Attendance at pre school

[snowydrops]

My DD1 is 4, she is in Pre school at the local primary school (which she adores). She started in September. She started the school term late as we were away on a family holiday and the place was offered to her after booking. Anyway since then she has been ill 3 times (all sickness bugs) and is now ill again today.

One illness fell at Xmas holidays (was ill for a full week) the others have been during the term mostly so she has had about 5 days off plus an extra day today (and maybe more if it continues).

I have had a letter from school about attendance. Although I think this is reasonable for primary school I don't think it is at pre school level. I am not keeping her at home because I want to (other than the initial holiday) and she is now worried about not being able to go to school. I am concerned because this is the 4th sickness / stomach related illness since December but feel that her school / nursery really shouldn't want her there if ill. Has anyone else dealt with anything like this? I am wondering whether I should go in to see the Head to make it clear that she has been poorly and that I believe it would be wrong to send a (just) 4yr old to school when she's ill.

The letter they sent describes each day she has had off and why and mentions the fact that illness is unavoidable but that they are striving for 100% or near that. I don't really know how to respond!

Have they recently had an Ofsted visit? Maybe it is something they have been pulled up on. I would probably call and ask if they have concerns on her attendance. It may be they have sent letters to all parents that have had any absence? It does seem extreme but I wouldn't worry too much. It sounds like all her absences since the holiday have been genuine.

Pre-schools are under threat of having to pay back the 'free hours' if children regularly don't attend despite the fact the settings will need to pay the overheads to provide that place. Finance is tight enough in early years settings so the threat of having to pay back money that they don't have means settings are having to get tight on attendance.

The preschool has to keep an attendance register to show when funded children are actually turning up. If the attendance figure drops, the preschool may have to pay back some of that money.

They should have better communication in place though. Speaking to you personally and explaining this would have been better than sending a letter.

Thanks for this, it's useful to know they may have to pay the funding back but as you said Bert they would be best to explain this. I think I will just give the Head a call today to explain that she's been ill several times. We are obviously worried about it and also it's not ideal for us as we can't go to work so hoping for a well child who can attend school ASAP!

My dd had a nightmare year for catching bugs and viruses when she was 4yrs old. I think we had about 6 weeks in a row when she couldn't manage a full week. Her preschool were very understanding.

She's managed to miss most of the viruses doing the rounds in her Reception class this year, but there have been a lot of children and teachers off school because of them. Even the teachers who have been there for years and presumably built up a great deal of immunity have been dropping like flies recently.

I hope your dd is feeling better soon.