ds1 (4) lots of time off school - what evidence will I need

[LargeLatte]

Just been reading another thread about going on attendance report and it scared the pants off me.

Ds1 started school in Sept, even though he's not 5 til May. His attendance has been about 70-75% due to developing viral wheeze - including one hospital admission. He has had it 3 times in 3 months, and this is a totally new condition in him so I think it'll take a while before we can get on top of it and I am expecting a few more absences.

Will we get in trouble? Should I collect evidence as I go or just ask for a letter from the GP if I need it - he has been to see Dr every time he's been ill - except maybe one day with a cold.

Anyone with professional / personal experience?

[thisisyesterday]

i wouldn't get anything tbh

he isn't legally required to be in school until he is 5, so if they start being funny about it tell them to take a hike!

[Feenie]

It won't start being an issue until May - he doesn't legally have to be in school until he is 5. And hopefully you'll have it sorted by then.

[saggarmakersbottomknocker]

He's not compulsary school age LL so they can't ask you for evidence and you don't need to supply any. Just let them know when he's ill and won't be attending.

Don't worry about it.

[hocuspontas]

I don't think the LEA take any notice of under 5s attendance. I would just keep the school informed of what's happening as a courtesy.

[saggarmakersbottomknocker]

Must amend my crap spelling of compulsory.

[LargeLatte]

Ta - that makes me feel better. When he was hospitalised his Teaching Assistant was in children's ward with her son so that was pretty good proof. He'll be fine by summer - and I will have nagged enough drs to have a plan sorted for medication & what to do every time it flairs up.

[SE13Mummy]

Although your son is not yet of statutory school age if he attends a state nursery/Reception then the LA attendance advisory officer (AAO) will be monitoring his attendance. It's unlikely that any action would be taken against you due to his age and also because he has been off school for medical reasons. I say this as someone who used to be responsible for monitoring attendance and had many a battle with the AAO with regard to the attendance of the nursery/Reception pupils!

One of the reasons that AAOs will monitor even the youngest pupils is because there is thought to be a link between early patterns of attendance and attendance in later years.

I'd recommend that you ask to meet with the AAO, or at least speak to the lead attendance member of staff at your son's school, and explain the situation. They should be able to reassure you that no action will be taken against the parents of a child who has a long-term medical condition but also offer some support, perhaps from the school nurse, when it comes to managing flare-ups of his condition.

[madamearcati]

there is a different absence code to record the absence of those children who haven't attained compulsory school age -which your child won't until September 2010.
the school will be aware of the reason for his absence .Don't worry.

[Feenie]

He op's ds will be of compulsory school age in May 2010, madamearcati.

[dinsdale]

How awful you are so worried about this - he's been poorly ffs

[LargeLatte]

It has made me regretful that I let him start school so young but he probably would've developed this problem even if he had been at pre-school.
Want to get on good terms with school as ds2 (2) will be going there and has bad bad asthma and croup - been hospitalised 3 times already this winter - twice in a very emergency ambulance dash - so if his health doesn't pick up he will also have poor attendance, and I don't want the school to develop a negative perception of me. When we finally get back to school after the snow (school shut, not an absence) I will mention it to his teacher and see what she thinks. She's lovely.

[SnowTulips]

dd broke her leg in september and has had a few bugs as well. she's well over the 20 absences per term that's allowed her but as the school know the situation (and in fact didn't even want her in as much as she was) i doubt anything will happen because of it.

[SE13Mummy]

LargeLatte, you need to speak to someone other than the teacher no matter how lovely she is. Chances are it's not her responsibiliy to authorise absences and both of you would feel awful if you'd okayed it between you then got 'got' by the AAO!

[Builde]

OP's ds will be of school age in May, but you're not expected to attend school until the term after you are 5 - so that's Sept 10.