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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

really upset with letter....

35 replies

mistermister · 24/10/2009 18:21

Just had a letter from DS's school saying that because he was off for 5 days out of a possible 36, he has just fallen short of their "ideal" attendance record. They say that Ofsted regards any absence rate of less than 85% a term as "persistent absenteeism" - he was off with swine flu for 5 days, FGS!! (plus a half day for a tummy upset when he was sent home from school). That's hardly persistent - his record before that was probably 2 days since he's even started sec school - now in year 8 - persistent to me is 3 days, 2 days, 1 day, etc.... not a block of 5 days that he had absolutely no control over and for which he was TOLD to stay off school for 5 days for by the hospital GP!! Do you think I'd be unreasonable to write a letter saying that they should maybe look at the pattern of illness before sending out what appears to be a bog standard letter? It also says they will monitor closely next term - talk about the guilt factor - didn't mention it to DS, is very sensitive and I doubt he would even mention it to me if he was feeling ill for fear of being told off!! It's all guilt, guilt, isn't it? sorry for rant - I DO realise that there are persistent offenders out there, I just felt that the letter was very offensive. Any views welcome.

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Summersoon · 24/10/2009 18:42

If I were you I would draft a really frank letter, telling them exactly what you think of them - sit on it for the weekend and then bin it. Then write a very neutral letter, pointing out that your DS was, in fact, ill with swine flue and consequently ordered to stay at home bz the hospital GP etc.
I don't think that it is necessarily a waster of time to draft two letters - sometimes it is very important to be able to vent but in the privacy of your home.

I totally understand how you feel - this sort of thing is so annoying but I also believe that it is rarely a good idea to point out to someone in a position of authority that they are fools!

Heated · 24/10/2009 18:55

As you recognise, it's a standard letter sent out to all parents triggered when pupils fall behind 85%statistical figure. I doubt very much that the personnel person digs out absence notes and investigates the reasons why a pupil was off, just that they were.

Because schools have targets to meet and have to report data to the DFES and LEA, the school are obliged to be seen to be doing something - nipping poor absence in the bud promptly, even though over the course of the year your ds' absence figures will even out.

Given the levels of swine 'flu the schools are going to be sending a lot of letters which in the vast case will be completely pointless. DFES may even have to adjust attendance expectation given SW. Hard I know, but try not to take it too personally.

JiminyCricket · 24/10/2009 19:00

I would ring the head teacher and front up to this sort of disgraceful 'standard letter' approach.

Katymac · 24/10/2009 19:09

Me too

I got one after I rang the school to discuss my concerns about DD's absence - which tbh I think is worse - I have been threatened with court fines & imprisonment

So next time she gets norovirus (or other tummy bug if she can't get that again) I have to send her to school as I can hardly get medical evidence for a tummy bug

violetqueen · 24/10/2009 19:41

Agree totally with summersoon and jiminycricket - tho personally I find it easier to write than phone.
How about copy to governing body ?

violetqueen · 24/10/2009 19:45

also.... quite agree ,wrong use of the word persistent

cory · 24/10/2009 19:48

I know about the standard letter (don't I just!!!), but I think it is awful that they have to use a term like "persistent absenteeism"- surely they have somebody on the premises who knows enough of the language to find a phrase that does the same thing while being less offensive?

my dd is of sick a lot, and I accept that she will have regular meetings with the EWO, but I would still not be happy with that wording

roisin · 25/10/2009 03:41

The thing is attendance figures are cumulative. So if you are off 4 days in the first 8 weeks, that's 90% attendance. If you're off 4 days in the first 8 weeks, that's 95% attendance.

But if they don't send out the first round of letters now, it's harder to justify getting really stroppy with the real 'persistent offenders' at Christmas.

Original poster

mistermister · 25/10/2009 07:49

Many thanks for all of your very supportive replies - I am going to write a letter. Roisin, I realise what you're saying, but the fact remains that I didn't like the tone/implications in the letter and as some others have pointed out, the use of the word "persistent" - realise it's a "generalised" letter, but all the same.. many thanks, everyone. Katy, read your post on another thread, unbelievable!!!

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cory · 25/10/2009 09:53

roisin, can I just point out that it is possible to have continuing higher-than-average absences for a whole term and still not be in a position where you can fairly be described as a "persistent offender"

Some children's immune systems develop really late (I was told by a consultant paediatrician specialising in immunology)- does that make you a "persistent offender"? Sometimes children's immune system is temporarily knocked by something like chicken pox, leading to a spate of new infections within the following months (again, same immunologist)- would that make you a "persistent offender"? Some children are unfortunate enough to have chronic health problems- again, "persistent offender" is a bit of an unfortunate phrase.

Don't get me wrong- I absolutely think schools should chase this up. Attendance is very important indeed!

But using neutral wording makes a big difference to those unfortunate enough to have genuine medical concerns- and I don't see that as interfering with the very laudable attempts to bring up attendance. In fact, when word got round that our local school was using bullying language towards the families of sick and breaved children, it did not make the other parents any more loyal towards the school's attendance policy- you can sort of see why it wouldn't.

Original poster

mistermister · 25/10/2009 11:18

Excellent points, Cory! My son suffers from asthma and migraines and considering these, does pretty well in the attendance stakes! Sorry to hear about your dd's health - hope it improves. What would they have us do? Send them ill whilst they are ill?!! My DS himself is very reluctant to stay off school if ill and will only come home from school if his migraine absolutely puts him out of action, which is does, usually - goes to sleep/is sick etc. My mum thought it was unbelievable - said nothing like that when we were occasionally off (was at sec school from late 70s to early 80s). As I say, thanks for all your comments, I was beginning to think I was the only one!!

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Original poster

mistermister · 25/10/2009 11:20

sorry, meant to say "send them IN whilst they are ill..."

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scaryteacher · 25/10/2009 12:16

I had this from my ds's form tutor at a parent's evening last academic year. I pointed out that when she eradicated all the bugs and viruses circulating around the school, I could guarantee 100% attendance. Until that time, I couldn't, and that I wasn't proposing to send a sick child to school to spread more germs or catch new ones.

It will be interesting next parent's evening as 20% of the secondary school are currently off with a most unpleasant virus which the Belgian docs are saying is swine flu, and many parents have caught it as well. At ds's school that is equivalent to year group being off.

Original poster

mistermister · 25/10/2009 13:49

God, why can't I think of things to say like that, Scary? You've hit the nail on the head - how are we meant to have any control over it? Surely they know thro' speaking to form tutors who the real "persistent" absentees are?! Brilliant response. And, as you rightly point out, I would imagine this letter has gone to a good percentage of parents this time, what with swine flu!! PS My husband was asked if there was a problem when his boss asked him why he'd been off for 7 working days in a year and he replied "yeah, I was ill".....

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CatherineofMumbles · 25/10/2009 16:45

Total sympathy - friend had this - just figures, no analysis, she was hauled up in front of the head, and she is a school governer and so not only one of the head's 'bosses' but also obviously takes her responsibility to send her child to school very seriously...

Original poster

mistermister · 25/10/2009 17:09

That's awful, Catherine... why was she hauled in front of the head as well as having a letter?! I just think Ofsted has put too much pressure on schools now....

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CatherineofMumbles · 25/10/2009 18:34

Yes - the Head is pressurised by the LA and has to sing their tune

Original poster

mistermister · 25/10/2009 18:50

Exactly! But even so, they could word their letters a little more carefully.....

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cory · 26/10/2009 00:05

Dd's current school are brilliant with her attendance. We told them before we applied to the school that this would be an ongoing problem, and they are really, really supportive.

Her old head was anything but supportive. He called in Social Services and kept sending the EWO in, despite having had letters from dd's GP, paediatrician, hospital clinic, and the school doctor, all explaining that her high absence rate was inevitable. His best quote was: "Yes, we accept that Corydd is ill, but you can expect us to be happy about it"

Oh well, it really makes me appreciate the two heads she has had since.

Original poster

mistermister · 26/10/2009 08:11

Cory, your old Head sounds like he was blinkered, to say the least! Glad current school are supportive; so they should be.

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bellissima · 27/10/2009 20:32

I would tell the school in writing that it is being totally irresponsible, in the current 'swine flu' climate, to discourage parents from keeping children at home when they are ill. Point out to them that 25% of those hospitalised with swine flu are asthmatics and ask them to estimate how many vulnerable asthmatics are in the school. Copy the letter to the Department of Health.

Original poster

mistermister · 28/10/2009 09:40

thanks, Bellissima, good points there. I would not send my DS into school whilst ill, so as one poster pointed out earlier, until they can guarantee no bugs/viruses, I cannot guarantee attendance rate - ridiculous!!

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Original poster

mistermister · 01/11/2009 11:09

Shall I/shan't I.... have drafted letter, ready to send, just one thing holding me back - don't want to make things awkward for my DS.... shall I be assertive for once in my life and say my true feelings about this letter?? Words of wisdom, please....

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violetqueen · 01/11/2009 18:34

I vote that you send it.
Why shouldn't you express your view without fear of it rebounding on your child ?
It's noy like you're being unreasonable.

OrmIrian · 01/11/2009 18:38

It's just a letter. If they were handing out detentions for it I'd be with you 100%.

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