Welfare check after three day absence - is this normal?

[SnottyLittleMango]

Hi, I have no experience of this as DD8 has had 100 percent attendance for the last two years, but has had a really nasty virus this week and has been off since Tuesday. I've called the school each morning to let them know but we had a welfare officer turn up this morning asking to see her. No problem with that- she was sat on the sofa with DH both in PJs as he's also got the bug now, I was just surprised especially as he was a bit rude to DH, asking why he was dressed like that (in his PJs I assume) in a pretty snarky way. Is this normal for a three day absence from primary? No problems at all with the school.

Yes. Normal. In 2026 it is how we allocate our ressourcers...

Insane.

I would have expected a welfare check on day one if you hadn't phoned it. Going to check when you have phoned in, if there are no other concerns or agencies involved, is madness.

However, I would always side with an unnecessary welfare check rather than another child like Chadrack Mulo dying as a result of his poor, poor mother dying unexpectedly.

Wow I think that's weird at 3 days when you've called (and I'm assuming no other cause for concern)

I think it's unusual for a three day absence where attendance is otherwise good and daily calls have been made, unless there are other concerns.

Could the "rude" questioning of DH be because other concerns have been raised?

I'd think that's a bit OTT.
What a waste of resources.

I have absolutely no reason to think so - DD has had perfect attendance up until now and is doing well in school, we've never had any contact with them other than the usual parents evenings etc.

I'd have a wee look on the school's/council's website @SnottyLittleMango it's most likely to be policy and nothing, for you, to be concerned about.

Hope they both feel better soon 🌻

Yes, I do understand that this is the reason they do them and agree would much rather this than another situation like that poor boy. It just seemed excessive as I had called and given details of why DD wss off on each day.

I’d say they are a school with a good number of vulnerable pupils hence having a strict check policy.

One I worked in the welfare officer often got complaints from parents about their manner as he was so used to dealing with parents who kept kids home for no reason that he assumed all he saw did.

I had the Welfare Officer ring me on the morning of my husbands funeral as my 11 year old daughter wasn't in school that day. I had informed the school in person when her dad passed very suddenly and not expected, took her into school for the 3 days prior to the funeral but had the day before off as she was upset and the day of the funeral that the school were aware of. Needless to say the poor woman didn't know what to say when I told her why my daughter had been off and that I she would also be off the week after, as we were going to my parents to try and recover and grieve together whilst we worked out what the hell we were going to do.

I told her under no circumstances should she or anyone from her department ring me next week otherwise I would not be responsible for the language that would be directed at them for their stupidity.

Sorry that you have had to deal with this and may have a quiet word with the school to ask why they felt it was necessary to inform the welfare officer.

Thank you - I have looked at the council website but I can only find info on children being homeschooled - I'm going to call the school tomorrow just to make sure they don't have any concerns we're not aware of.

That is absolutely appalling - I'm so sorry that happened to you and your daughter xx

"I've called the school each morning"

Just a thought @SnottyLittleMango, did you leave a message on their answer machine which has perhaps been deleted in error, each day?

If so, it could look like an unauthorised absence for your daughter with no contact from you.

Thank you SnottyLittleMango for your kind words.

I'm so sorry you had to deal with that.
Thats horrendous.

We once had a welfare officer insisting that they enter our teenagers bedroom to see them asleep as they had been off school for 3 days with tonsillitis. We refused and the welfare officer was extremely rude. It turned into a whole thing because we made a complaint. Our child had seen a GP the previous day and had been prescribed antibiotics and told to rest. Fucking madness.

I wonder if that's it @Freya1542 - I've been calling pretty early each morning so maybe it's getting lost - I will check with then tomorrow

On what planet is it acceptable to demand access to a child's bedroom.
Thats so open to abuse. And plenty parents would leave a poorly teen home alone.

I doubt that’s the case. We were told it was procedure to do it on day 3 despite us informing them by 8am each day on answer machine. We were also requested to send proof of doctors appointment and a photo of the antibiotics prescribed, which we did, and still had a welfare officer turn up demanding to see our ill teenager asleep in bed!

😱

How incredibly rude and over stepping to question your husband about his dress in his own home.

Is this commonplace in England? Seems extraordinarily intrusive to me. What’s the legal basis? I don’t think I’d be inclined to allow such a person access to my home.

I suspect that there’s no right of access without a warrant. They’re relying on people choosing to let them in.

I agree