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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

I've got a letter for Ds's low attendance.

22 replies

RowenaRavenclaw · 15/12/2011 23:14

My ds is 5 and isn't normally unwell. He's had a couple of days off early on in the school term with chicken pox and then flu last week. I've sent him in as soon as the worst was over even though he still has a cough and runny nose but have got a letter saying his attendance is 89% and is going to be monitored. Does that mean if he has any more illness from Jan till end of school 2012 that we will be getting a visit from the Ewo?

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BoattoBolivia · 15/12/2011 23:34

Honestly i wouldn't worry. This term is hard as kids are more likely to be ill but any absence is a high percentage as they have not been inschool that long. Ewos are chronically overworked and are well aware of the families they really need to be involved with. This a standard letter the school havr to send out. (i speak as a teacher, parent and school governor)

Original poster

RowenaRavenclaw · 16/12/2011 01:12

Thank you for your reply Bolivia, I've been feeling really bad about it all evening.

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Dreamer234 · 16/12/2011 21:45

Besides. Even if (and it's highly unlikely in your case) your EWO did check up, you tell them why and the reasons you've given above will be fine.

They work with (try to help) persistent low attenders (under 85%); they only prosecute if they are uncooperative. But they also just check up on children if the school is worried.

Your school WILL NOT be worried in your case. They just have to keep their attendance figures up (it's a requirement) so the computer system generates the bog standard letter to everyone under a certain percentage (can vary between schools). Relax. It's fine. You won't be chased by the EWO because the school knows it's for genuine illness. They just don't filter the letters. Better to issue to all below x% then reassure those who worry (which isn't that many)! Most will have separate arrangements for those with long term health problems.

Theas18 · 16/12/2011 22:24

It's purely statistical. A letter goes out if attendence falls below a certain level (90%?).

So if the 1st term is 10 weeks ( yes I know it isn't but I can't to the Maths of 13 weeks without a calculator!). Your son has 1 and a bit weeks off ( if he had c pox and flu then this pretty likely) he its less than 90% instantly.

As the weeks pass into next term his % attendence will go up- even if he's I'll again for a day or so.

Remember if we looked at the statistics a week off in the first fortnight of term would take it down to 50%!

clam · 16/12/2011 22:32

My DD has had very poor attendance this term, due to a persistent viral condition. The school have been very understanding and I have received no letter. But I've kept them informed regularly, and sent copies of consultants' letters and so on. I know the letters are computer-generated but it seems that the school can over-ride them if they wish.

3duracellbunnies · 16/12/2011 22:43

I wouldn't worry, but it might be worth asking for a print out. Our school sends it to everyone at the end of summer term, which is how I found out that a tedious day in hospital had been put down as a family holiday! Quick chat with the admin staff and it was reclassified, she was still clearly absent but not through our or her choice, which may be relevant if we are ever evil enough to request a holiday in term time!

You can always monitor their monitoring and pop in to the office at the end of each half term and ask to check on his registered attendance (as they are monitoring it, they should give you the info under freedom of info act). They might think twice next time about sending letters which get you concerned, when they are probably well aware that chicken pox and flu are going around.

nikon1968 · 18/12/2011 09:27

I would not worry at all it is just a paper exercise.

1 .Your child is off sick.

Headmaster sends you a letter informing you of this [as if you did'nt know]

Education authority = happy

It is really a load of old tosh.

If your child is sick he is sick, as long as you inform the school of the illness there is really nothing they can do about it.

HarrietJoHoHoHones · 18/12/2011 10:52

As the others have said don't worry. Schools have to do it to keep the LA happy. Even if an EWO did come they would see what illnesses he's had and see its ok. It's just in some cases low attendance can be an indicator of problems at home

Narketta · 18/12/2011 11:06

We had a letter because DS attendance had fallen below 95%. He is asthmatic so that always causes problems at this time of year. And then on Thursday last week the school called me to pick him up because he had a upset stomach.

I think it's a waste of paper tbh and makes parents (well me at least) feel like they're being told off for something completely unavoidable.

nikon1968 · 18/12/2011 11:11

The thing is that the parents that worry about the letter are probably not the parents the letters are aimed at.

The school will have to send out a letter to ALL parents whose children fall below a certain line.

The children that are being kept off unnecessarily are the ones that it is really aimed at and they are the parents who probably do not even read the letter.

auntpetunia · 18/12/2011 21:42

to be honest it's not even the school sending the letter out it's the EWO who works for the LEA, most LEA's have a target of 90% and if you fall below that they get in touch as they have said they will monitor it and if it's no longer a problem then that will be that, If attendance continues to fall then they will take it further. In my school anyone who's had chickenpox and we have had loads this term don't get a letter coz I can tell the EWO who has had it and she just takes that into account. don't worry about it though even if you do get a visit EWO's aren't horrible people just people doing a horrible job .

skybluepearl · 18/12/2011 22:55

seriously please ignore the letter. ESW's wont be involved with 90% attendance, it's simply just the school trying to get the attendance figures up so they look better next to other schools. besides if an ESW ever did get in contact, you have very valid reasons for time off school. and lastly it's the reception year hes in and lots of kids have time off for exhaustion, never mind anything else.

skybluepearl · 18/12/2011 22:57

I was told the ESW involvement level was 80% attendance by the way

UniS · 18/12/2011 23:00

mostly its a useless paper exercise... BUT just occasionally it might prod a parent to investigate what happens when little johnny stays over at dads on a Tuesday and wed and misses Wednesday school routinely.... for instance.

tink123 · 25/12/2011 12:24

DD has about 75% attendance every autumn term, and then this picks up as she is not normally off from Feb onwards.

Problem is once she has a cold, she coughs until she is sick for about 3-4 weeks afterwards.

Her overall year attendance is about 86-88% and we have never had any letters or anything.

Tgger · 29/12/2011 22:26

Yeah, I got a letter too which was really annoying and silly. Said something like "I am concerned about your son's attendance but you have accounted for all his abscences which have been mainly due to illness"- well yes, "completely due to illness" would have been more accurate and I think 9 days in reception due to 2 ear infections isn't that bad really........ GRRRRrrrrrr, can't they write letters about things that matter, oh yes and he's not legally required to go to school yet either. GRrrrrrrrrrr....... can see it got me annoyed eh!

pinkkoala · 03/01/2012 14:26

i had a letter before xmas concerning my dd low attendance at 85%, my reason she was home schooled for two yrs and started yr2 in september, since then she has had one thing after another, more recently over xmas she had croup. i feel that as a home schooled parent i have been picked up for every little thing that doesn't fall within their guidelines and the attendance just about finished it off, they said she had late marks but when i looked at a printout from the school regarding attendence, she hadn't missed one registration, just been off sick. i feel i am having to argue my case all the time with the school, my dd also got told that she cudn't bring in an apple for snack as they provide them. the problem is sometimes they have carrots which aren't to and tailed or peeled and she doesn't like them. i know that when she goes back after xmas we are going to get another telling off for her being off the last week of term due to croup.

also we have been told that we aren't allowed to book any hols during school time as they won't authorise them due to her not starting school til yr2, again this was our choice and feel we are being penalised again, any suggestions.

AndiMac · 05/01/2012 10:43

Yes, this is what going to school means. You don't take holidays during school times. It's not being harsh on you, it's the way it is.

PatriciaHolm · 05/01/2012 11:30

Most schools won't authorise holidays in term times, it's a standard policy.

mankyscotslass · 05/01/2012 11:37

Most schools won't authorise any term time holidays these days. It's standard practise, not just for parents who have previously homeschooled.

There are 10 days the head can allow in exceptional circumstances - some heads are more lenient than others, but as pressure from Ofsted and the government grows, even the more lenient ones will have to think twice.

The sickness letters are standard too.

Original poster

RowenaRavenclaw · 08/01/2012 03:15

Btw thanks for your replies everyone xx

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HouseOfCheese · 08/01/2012 10:43

I think it's a bit of a waste of resources, especially at primary level. What do they think the average absent 6 year old is doing, bunking off school and hanging out down the shopping mall?

The system seems designed to pressurise you to send your children to school when they are ill.

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