A letter to all parents saying the attendance of their child

I wish they did this when my kids were in school. I never knew when one of my daughters was going to skip school and this would have given me proof that they did. Way to go school!

I think that it may be worth considering home education. I have heard that, with the exception of Scotland, it is a bit more difficult in the U.K. than in the U.S.; however, I think that it could be worth it for you to pursue this course of action. I have researched homeschooling somewhat extensively, because I intend to educate our future children. Between their father and myself, we should be able to manage fairly well.

In California, it's a number of days absent where they start having a problem, as opposed to a percentage. Three years ago my daughter had severe anxiety and just could not make herself go to school some days. If we'd push her, she'd get queasy and vomit all over herself. So we took her to the doctor for stomach meds, and got her into counseling. She missed a lot of school while we were working with her, and it was very frustrating. She wanted to go to school, but she just couldn't make herself. In the middle of all this, we got a letter from the school referencing her "habitual" attendance problem. I went through the roof because to me the word "habitual" implies that it's deliberate. Left a message on the assistant principal's voice mail that probably sounded a bit like psycho mom, explaining the problem, and suggesting that he change the wording on the letter. lol She had the same problem to a lesser degree two years ago, and just a little bit last year. She has pretty much learned how to manage it, thank goodness, but it was a hard, hard thing to deal with.

I do get the number of absences my kids make because they list it down per month when I get my kids' school cards at the end of every term. But I've never heard of 95% attendance requirement. If they did, I'm sure my kids wouldn't make it too because we just went on vacation which made them away from school for 2 weeks! I hope that new teacher you got would be more understanding.

I think the school is being a little ridiculous. If your child gets sick there is nothing you can do about it. I am Home Schooling so I don't have to worry about these things but I really think that is quite unfair! I would definitely talk to the teacher about it and ask if she would like to have a sick kid in class!

I know I shouldn't double post, and not even sure if this applies to your situation, but I wanted to share this with you: "We spend the first year of a Child's life teaching them to walk, and talk, but the rest of their lives telling them to shut up & sit down" - Neil Degrasse Tyson Like I said, I know this doesn't entirely apply to your situation, but if your to take anything from it, know that the humanity has been squeezed out of the educational system, maybe you just need to remind them of that.

Their rules are pretty inflexible, surely in your son's case exceptions should be made, that sounds very heartless to me, I know they have rules and have to adhere to them, but surely allowances could be made under the circumstance. And you are right if a child is really sick, how at that young age can you expect them to go in when they are not well? I think 95% is extremely high, certainly for children of such a young age.

I felt pity with your son. I don't know why the teacher didn't understand the situation of your son. Let see, we will change the situation, the teacher is one a person with disability can she/he come to school regularly. Even, we consider that your son don't have ill, still they understand the situation being disable. Silly for them

We home school our kids so attendance is important but if we have to double up on one day so that we can take the next one off I don't think it that's important as long as we are getting our work done. I'm sure after you sit down with the teacher she will understand, if she doesn't then find a new one. People are not sympathetic to anyone's problems any more. I know that kids are supposed to be in school for the majority of their learning but things happen and not every kid can attend 100% of the time.

Our school is the same, if they get total 100% they get rewarded with a free trip out to the cinema.theme park. You can still go if you get lower score but not if you gey under 90% attendance but you have to pay some of the cost. My youngest daughter needs time off ot og ot dentist as she has a brace so she may not be able to go next time around. It is a good system but also unfair for those children like yours and mine when they have ot have time off due to no real fault of there own. Sometimes I think instead of sending the children on a trip(mine don't always go if its not what they want ot see at the cinema etc) they should powl the money back into the school or give the children book tokens so they can encrouge them to read more. Sadly nothing is fair in the world

I do not understand why they need a child to attend school even if child is sick. They should find a way like a make up class for a disable child and not to push the child to attend class if the child is sick. That is the only way I think so that the child would not left behind and they must understand the child's situation.

When I was in grade school my mother forced me to go to school even when I was sick. Some reason people have this mentality, including teachers obviously, that attendance means everything when in reality it means absolutely nothing, especially in an American Educational System. That being said, I wasn't even disabled....(when I was in highschool, I skipped all the time) the fact that your child is disabled, and still getting complaints about his absence is appalling. During that meet, you make sure to address to whomever you must that your son has needs that must be met regardless of their "procedures" Because thats what it comes down to. All they really see is a "Student number",grades, and attendance. Someone needs to remind your school, as well as its district that your child is a human being. Not a statistic.

Hi maximax. Well this is too much. They had such rules even in my time but then if we brought medical prescription we were not considered as absent. However in college we don't have such provision. However attendance requirement is as low as 80% which includes absence in case of medical emergencies. So I think it is kind of alright. But 95 attendance requirement without medical consideration is unacceptable. Have a nice day !! SuperShames

I feel for your child.Well my child's school never expect 95-100% but may be around 80%. But he loves to go to school, so no issues in attendance for now. And please convey your issues to teacher while meeting her

I don't know how it is in the U.K., but here in the States, if a child isn't in class, then the school isn't getting federal monies for him or her. So, of course they want the child to be there as much as possible. I'm going to guess that this administrator isn't thinking, just sending out form letters that go to any parent, regardless of the health of the child, who misses more than their "set" percentage of the time.