periods of illness that I send sick note in for (written and signed by me)

GPs don’t provide sick notes, some not at all and some only if you pay them. So the school cannot insist on that as proof of illness.

Many GP's will no longer write letters for schools. Even if you offer to pay for them.

Your GP won't supply a fit note in these circumstances. However, they may write you a report or summary outlining the key issues. They may charge for this. However, you are entitled to a copy of your child's medical records from any hospital or clinic they have been seen at (Medical records act allows it). You will need to show proof of being a parent to the child to obtain this. This maybe the cheaper option and may provide full insight into what is going on. You don't have to cooperate with the school request, but they may refer you to the attendance or welfare officer. I had these sorts of problems with my eldest when he was 5 and 6. Like your daughter, he missed school a lot due to epilepsy and hypermobility injuries. The school attendance officer started having a go and I provided medical evidence. They never asked again.

Our school ask for proof of illness if off for 5 days
Things they accept has proof are
Proof of appointment eg appointment letter or text.
Proof of medication eg photo copy of prescription.
Hospital discharge paper work
I also got them to accept a text from our gp which basically said DS can't return to school for 14 days.

Is the school part of an academy chain, perchance?

Lots are having a bit of a push on attendance figures at the moment (probably a government nag post covid) and are being particularly pushy.

Our head was sending us texts every 2 minutes at the start of the year asking us to keep our kids off if they had 'any illness at all', so we all did, then the trust decided to do this drive and suddenly we're getting messages about attendance and everyone requesting official absence is getting a straight refusal.

The school are being really apologetic about it but they have to tow the line with the trust.

The GP will probably charge for a letter, OP. If that is the case I think you're well in your rights to tell the school to feck right off.

@YukoandHiro your daughter is not compulsory school age there is no requirement for attendance at all, and her attendance is marked separately to CSA children. Just remind them tomorrow that your daughter is not CSA and you will not be providing any medical evidence.

@7eleven Schools are LEGALLY obliged to track attendance. It’s incredibly important for safeguarding. nope the op’s daughter is not CSA , she could take her to Disney Land for two weeks if she wanted with zero issues or fines.

Just give them appointment cards and stickers off her prescriptions if she's had any medication prescribed. Otherwise they can't demand what you can't provide 🤷‍♀️

I've been helping a relative handle this and these are our solutions:

1 In the short term, show the school the receipt part of prescriptions for inhalers and other medications - that's the part the pharmacy puts in the bag with the dispensed prescription;

2 Keep all receipts of any over-the-counter medicines purchased, eg Calpol, calamine lotion;

3 Make sure you're signed up as a family to every online facility your GP surgery offers: summary records, medication ordering, e-consults, emails, everything.

You can print and keep everything and create a file.

It was this approach that meant we were successful in obtaining (low rate) DLA for a very young child in our family with severe asthma and allergies.

You can also then revert back to the school and ask them, in terms of your DD's asthma, what the school's policies are re risk assessments and ECHPs. My relative's DD has extremely bad asthma attacks and everyone needs to know what they're doing, quickly.

Sorry to hear the kids have been so unwell& just a sorry the 'school' is being so ridiculous.

Reply much as you have in your post I quoted.

stop slightly short of telling them to fuck iff, but only slightly!!

Not sure where you are based but where I am schools are legally obliged to monitor attendance. Doctors don't give details anymore but will write a letter saying "X is unable to attend school from 1st June - 3rd June due to illness". It is a part of the schools role to monitor attendance and go further with any issues they might see arising. If you have a note from your doctor then that's you and your DD covered. V annoying when you are doing everything above board and correct, but unfortunately not every parent does and so this system has to be place. It's nothing personal. Hope your DD feels better soon!

This is all laid out by the department of education. I’m going from memory but it’s something like, school should not ask for evidence unnecessarily and should only ask for it if they don’t believe the parent’s explanation.

I don’t think you’re obliged to provide any evidence. You could suggest that if the doubt your veracity, they can mark the absence as unauthorised.

I had something similar and it wasn’t till I’d jumped through flaming hoops to get proof that I did some research on what my obligations were and really I should have told them to get stuffed.

As others had said it will be school policy once attendance dips below a certain threshold then medical evidence is required for illness. Schools have a duty to ensure nothing else is going on too so evidence helps them to establish that.

@houseofboy not for a non CSA child.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1076127/School_attendance_guidance_May-2022_.pdf

OP, if you scroll down to page 13

You do NOT have to provide this to the school. GPs are overstretched and on their knees - schools are very pushy with this but it is not appropriate and they actually have no right to ask for confidential medical information.

Current guidance from the British Medical Association and the NHS states that:

1. GPs do not provide sick notes for school children.


2. When children are absent from school due to illness, schools may request a letter from a parent or guardian.


3. Parents/guardians are responsible for excusing their children from school; GPs cannot provide retrospective sickness certification.


4. If a child suffers from a long-term condition, any certifications will be provided by the responsible specialist.

If necessary, a print out simply stating dates and times of GP appointments for your daughter (from the receptionist) is enough.

Hope she feels better soon; it's stressful enough having a child with a series of illness episodes, without having the stress of school putting you under this pressure. I agree, it's like their default is to not believe parents. Regardless of safeguarding policies, this is not right.