Headlice -illness, other authorised circumstance or unauthorised absence?

[3birthdaybunnies]

Have just got dd's absence listings she was late one day (about 10 mins late) because 10 min before we were due to leave for school I found a headlice when she said her head was itchy. Cue bath, conditioner, combing, few more evicted etc. I thought better to deal with there and then than send to school itching and spread further, couldn't send her knowing she would be scratching all day. School is quite opposed to the little critters, and I told them the reason when I took her in. Dh thinks we should challenge it on principle as she was only late because of this welfare issue. She generally has a good record otherwise so not worried about Ewo. What would it be recorded as in your schools?

Um, why would you challenge it? It doesn't matter what it's recorded as if it was only one day. I literally cannot understand why anyone would care (unless worried about fines and similar, which sounds unlikely from what you've said).

Unfortunately nowadays it is not considered necessary to keep children off school for headlice infestation. This is why we have such a massive problem.

I kept dd off for a morning when I discovered she had them. I treated, combed, etc and received a telling off from the school for my trouble.

Back when I did my nursing training we used to check heads and exclude until treated.

What code was used?

Lateness is not the same as unauthorised absence. I think 15 mins late can only be written down as late. If it was illness, it would take up the half day, which is far more of a problem for school than one lateness.

In our school ten minutes late -regardless of the reason would be an L. Which is of absolutely no consequence unless part of a wider pattern.

Lateness is only a problem for schools when it is persistent. However the nearer 100% attendance your child gets, the better the statistics are for the school, so I can't see them changing it anyway.

Dh thinks it is the principle of it, considering how many letters home we get about it and a bit hypocritical of the school to make a fuss of them not having headlice but then tell people off for treating them. The school is also not always accurate in their recording as they incorrectly classified another time when they had a documented hospital appointment, they corrected it so wasn't sure if it was an error on their part. Interesting that you got the same feedback 3littlefrogs.

It was classified as U late after registers closed and so 1 unauthorised absence. As people have said not going to affect any long term life chances but they definitely got it wrong before and corrected it so wasn't sure if this was a mistake or school policy.

Well she was late, not the same as a med appt with a. Corroborating letter/appt card.

The only thing I would wonder is whether it ought to have been an L rather than U as registers generally close 30. Mins after school start time - though the policy is set by each school.

Why she was late is neither here nor there, if you wanted to pursue this the school would be quite correct to say that de-licking is something you could have done the previous evening. Then of course you'd say that you didn't know and then you'd just be arguing the toss and its just not that important.

That's great thanks McBalls. If they hadn't made the mistake before calling a day in a hospital with three children under 6 an unauthorised family holiday (despite telling teacher and giving letter to office in advance) I wouldn't have questioned it, but that certainly wasn't my idea of a holiday! The HT shuts the gate within 5min of the bell, anyone after that time has to go via the office and sign in so cannot get to their classroom for registration on time. The late rate must be horrendous hence their new policy of getting teachers to highlight each absence with the parents.

My dd had 12 weeks of 3x weekly light therapy

I got her to the hospital 15 miles away and in school by 9.30 every time, teachers aware, asking how treatment was going etc

End of year report came out and they had all been recorded as lates

They wouldn't change it

That's really bad chicken I have now started making appointments for mid morning (10ish) because then it doesn't appear on the absence at all. More disruptive for education but the school seem to prefer it that way. Also makes it easier to drop them all off together rather than explain to 20 parents walking in why the dc is going the 'wrong way'. Doesn't happen often, I try to make appointments out of school time wherever possible but some clinics only operate during the school day.

Well, she was late. I can't see what you've got to query tbh.
My dd had a hospital appt yesterday, so when she got there, (some hours late) obviously her register will show she wasn't there. It's a fact. You (and she) had a good reason, no-one's bothered, what's the issue?

schools don't have a choice, they have to follow the school registration regulations.

Late is late, even if there is a good reason for it.