School attendance

[Dotty2018]

Sorry for long post!!

My daughter is 4years old and in reception and since September has had 2days off on seperate occasions due to having a bad cough. She also had 5 days off for a holiday in September which was booked prior to us realising she was starting school and I had intended to do nursery for another year but then went with school. I wrote to school to let them know but this went down as unauthorised.

Monday she started with tummy ache but went to school ate nothing and was really tired. Tuesday I still sent her in but let teacher know she had tummy ache on pick up the teacher informed me she had loose stools and complained of feeling unwell when we got home she had all poo in her knickers and no one helped her wipe.

Wednesday she started with diahorrea so I kept her off and rang school to let them know. This morning she still had diahorrea so I've stayed off work to look after her and let school know.

11am just as we got out the bath the door goes and 2 members of staff from school are at the door checking if she is poorly telling my 4year old all her friends miss her and she needs to be back in school and then telling me I could be fined if her attendance doesn't improve.

She's only 4! School apparently have a policy that any sickness more than 24hrs will result in a home welfare check is this legal? It seems extremely excessive when she actually got an award last term for 100% attendance and isn't even allowed at school with upset tummy as per their sickness policy. They've told me she needs to be in school tomo despite her still have diahorrea. Obviously she was a typical 4 year old and jumping at the door excited to see staff from school at her house.

Would you complain about this?

Yes, it is legal for them to carry out a home welfare check. However, as your daughter is not of compulsory school age, it is wrong to suggest you could be fined. Even if she was of compulsory school age, you cannot be fined if she is sick. The are also wrong (and irresponsible) to say she needs to be in school tomorrow. NHS guidance is clear that a child should not attend school until at least 48 hours after the diarrhoea stops.

Don't complain about them carrying out a welfare check but do complain about what was said.

Wow, that's extreme. I've actually never heard of anyone doing a home welfare check before, unless there were other safeguarding concerns. If there aren't then it seems very excessive.

Who was it that turned up?

Ignore it. Your daughter is not statutory school age. They can't do anything. Tell them you will send your daughter back when she is well enough.

Seems a little odd that schools are doing this, I've never heard of it before, but another poster whose son has chicken pox had the same thing today.

Schools seem to be taking this whole attendance target thing to extremes.

It's getting ridiculous. I'd have said she shouldn't have been in on Tuesday - it seemed likely she was coming down with something. She's probably already given it to others on Tuesday. She might not have had diarrhoea on Tuesday, but they were aware of loose stools then her being off on Wednesday shouldn't have been a surprise. And they need to decide what the priority is - 48 hours off for diarrhoea/vomiting, or kids in school at all costs. The latter seems counter-productive - there's no point having them back in asap if they give it to two more kids who then miss a day or two each.

There are many reasons why schools have such a focus on attendance
One very simple one - Ofsted - they look at attendance and if it is not what they judge to be good they assume the school is not good. Which is frustrating for the school.

Secondly, safeguarding- when children are off ill the school has to consider if this is genuine ( because unfortunately as we all know some parents beat up or even murder their own children) in many cases it is the school that raises the alarm in cases of abuse.

Agree with comments regarding the age of your child and a possible fine - that is unlikely due to the age of your child but will be an issue in the next school year.

However, far too many parents and grandparents say they accidentally booked a school holiday in September when their child is about to start school - it really does have an impact on how children settle and your child will now have a low attendance rate and the school will be worried you are going to continue this.

Give the school a break they really are up against it - there was a case a few years ago where the mother had died and the young child was alone in the house.Although the school rang once and didn’t get a reply they didn’t Pursue it, this was deemed insufficient as an attempt to contact the family. The welfare check is an expensive use of school staff time but is a belt and braces approach to safeguarding - it may not be required for you and your family but there are some awful cases out there

You contacted school to
let them know in the morning so presumably they knew that you hadn’t come a cropper! Yes it’s ridiculous to send 2 staff out for a welfare check on the second day of illness, also ridiculous to tell a 4 year old they should be in school with diarrhoea. Your child isn’t even compulsory school age yet! I would complain. The only time I’ve known for this to happen is when the school strongly suspect you’re on holiday or if there are previous safeguarding incidents

Second thread today I've seen about teachers turning up at the door, what's going on !

It was two people who work with families at the school but not sure what their official roles are

I agree however Tuesday morning she seemed well enough to be there and I wasn't aware she had loose stools until I picked her up no one had rung me or I'd have collected her. I probably wouldn't send her in tomorrow anyway as she is wiped out and still not eating however now worried as I've heard from other mums they come to the house every day the child if off

I agree attendance is really important but she also learned a great deal on holiday has had no issues settling and is already year one age on Reading and maths and doesn't legally need to be at school

Next year I've booked our holiday in summer holidays so this wont be happening again. She had a certificate last month for 100% attendance and now after 24hours despite calling they are showing up unannounced to check I'm not lying about her being ill just seems really harsh and actually had I sent her in with diahorrea crying with stomach cramps I'd have been called neglectful so feels like you can't win sometimes.

Safeguaridng and welfare check are important had I not called in or my child had been absent for a long period I've heard from other mums they will come to the house every day until the child is at school is that not harassment for a parent just trying to keep their child safe until they are well? What if I wasn't home cos we went for fresh air or someone else was caring for her would I be in trouble?