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Original poster

School and calling in sick?

26 replies

whatsthepointthen · 09/01/2019 15:39

I called the school on monday to say my children were sick so wouldnt be in, anyway they still arent well and was up all night last night that I didnt get any sleep at all.

So today I had a call from the school which I missed as I was sleeping since I was up ALL night. As I missed it they called my emergency contact (which surprised me as they only gave me one missed call!) who then messaged me
to say the school want me
to call them.

Just wondering if other schools are like this. I did call on monday, am I meant to call for every day they are off?

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CarolDanvers · 09/01/2019 15:40

did call on monday, am I meant to call for every day they are off?

Yes Smile

Gazelda · 09/01/2019 15:41

You're asked to call in every day at my DD's school. I imagine it's the same in most schools
Hope you are all better soon.

user789653241 · 09/01/2019 16:04

Yes, my dc's school ask for up date everyday. I would imagine I would get a call if I didn't.

typoqueen · 09/01/2019 16:06

its the norm for schools to ask you to call every day the child is off

Sirzy · 09/01/2019 16:08

School knew they would be off on Monday, if you didn’t tell them they would be off for longer then it’s right that they follow things up.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 09/01/2019 16:09

Yes it’s a safeguarding requirement as well as just good manners.

spanieleyes · 10/01/2019 19:16

Yes. If a child isn't in school we have to ascertain where they are, If we are unable to speak to a parent, we will try other contact numbers. If we can't get hold of anyone we make a home check. If there is no reply, we make a safe and welfare call to the PCSOs who will call round to the house. Our admin staff spend a huge amount of time chasing parents up but it's a job we have to do.

sillywitch · 10/01/2019 19:23

My school rang me up to collect my son who was vomiting and unwell. They have the 48 hour rule for vomiting, like all schools. The next day they rang me up and wanted to know why he wasn't at school (same administrator). It's a small junior school and they know who I am and who he was so it's not a case of them not knowing the circumstances/individuals.

goldengummybear · 10/01/2019 19:24

Yes you are expected to call daily.

Original poster
whatsthepointthen · 10/01/2019 19:27

Thats the thing sillywitch I explained thet had sickness so wouldnt be in so I thought it was
obvious it would be for atleast 48 hours after aswell. But clearly not. I will call daily in future since thats the done thing, thanks for the comments.

OP posts:
rainbowsss · 10/01/2019 19:34

I knew a single parent who died, in their sleep overnight, kids didn't turn up to school (very young primary) so school called home and then emergency contact who went round when they didn't answer. God knows how long those poor kids would have been alone without that happening.

potatoscone · 10/01/2019 19:37

Of course you have to call Hmm

Pissedoffdotcom · 10/01/2019 19:40

My DD was sent home Monday. I called Tuesday to say off. Called yesterday & just said I was keeping her off the rest of the week. No call today.
The 48 hour rule ones baffles me; it's their rule that you are enforcing!

ourkidmolly · 10/01/2019 19:42

There was an even sadder case last year where a mum died and her son was autistic and unable to call for help. He died beside her body, of starvation. Devastating. The school had actually visited the home after no response to calls but hadn't gained access and didn't pursue, never imagining the horror. So yes all schools must now ascertain with certainty that pupils are safe.

user789653241 · 10/01/2019 19:50

I think the school need to do it, that they need to confirm the situation.
We had a case like sillywitch, and I spoke with the reception person when I collected him from school, and they told me I didn't need to call the next day, since we established that he wasn't coming in due to 48 hours rule.

Other times we didn't need to call everyday was when my dc was admitted to the hospital, that we only needed to contact them when he was discharged.

It's a good thing that they care for each pupils, and I am sure they rather don't have to do it.

Starlight456 · 10/01/2019 19:51

If it was a sickness bug I always informed would be off the next two days but would of phoned in for the third day.

They will also be checking you haven’t phoned in sick then gone on holiday

JudgeRulesNutterButter · 10/01/2019 19:55

Some schools do apply more common sense to it, eg when I rung my DD in sick with chicken pox I didn’t need to keep ringing for the rest of the week. Luck of the draw I guess.

Sirzy · 10/01/2019 19:57

If you know it will be a few days then tell them. Ds was off for two weeks, I told them he would be off for at least a week so therefore didn’t need to call until the start of the next week when I could confirm he would be off all that week to.

Original poster
whatsthepointthen · 10/01/2019 19:59

Oh thats so sad 😢. Well atleast I know now thats its important to call every day, poor boy.

OP posts:
HettieBettie · 10/01/2019 20:18

I think you’re knackered hun and knew you should’ve called. Relax about it- schools just care that know they aren’t bothered by stuff like this unlesss it’s regular.

Fingers crossed you get a better night Flowers

HettieBettie · 10/01/2019 20:18

That they know.

lotusbell · 10/01/2019 20:21

Why don't you check your school's absence policy? My son started high school in September and I made sure I knew the absence policy as it can be different at secondary schools.

rainbowsss · 10/01/2019 20:32

@newcamper that's so sad 😢

xyzandabc · 10/01/2019 20:35

If you called Monday, the 48hrs would be up on Wednesday if no further sickness, so it's not unreasonable to expect you to call or child to be back at school by Thursday

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