EWO... advice please

[Laceybanana]

Hello, sorry in advance if this is long.

Late last year my daughter had frequent and recurring bouts of illness, primarily stomach pain and vomiting.

In February this year we finally and thankfully got a diagnosis of stomach migraines and she's been on medication ever since but has had breakthrough episodes, we're currently awaiting a review on the 21st to see what other options are available.

Her medication is on file at school along with other doctors notes and medications she had to take for various reasons like a double ear infection and UTI.

Recently I got called into school for a meeting with an EWO, she went through her list of absences (89% currently) and was rather shocked when she mentioned "our fire" being one of them. To clarify in April at 4am we were evacuated from an arson attack, we were then displaced for a week in a hotel over and hour away with only the pajamas we evacuated in. The school were aware of what was happening every step of the way and seemed to be understanding but have marked the week down as unauthorized.

Back to her illness, the EWO and the school have all but said they don't believe me without saying it. I've given the EWO permission to contact our GP to confirm but she hasn't.

Yesterday my daughter had a mild breakthrough episode so I told her if she gets worse just tell the teacher, she cried and said that she'd just be told to go to the toilet, so I spoke with her teacher to let her know she's having a mild breakthrough episode and she had no idea what I was talking about so I explained about her stomach migraines and she suggested that I take her to a doctor and get medication for it.

So I went up to main reception to enquire why the teacher doesn't know about my daughter's stomach problems and the EWO was there too, she this time directly told me that "we don't know that she's actually ill".

I told them that I don't appreciate being called a liar and that I now have doubts about the school going forward at which point the EWO told me "if you're thinking of moving her to *other school, I work there too" and then she smirked at me.

I have no idea what to do anymore, I feel like I'm up against something impossible here all by myself, please help

Didn’t want to reach and dash - that seems awful.

I’d try not to let it get to you, you know that your child has only been out of school when necessary.

Maybe try to keep the teacher in the loop about the illness too, can you email/message them any way?

have you not provided the school with copies of doctors/hosp letters ?
can you change schools.

I've provided them with everything, doctors appt cards, hospital discharge forms, medications prescribed.

The EWO told me that if I move my daughter to the other local school that "she works there too" and then smirked.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you and your dc.

My dc had multiple health issues and his attendance was in 80+% at one point. We never had any problem with school.
I don't know if the school was particularly good or it because we had a proper meeting prior to him starting school and passed all the info to school.

I think communication is the key. Talk to school, give them evidence like dr's letters etc.

Unfortunately with all of the support staff being made redundant this kind of lack of communication will become more common.

From you perspective op you need to try and not get irate with the EWO
You can evidence all of these things.
They see a lot of people take the absolute piss and not prioritise their kids education. When you get lied to a lot in your job it can make you see the worst in everyone.

Easier said than done but try not to take that personally.
Request an in person meeting with them
take all the paperwork you have with you.
Challenge the unauthorised absence re the fire and insist records are changed on that count at least.

Also I would speak to your kids teacher direct with some of the medical evidence to hand so that they are clued in. It’s not their fault if info isn’t getting to them (or yours of course) but this at least you can solve by speaking with them directly

I suggest arranging a meeting with the teacher in charge of medical care plans - most often at primary this is the sendco. Ask them. To put a care plan in place due to her diagnosis that details what action school should take if she falls ill at school. I would also ask for the contact details for the school nurse. Most schools have a nurse shared with other schools so they can be tricky to get hold of! Ask them to support you in putting appropriate care in place in school. Don't worry about the EWO - if there are clear medical issues they can't do anything about it. They may try, but will not be able to ignore evidence if it comes to it.

Absolutely this!

What can the EWO actually do?

That's awful. The school aren't fulfilling their duty of care to your daughter. Meeting with headteacher and head of governors. Get irate.