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Original poster

Welfare check after three day absence - is this normal?

178 replies

SnottyLittleMango · 05/03/2026 14:15

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.

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mumatlast14 · 07/03/2026 23:10

Slippylittlesuckers · 06/03/2026 18:10

I work in a school and this is standard practice. They are following government guidelines.

It’s done to check on student welfare, someone has to have ‘seen’ the child if they’re absent.

It must be to do with historic cases of child abuse where children were in danger and no one knew etc. You have to bear in mind that there will be some instances where children aren’t cared for properly and schools have a responsibility.

I wouldn’t worry about it, they have to document the visit and they’ll have made a note that everything is ok.

Please attach the government statutory guidelines for this. The gov clearly states in 'Working Together to Improve Attendance' and 'that parents calling in sick should be accepted unless there is already a concern - not a blanket policy and only mandated welfare checks after 15 days continuous absence.

mumatlast14 · 07/03/2026 23:23

REDB99 · 06/03/2026 09:13

If you had any safeguarding training you would understand why a 3 day absence warrants a home visit. The school has a legal responsibility to safeguard children. You really need a better understanding of what safeguarding is. It is not assuming that every absent child is being abused. It is acknowledging that the absent child COULD be being abused. That ANY child, regardless of previous attendance, COULD be being abused. It is knowing that abuse can happen ANYWHERE.

A child not in school for 3 days means that other adults with legal responsibility for safeguarding them has not laid eyes on the child. ‘Eyes on’ is a normal safeguarding procedure in schools.

Please educate yourself about what safeguarding children actually is and understand that previous good attendance has no bearing on how a school may respond if they have not seen a child. The school has rightly followed its attendance policy and you should be pleased that it has. It keeps children safe.

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It absolutely doesn't. As outlined in the gov statutory guidance.

mumatlast14 · 07/03/2026 23:32

REDB99 · 06/03/2026 09:30

It’s probably worth you reading the Department of Education’s Keeping Children Safe in Education document. It will help you to understand the legal responsibilities that schools have.

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It seems you need to read it. It clearly states that it should be read in conjunction with the gov statutory guidance Working Together. It's very clear it's not a blanket 3 day rule. That parents calling in daily for sickness are to be accepted. Welfare checks would be triggered if there are previous flags NOT a blanket 3 day policy.

Children who are absent from education
177. Children being absent from education for prolonged periods and/or on repeat
occasions can act as a vital warning sign to a range of safeguarding issues
including neglect, child sexual and child criminal exploitation - particularly county
lines. It is important the school or college’s response to persistently absent pupils
and children missing education supports identifying such abuse, and in the case of
absent pupils, helps prevent the risk of them becoming a child missing education in
the future. This includes when problems are first emerging but also where children
are already known to local authority children’s social care and need a social worker
(such as a child who is a child in need or who has a child protection plan, or is a
looked after child), where being absent from education may increase known
safeguarding risks within the family or in the community. Further information and
support, includes:
• The department’s statutory guidance on school attendance Working together to
improve school attendance which sets out how schools must work with local
authority children’s services where school absence indicates safeguarding
concerns.

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