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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

Poor attendance letter received

26 replies

krj2608 · 20/10/2021 21:54

I received a letter about dds poor attendance 87% for this half term.

She has been unwell for the last 3-4 weeks, colds and then Rsv but still attended school. She has just started year r so I expected illnesses (i was a year r teacher for years)

She had 3 days off due to a kidney infection two weeks ago. Her temperature had been around 38-39. She couldn't move off the sofa! She returned after 3 days with antibiotics

Fast forward to today, Two weeks later we are back to a high fever again, we saw a gp today who diagnosed another kidney infection, sore throat and swollen ears.

I spoke to school regarding the letter as it said they expect her to attend unless d and v or something contagious. They said that it's about the attendance levels and their audits that they need her to attend school as so many of year r are off poorly at the moment.

I get the impression they want me to send her to school as it stated they will monitor children and call home if necessary.

She came out of school yesterday hysterically crying with a temperature of 39.1 and no one said anything on collection. I am so cross, she is too poorly to attend school.

Does anyone know where I stand with this as they said if she continues to be off ill they will need to get other agencies involved (my sons attendance is 100%, not that it makes any difference!)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

krj2608 · 20/10/2021 21:56

Also she under urology for reccuring uti's. We have had a nightmare about her drinking at school. I asked her teacher if they would mind reminding her to drink. I was told by the teacher that they cannot force her to drink.

OP posts:

ArnoldBee · 20/10/2021 21:57

If she's in reception is she compulsory school age yet? If not don't worry about it.

Takeachance18 · 20/10/2021 21:59

If unwell and you clearly have evidence having been diagnosed with a kidney infection, don't send her in and you can provide evidence as necessary if it comes to it. You know your child and it's not like you are keeping a sibling off because one of them is ill

Brollywasntneededafterall · 20/10/2021 22:01

Just keep in mind op your dc's health outweighs school stats...
When my dd was violently sick one morning, school sent a teacher to take her in at lunchtime.. I refused to send her...
Dd has just had a nasty letter... Her attendance is only 97.8...I mean come on...

Lougle · 20/10/2021 22:02

Let them get the other agencies involved. If she's ill, she's ill. Doctors records will show that she's ill. As long as you're following process and reporting her absent each day, that's all you can do.

I had similar with my daughter and when the school treated me badly over it, I moved her.

InTheLabyrinth · 20/10/2021 22:02

Keep a record of the Drs appointments, what illnesses she has and how unfit she is.
The letters are automatically generated - I know an attendance officer, and she is in despair at some of the letters she us having to send, because she knows they are genuinely ill when not in school.
Yes, her absences may trigger a visit, but if you are honest it should be evident.

TankFlyBoss · 20/10/2021 22:03

Hi, I'm an education welfare officer. She isn't compulsory school age yet so doesn't have to be in school. Not til the term after 5th birthday. School have sent you a standard ish letter but it's not very helpful and doesn't really mean anything. Primary schools report their attendance to me and I would just be telling them that all reception children pick up minor illnesses and just to keep an eye on it and I am sure it will improve as the year progresses. Also in this half term it only takes about 4/5 days to push them down to this level.

If your daughter has been poorly she has been poorly. She's only reception and school are technically doing the right things but being a tad enthusiastic maybe.

Made me laugh they are so worried about their audits and attendance figures. Tell them since covid every school in the country attendance figures have been shot to shit!

Don't lose any sleep over it. Xx

Lougle · 20/10/2021 22:03

DD2 is sitting on 85% and DD3 on 87% at the moment. It's early in the year so each day counts more at this stage because there are less days of possible attendance. They've got Covid-19, caught from school, so school will just have to accept it.

TolkiensFallow · 20/10/2021 22:04

I would be writing them letters in response

toomuchfaster · 20/10/2021 22:05

@ArnoldBee

If she's in reception is she compulsory school age yet? If not don't worry about it.

This is not true, if you choose to send her to school she has to attend! However, if she is too ill to attend then keep her off. As long as you can show she was ill and are open to the ways they want you to improve her attendance, you should be fine. Note be open doesn't mean you have to do them!

Pumpkintopf · 20/10/2021 22:08

If your daughter is ill you keep her at home. I think schools can be ridiculous at times with these letters. I know they are under pressure with figures but honestly!

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 20/10/2021 22:08

Tell them to get whatever agencies they want involved, you will not be sending your very ill child to school so their figures look good.

It would be neglectful of you to send her on in the state you describe.

You have evidence of illness, they will look very stupid if they try to take it further.

PandoraP · 20/10/2021 22:09

How can the letters be automatically generated? Surely someone sends them? I have received letters when my child is ill in hospital and had attendance officers call me to tell me to bring him in. I told them he is admitted to hospital, but doesn’t matter as attendance is poor so he must come to school

Sally872 · 20/10/2021 22:10

Let them get other agencies involved. Will take them all of 2 mins to figure out genuinely ill and that child is not been neglected or whatever it is they need to check. You are not responsible for the schools attendance targets.

School are thinking about targets by trying to get you to send your sick child in rather than support a child/family who isn't absent for genuine reasons get back on track.

TankFlyBoss · 20/10/2021 22:12

@toomuchfaster yes now she is enrolled at a school then expectation of course is that she attends regularly and punctually and failure to do so would be concerning and prompt contact with parents, but the fact is that she is not yet legally required to be in education so if she isn't attending, there is no legal recourse. So being of compulsory school age makes a huge difference.

BeStillNowColin · 20/10/2021 22:12

@toomuchfaster you are incorrect. It is called compulsory school age and as the education welfare officer up thread Tank has said she doesn't legally have to be in school until the term after she turns 5. It doesn't matter that she is in school already, the rules are the age not when you choose to send them.

whenwillthemadnessend · 20/10/2021 22:12

Regarding her uti. Have a read up on d mannose It really helped my dd as she had bladder issues at that age It was not drinking enough but she was helped by it.

SpookyPumpkinPants · 20/10/2021 22:15

@TolkiensFallow

I would be writing them letters in response

Me too.

FFO KCUF

suggesting if they have nothing better to do than harass a mother with a sick child they'll have plenty of time to rearrange them!

@krj2608

...tell them to crack on referring you if that's what they want to do. Tell them THEIR stats are not your concern, YOUR daughters health is!

If she's not well enough (in YOUR opinion), to go to school, she stays home!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 20/10/2021 22:20

It happens sometimes. In one year DD missed 5 days for an approved holiday, then she got Scarlet Fever (2 days) then a bad cold (1 day) then a nasty stomach bug (6 days) then impetigo (3 days). Not counting the school being closed for 3 days due to other circumstances, and a 2 week period she didn't attend as we moved.

Original poster

krj2608 · 20/10/2021 22:22

Thank you all that really helps! She is 5 at the end of March so summer term she will be compulsory school age.

I did call them and got really cross, it doesn't help that I'm 38 weeks pregnant and very hormonal! I then had a cry afterwards. I asked them what do they want me to do and they didn't really have a response and just said about the low attendance figures for year r this year and its the worst year they have had. They have had ofsted the last few days so I assume this was a response for ofsted. I did say I will hunt for the magic wand this evening to make her better, not sure how well that went down.

OP posts:

Phoenix76 · 20/10/2021 22:52

Ultimately your child’s health is the priority op. I agree with the others that said if there were an investigation they would very quickly establish that this is a genuine case for any non attendance. It’s this kind of nonsense that can encourage parents to send kids in with contagious illnesses like d&v (and the coronavirus).

If I were in your situation, I would confidently keep her off school when she’s ill. You have enough on your hands at the moment and this is absolutely the right thing to do. I hope she gets better soon bless her.

PesosBandage · 20/10/2021 23:03

I hear ya. I got a letter when mine was in reception. I would keep her off for d&v, and, as per school rules, keep her off till 48hrs clear of the last bout.

But then I got a letter that she was missing too much school. I phoned and asked whether they wanted me to send her in sooner, and not wait the 48hrs in future, or whether the 48hr rule still stood. Apparently the 48hr rule still stood, but if she missed any more school then they'd haul me in for a meeting to discuss how they could support me in getting her into school....

I asked whether this would include such strategies as improving classroom hygiene and cleaning practices so that she'd stop bringing sickness bugs home... they wouldn't elaborate over the phone.

Anyway, then lockdown happened, and school stopped giving a shit about how much school they were missing. They went silent on us for far more days than my daughter had missed through d&v.

Original poster

krj2608 · 21/10/2021 10:07

It gets better this morning!

We can track the attendance on an app.

They have changed my daughters attendance yesterday and today from covid to illness even though we are also self isolating as we haven't had the pcr results back.

Just found this is the government policy:

If a pupil tests negative and if they feel well, they can stop self-isolating and return to school. If the pupil remains unwell following the test (such as with a different illness), then they should be recorded as code I (illness). Code X should only be used up until the time of the negative test result. Schools should not retrospectively change the attendance register due to a negative test result.

Her attendance is now 81% 🙄

OP posts:

user1470132907 · 21/10/2021 20:44

Does the school not also have some sort of duty of care to child’s safety?? I would be calling and asking to speak with the head. Kidney infections at this age can be kidney failure in adulthood (I know from experience) and not resting etc increases likelihood of recurrence.

Plus she won’t be learning anything that ill anyway.

user1470132907 · 21/10/2021 20:45

And yes, let them involve the other agencies. They will report back there is no issue and have the school off your back for good

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