The school attendance system needs an overhaul; just sent poorly DD to school, because if I keep her off I have to get 'medical attention' or she gets an unauthorised absense

[KatyMac]

She has a 'virus' eg a bad cold; she needs fluids, paracetamol & rest. It's fairly bad - she has missed 2 nights of dance class

She is grey and looks awful; but because she has asthma and a fairly ropey health record I'm not qualified to judge if she is well enough to go to school or not so I have to send her in

Last May they sent her home too ill to attend on Tuesday & gave her UA for the Wednesday - it was her only one ever!!

This is wrong

we will decide if you are ill not your parents!! OMG cant wait for my DC's school to try and tell me this. good point about the doctors cert. if the school want one then the school should pay for it. the majority of parents do not keep their kids off for a sniffle or xbox use. this is the tiny minority. their kids non attendance at school isn't something in isolation it is indicative of many other problems within families. sledge hammer legislation to crack a nut of a problem. OP I really sympathise with you. please take it up formally with the governors. your dc has long standing and acknowledged health issues. gp's just laugh when asked for certs under these circumstances. whatever happened to compassion and common sense.

My/DD's medical evidence was submitted to a the attendance group meeting who decided if it was valid or not

They have decided it was valid & have removed the unauthorised absences

I am speechless

wow... :(

DD is relatively well - but what about the poor kids for whom 100% in a term is an impossibility (DD normally manages first half term & last term near enough 100%)

How cruel is it?

What an utter waste of everyone's time OP. Glad you got the right result but what a fiasco!