Reason for sick day from school

[TenacityWins]

How much detail do I need to give a secondary school if my child is too unwell to attend?

Is it ok to just email to say they are unwell or do I need to write what kind of unwell?

They'll ask you why.

Even if she is rarely off and I just want to protect her dignity somewhat?

School won’t be judgemental, kids are off for all sorts of reasons.

Normally I just leave a voicemail on the absence answer phone and say she is unwell and will be back tomorrow or whenever I expect her to be back

I'm an attendance officer at a secondary, just email 'dc is unwell and won't be in today'.

Simple. The school just needs the email from the parent.

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It'd only be questioned if it starts becoming a pattern.

Do you mean it's menstruation related? There's nothing undignified about it and the office is hardly going to be sniggering at the knowledge that a pupil is suffering from debilitating periods.

Our school always asks but I ring.

I usually put in a brief description, but keep is vague and use euphemisms like 'upset stomach' instead of diarrhoea.

If your comfortable saying what's wrong, people could maybe suggest wording.

Email and say she's unwell.

If you say she has D&V then they'll expect you to keep her off for at least 48 hours and won't bat an eyelid at 72 hours. That can be quite useful.

I usually give minimal info - bad cold, d&v, covid etc. On one occasion, concussion. It saves them asking or ds having to explain. I wouldn't go into any more detail.

I’d just leave a message saying “hi; this is x in whatever form’s mum, x won’t be in as unwell today”. They just need to hear from an adult where the child is for obvious safeguarding reasons.

I doubt they'll ask but if they asked me and I wanted to protect her dignity I'd tell a little white lie. Do you think they'll actually check up and look for evidence?

I think schools do want a reason (DD's does) but as someone suggested above, cover it with something that sounds familiar. So if it's bad period pains, say "stomach ache", if it's diarrhoea, then "tummy bug" etc etc.

But the attendance officer/office staff aren't going to go around spreading the reason why your daughter is off to the children or something.

I just say 'she is ill and won't be in today' and have never had it queried

I am very matter of fact when it comes to describing illness. I doubt the staff would bat an eyelid. So if it’s period pain or vomiting I say so.

My school wouldn't accept 'unwell' and would require more info.

May make a difference that this is a private school

I generally say "unwell". I find that if I give too many details it's actually more likely to be questioned ...