They're taking the pee again - I'm spitting feathers!!!!!!

[CillaSlack]

Name-changer to avoid any lurkers but most of you will know who I am
Ds has been on a part-time school timetable for 8 months now and I don't think they've been correctly recording the absence. Government guidelines state that if children are on a reduced time-table and missing part of the day then they should receive an absence code for 'authorised absence' as school have agreed it - this obviously effects the schools figures and is something that Ofsted look at very closely. I am going to get the annual report this week so am waiting to see what is recorded. However, amongst my paperwork I have found a report sent to the LA from last year that shows the absences recorded as 'educated off-site'. I am furious as they have provided very little work (when chased up) and not checked or monitored the meagre amount given. In fact I still have most of the work here as no-one has bothered to ask for it. I feel a complaint letter brewing.......

Cheeky bastards. You nail them, Cilla

I agree - formal complaint time

Definately point everyone in the correct direction!

Formal complaint to Head of Children's services - copied to OFSTEAD.

Oh and casually say you'll be unable to pick the child up at the scheduled time for the rest of term at school drop off in the morning & collect at 3.30 tomorrow . Turn off mobile.

Surprise,surprise (no pun intended) the absence was all recorded with the wrong code. I called school advising that I was a bit confused at the absence figures and they said he had been placed on the code 'educated offsite' to show he was 'present'. When I pointed out that this was clearly incorrect and as an ex school governor knew the legalities of this the woman got really snippy. She said that the council had told them to use that code and she would pass my comments on to the HT . I then called the council and had a long chat with someone who was very interested in the saga and when I said I had been a bit cross and had said it was illegal they said" It is!". Said that they certainly wouldn't have told school what code to us. They were very helpful but I didn't know until later that they were the chief absence officer . Sent complaint letters to school and various council officials and now school are really annoyed. If they hadn't blamed the council then I wouldn't have called them, would I?

Good for you - fully approve of what you did.

Good!!!