letter from school

My daughter came out from school on friday with a letter, addressed to us, not just the usual newsletter. I thought it was going to be the write up of her health assesment, as the children are all going to be having them in the near future. On reading the letter, my initial reaction was ‘bloody school!’

This is what it said.

As I am sure you are aware we regularly monitor attendance for all children in our school. Our school target is 95% in line with government guidance.

Our recent monitoring has shown that J has a current attendance of 84.85% over the last term.

Whilst we are aware of the reasons for your childs absence, and we understand that there are times when children are unwell and, as such are unable or advised not to attend school, we are obliged to now set an attendance target of at least 90% to be met over this current term.

Should you wish to discuss the matter further please contact me…… blah bla blah……

Ok, I was tempted to ring the head and shout ‘I’m sorry that my child being ill has upset your target, next time I’ll just send her to school when she is coughing so much and throwing up, maybe you would prefer cleaning up mess but having good figures in your reports! Ok, I was a little full of pms when I read the letter and would never actually do that! Ok so since september my daughter has had 4 days off. The first time (and I apologise for the crudeness, but) she had been up all night with the shits. So obviously she didn’t go to school. However, she was fine by lunch time, and could have gone to school the following day really. But the school have this 48 hour rule about ‘tummy bugs’ so she had to stay home the following day also.

Then just before christmas. Having been told how much she had struggled through the day by her teacher, she then got worse, and on taking her to the drs had tonsilitus. So she didn’t go to school the last 2 days. Again, she could possibly have stuggled into school for the last day, but the school aren’t allowed to administer antibiotics, so I would have had to get to school at lunch time to give her them myself, which would not have been ideal had she gone to school, I’d be at work. Anyway, it just seems crazy to me that the school is more concerned about their targets than the fact that a student was poorly. Sending out letters like this, will it make parents send their kids into school anyway, if they are sick, to then contaminate the other kids.

Just had to get that little rant out anyway. My headache finally cleared this evening and for the first time in days I feel more like myself. I am, however exhausted, so I’m really hoping for a better nights sleep 🙂 Night night my lovelies xx