Son off school again today attendance terrible!!

victory

Hi all,
Son ill off school again today, we had a letter from the school saying his attendance is 85.5% which is below the national average and is causing them grave concern and we should make an appointment with them to discuss it!

It is terrible but what can you do? He had tonsilitis on one occasion, he had cold/cough/ boy flu! on another and today he is feeling and looking terrible so here we sit......:D

abbecer

It can't be helped victory. Would they rather him go in and make all the other children ill aswell?? Other parents would be really chuffed about that. Hope he feels better soon.

Rebecca x

Smashing

How old is your son?
Are you sure he's not inclined towards exaggeration? I was regularly on the verge of death when it was double maths.

Zziggi

Have you been to the GP with any/many of these illnesses? If so then just tell the school he is often ill, you've been to the GP. End of story.

P.S. if it starts going down the road of E&W then make sure you do consult your GP a little more than you would normally - then your back is covered (this was advice given to me from a teacher friend over then same matter).

victory

I know smashing so was I!!! No, he looks terrible, can't motivate himself to do anything, dosed up with all sorts and another bad attendance day goes by!! He is 13 and recently seems to have caught one thing that has lead to another and it has all come that way so the attendance is suffering a great deal.

Hoping it is just one of those things and he can get back to normal (i.e going to school five days in one week!!!) xxxx

victory

Zziggi wrote:

Have you been to the GP with any/many of these illnesses? If so then just tell the school he is often ill, you've been to the GP. End of story.

P.S. if it starts going down the road of E&W then make sure you do consult your GP a little more than you would normally - then your back is covered (this was advice given to me from a teacher friend over then same matter).

Thanks ZZiggi, yes he has been to the doc and we have notes from them for the various things he has had recently, it is just it keeps going on, not only am I fed up with it as I have to take the day off work to be here for him but he is also as he misses his friends and the school environment and also the school are because they sent me a letter telling me so!!

No one is winning in this one!!:D

Tallymanjohn

I'd definitely hassle your GP to do further investigation - a 13 year old should not be that unhealthy unless there's some underlying health issue. As far as school attendance is concerned, remember it's as much the parents' responsibility these days to keep attendance up & keep in contact with the school. Main thing there is to keep any appointments made with school, EWO etc. - if you're seen to be doing your best you will get less aggro from the EA.

victory

fully agree Tally... the doc asked him was he taking drugs? Had been drinking? Using substances? Getting enough sleep? Eaten different food or drink? The doc knows we have been many times.... it is just so frustrating...
No by the way to all the above thank God!!
It just seems to roll over from one illness to another, his diet is fine, his mental health and over all well being all great, not being bullied etc (he wants to go to school but as parents this morning we had to agree not to send him)
Will go to the meeting at school, we know full well it is not our fault although from the schools point of view it may look like it, we are hoping it is just a blip in his health and we can get him back to school to bring his attendance back up again and we can all get on with doing what we are supposed to be doing!!! xxx

Justie

If he's genuinely ill then presumably it's just a case of reassuring the school that that's the case and it's good in many ways that they're following it up and not just accepting lots of absence (although a PITA for you).

If he's basically healthy but keeps getting minor colds etc then reinforce hand washing - boys often aren't the best at keeping themselves clean and schools are full of germs. If he washes his hands before eating, uses a tissue to wipe his nose (not his sleeve/hand etc) and when he coughs and tries not to touch his face otherwise. Then you may find that his sickness rate drops. I would also maybe get him to take a good multivitamin just to give him a boost and encourage him to go to bed a little earlier so that he gets maximum sleep (teenagers need about the same amount of sleep as toddlers or something daft :rotfl: ). He may well grow out of it but if he's been getting lots of infections then his general defenses will be down a bit so any support you can give his body will help.

elona

My 12 year old DD used to get sick every week - genuine - not just queasy.

This lasted for months and I checked everything - she was not being bullied - liked her classes and teachers etc. etc.

Eventually she came home one afternoon in tears with pain in her right side.

I got her straight to gp and waited for ages - but was not going away!

She then went straight to hospital and her appendix was removed the next morning.

Till things actually came to a head there was nothing to show what was wrong.

victory

Justie wrote:

I would also maybe get him to take a good multivitamin just to give him a boost

Thanks Justie which multivitamin would you or any one recommend that I give him as he is fed up with his absences and illnesses as I am!!:D