is it reasonable to keep a child off school for tiredness

[memberofthepublic]

because they're not sleeping properly?

So long as it's not every single day, absolutely. No point sending them to school if you know they're in a state where they truly can't function, or you'll end up picking them up, anyhow.

I was always more inclined to keep DS1 off after a couple of bad nights' coughing (we've fixed that, now) as he would end up violent on so little sleep. DS2 usually goes in, even after a few hours, as the worst he will do is curl up on his 1:1's lap.

Made sense to me, Polter. BTDT :o

And that, of course, is a knowing and weary grin. That sort of rictus grin when you're Putting On a Brave Face.

I keep my ds off when he is so tired I know he won't cope at school and would be at risk of having a meltdown.

Can you keep a child of school if YOU are feeling tired?

Not if I needed a nap, Starlight :o

Yes, I have done, on the odd occasion. And have also kept him home with really very minor illnesses (cold etc) that a more emotionally robust child would be ok going in to school with. His emotional state is pretty fragile at the best of times and he just can't cope with anything extra, iyswim.

Yep, I have done very much as Jacksterbear has done and kept ds1 and ds2 off school if I think tiredness, slight illness or random life events would be likely to produce a meltdown. All the exclusions has had a very liberating effect on my views on school attendance and lateness. Persuading ds1 that this is the right thing to do can be another matter entirely!

I did the other week when we were awake from 2am onwards. I didn't think that was enough sleep for a 7YO to cope with school.

I have in the past when we've been up hours, but I've taken him into school when he woke up.

I do too, if Dd3 is tired she cant cope at school and its always me who has to pick up the pieces

I have kept my youngest at home once or twice when he has had such a bad night that I know he won't cope.

A couple of times I have taken him in when I knew really I shouldn't and I have always been called in because they can't cope. Last week I had to bring him home because he ran off, they couldn't find him, finally got him and tried to calm him but he was screaming like he was on fire and he was flailing about so wildly they couldn't get near him. He hit me in the face as I was driving us home. It was not good.

After that one last week, which was really bad, I have decided never again. He will stay off every time I decide that going in is likely to result in this. It's so unfair to him.

There is, imo, no point taking a child to school when you know they are not going to cope and it is going to result in a massive problem.