Illness, attendance and reception

[pofacedandproud]

Ds started reception in September. We've all been knocked for six since then with viruses and bugs, and he has had quite a bit of time off ill. His teacher expressed concern about it the other day, even though this is the first year they have made them go full time, they used to do half days for the first term. He is exhausted and run down. And sometimes I do not force him to go to school if he has a bad cough or a sore throat or a tummy ache. We were hoping to go away for a week in december, we had no summer holiday and dh has to work in Europe for a week and we planned to go with him [parents told me in EYU a week to two weeks away in the year was tolerated] but as he has had so much ill health I am worried that will be really frowned upon. Should I cancel going, even though we've been looking to it for ages?

bump

No one?

Don't cancel. Could you have a chat to the teacher about it? It's not as if he will fall behind with his studies or anything like that.

The second half of this term is an exhausting one for younfer children, with all the special Christmas stuff on top of anything else. I think that if it is your judgement that he needs days off, and would benefit from holiday, then do it. Talk it through with teacher so she understands that you are thinking carefully.

Don't worry, go away. School isn't compulsory until the term before they are six, so you have your son there volunterily anyway.

Just go in and ask for a holiday form.

Our school all holidays in term time are frowned on, including EYFS. They are not sanctioning any holidays unless special circumstances are involved.

Is DS under 5? If so they don't legally have to be in school til the term after they turn five, and I would not stress about it.

Tbh in December they have the school plays and parties and stuff, so I would be reluctant to take mine out then, but you have to do what works for you as a family.

I think the illness is a different issue, and is to be expected in the first year of school.

I was wondering whether to talk it over with his teacher, or just fill in the school form and see if it is a problem or not. He has just turned 5, next term will the be the one legally where he has to attend full time. I am a bit miffed as I got special permission from the head this term for him to do half days, but the head of EYU came up to me every day putting pressure on him to go full time [he's missing out/he won't settle/make friends etc] so after 3 weeks he went full time. Since then he has been pleading with me not to go.

I know if I ask the teacher she will express disapproval.

[hi threadie]

I wouldn't cancel your holiday, it's not your fault that your ds has been poorly. My dd is in reception and has been catching the various bugs, she has had three days off school. I guess it's to be expected! I would speak to the school though to find out if what work your ds is likely to miss, as my dd seems to have tons of homework?

Just get the form, fill it out and go.

It may/may not be authorised, but if you feel it's what is needed then do it.

The teacher will have no input into the decision, or at least would not at our school, it's a straight no unless exceptional circumstances.

at justabout.

He's had more than three days off amelem - more like 10 days off all in all.

I just want to keep on the right side of his teacher, she's not the friendliest and i'm trying desperately to get on her right side for ds's sake. But it would be such a shame not to go. Aaargh.

You think Justa? I'm even thinking about HE tbh for next term. Will have to think about it all over weekend.

once we're out much harder to get back in that's my worry. That and the people around us will treat us as if we knit lentils and think the world was created 1000 years ago in a week. Ah well.

yes justa, the plan is to take him out for this year only, though if we could afford private school or lived near a small village school that would be our preferred option.

What about talking again to the headteacher about flexi schooling your ds? I have just had a quick look on the home education website faqs and it mentions this. Surely if the school knew that you wanted to remove your ds from school then the head of EYU would stop putting pressure on you.

the head is up for flexi schooling, his teacher and head of EYU is not. I just don't want the headache of their ongoing disapproval iyswim.

That would be good justa.

There are small village schools, we've looked at them, but house prices prohibitive and housing cramped in our price bracket.We are thinking of moving actually, further south, towards the coast [expensive of course] Scary, starting again, feel settled here, but should be closer to dh's work anyway, he has impossibly long commute.

I don't think we're going to go away now.

Taking everything into account, money is tight before christmas and dd gets terribly travel sick, so may take a couple of days to do something in the UK instead. Ah well.

Hope you can feel settled for a bit longer justa. Poor ds has moved with us 3 times in his years so feel bad putting him through it again!