school absence

mybigheart

My child has missed 20 days of school to date. I had doctors notes for some of the days and also had genuine reasons for other absences. Will the school report meand if so what will happen? ImI'm sick with worry.

syklops

Will the school report meand if so what will happen?

What?

ian87

They are obliged to so yes. No need to be worried if you have doctors notes.

coolabula

All absences are reported to the Dept, and any over 20 days will be flagged.
You will probably get a letter from them, you should speak to the principal. If you have genuine reasons and doctors notes you have nothing to worry about

seamus

The school are legally obliged to report you if you the child misses more than 20 days of school. So any more days and they will have to report you to the National Educational Welfare board.

If the Principal believes that the child is missing school without good reason they are also required to notify NEWB, even if you've missed 20 days or less.

There's no need to worry, really. If contacted, the NEWB will get in touch with you to discuss the issue and notify you that you may be subject to legal action if the child continues to miss school. If you have good reasons for such a large amount of absence, there shouldn't be any problems.

mybigheart

ian87 wrote: »

They are obliged to so yes. No need to be worried if you have doctors notes.

Will the school inform me that they have reported to newb?

mybigheart

seamus wrote: »

The school are legally obliged to report you if you the child misses more than 20 days of school. So any more days and they will have to report you to the National Educational Welfare board.

If the Principal believes that the child is missing school without good reason they are also required to notify NEWB, even if you've missed 20 days or less.

There's no need to worry, really. If contacted, the NEWB will get in touch with you to discuss the issue and notify you that you may be subject to legal action if the child continues to miss school. If you have good reasons for such a large amount of absence, there shouldn't be any problems.

yes the days add up quickly do the school have any discretion in making the report, and also do you know how long it will take for newb to get in touch, it looks like I'm in for a lot of sleepless nights waiting and worrying

mybigheart

ian87 wrote: »

They are obliged to so yes. No need to be worried if you have doctors notes.

Will the school inform me that they have reported to newb?

mybigheart

coolabula wrote: »

All absences are reported to the Dept, and any over 20 days will be flagged.
You will probably get a letter from them, you should speak to the principal. If you have genuine reasons and doctors notes you have nothing to worry abbbout

I'm waiting for the principal to contact me I don't want to draw attention iv nothing to hide I'm just worried about what will happen

ian87

mybigheart wrote: »

Will the school inform me that they have reported to newb?

Should do. Parent of a child in my class was informed last year. As I said, the fact you have sick certs means you will be fine. Make an appt with the teacher if you are so worried, even though you have no reason to be.
(I'm home sick in case any of you are wondering why I'm posting at this time on a school day!!)

mybigheart

ian87 wrote: »

Should do. Parent of a child in my class was informed last year. As I said, the fact you have sick certs means you will be fine. Make an appt with the teacher if you are so worried, even though you have no reason to be.
(I'm home sick in case any of you are wondering why I'm posting at this time on a school day!!)

thanks ian are you a teacher? I handed in the doctors notes at the time they were given so the school should have them on file? As I said I don't have a note for every day just a couple of them.

seamus

mybigheart wrote: »

I'm waiting for the principal to contact me I don't want to draw attention iv nothing to hide I'm just worried about what will happen

Nothing will happen
Someone will contact you, discuss it with you, and that's that. Don't be losing sleep over something which will not affect you or your child.

The purpose is to be alerted to the kind of parents who let their kids stay at home just because the child doesn't feel like going, or the parents couldn't be bothered getting out of bed or because they'd rather bring the child shopping for clothes than send them to school.

You're not one of these parents, so there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

mybigheart

seamus wrote: »

Nothing will happen
Someone will contact you, discuss it with you, and that's that. Don't be losing sleep over something which will not affect you or your child.

The purpose is to be alerted to the kind of parents who let their kids stay at home just because the child doesn't feel like Igoing, or the parents couldn't be bothered getting out of bed or because they'd rather bring the child shopping for clothes than send them to school.

You're not one of these parents, so there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

Thanks for the boost I'm a born worrier and always imagine the worst,, do you reckon they will get in touch soon or could this drag out to the new school year starting in September?

ian87

Yes I'm a teacher. I can assure you, nothing will happen. It will die with the new school year. As previous posters have said once the days are for sickness and not just because you didn't feel like sending them in then you are totally safe. The teacher will have kept the notes on file and this will be noted when the absences are submitted. I repeat, NOTHING to worry about.

mybigheart

ian87 wrote: »

Yes I'm a teacher. I can assure you, nothing will happen. It will die with the new school year. As previous posters have said once the days are for sickness and not just because you didn't feel like sending them in then you are totally safe. The teacher will have kept the notes on file and this will be noted when the absences are submitted. I repeat, NOTHING to worry about.

Oh thank god for that. There are only 5 weeks left in this term anyway so hopefully i can relax and stop worrying. Thanks everyone for all the replies and get well soon ian

byhookorbycrook

No need to worry if the absences were genuine, the school must report 20+ days (or less, if there is a concern that the child is "mitching" or being kept at home for no reason.)The teacher making the NEWB returns indicates if the school is very concerned that absences are not due to illness etc.

mybigheart

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

No need to worry if the absences were genuine, the school must report 20+ days (or less, if there is a concern that the child is "mitching" or being kept at home for no reason.)The teacher making the NEWB returns indicates if the school is very concerned that absences are not due to illness etc.

Thanks I'll play it by ear I'm not so worried now after getting some factual and positive information here

killbillvol2

Assuming that you've provided doctor's certs for most of the absences it shouldn't be an issue. When the school is filling out the NEWB report (I do this in my school) there's a section for the reason for absences. The big issue is with unexplained absences. Genuine illness doesn't raise red flags.

As to the NEWB contacting you, Education Welfare Officers are snowed under - I've never come across a case where a parent was contacted when a child missed only 20 days unless it was an ongoing pattern through a number of years.

mybigheart

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Assuming that you've provided doctor's certs for most of the absences it shouldn't be an issue. When the school is filling out the NEWB report (I do this in my school) there's a section for the reason for absences. The big issue is with unexplained absences. Genuine illness doesn't raise red flags.

As to the NEWB contacting you, koEducation Welfare Officers are snowed under - I've never come across a case where a parent was contacted when a child missed only 20 days unless it was an ongoing pattern through a number of years.

That's good to know I handed in notes for nearly half the absences and I had legit reasons for the other days missed, some were sick days where my child hadn't attended a doctor but it seems from what people are saying here that its just a marking point for early detection of prolonged absenteeism so I'm feeling much better now I may be able to sleep tonight!! Thanks for input

spurious

There are children who miss 60+ days a year for no reason at all, or are kept at home by their parents to 'help' - don't worry, really.

mybigheart

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Assuming that you've provided doctor's certs for most of the absences it shouldn't be an issue. When the school is filling out the NEWB report (I do this in my school) there's a section for the reason for absences. The big issue is with unexplained absences. Genuine illness doesn't raise red flags.

As to the NEWB contacting you, koEducation Welfare Officers are snowed under - I've never come across a case where a parent was contacted when a child missed only 20 days unless it was an ongoing pattern through a number of years.

That's good to know I handed in notes for nearly half the absences and I had legit reasons for the other days missed, some were sick days where my child hadn't attended a doctor but it seems from what people are saying here that its just a marking point for early detection of prolonged absenteeism so I'm feeling much better now I may be able to sleep tonight!! Thanks for input

mybigheart

spurious wrote: »

There are children who miss 60+ days a year for no reason at all, or are kept at home by their parents to 'help' - don't worry, really.

Thanks I'm more at ease now, glad I came on here for advice.

Kathnora

I second ian87....nothing will happen. 20 days is the benchmark number on paper but in reality that's all it is! There are many many children who miss way more than 20 days and in my experience NOTHING has happened to them...the truth is the NEWB like so many other govt appointed agencies don't have the manpower and sometimes the willpower to deal with all the cases they should deal with. It can be very frustrating for a teacher when a child misses 50 or 60 days year after year ( as has happened in our school) and they just sail through without a bother! We have one very extreme case at the moment which is in the hands of the NEWB for the past 6 mths and we have heard absolutely nothing about its progress. I wish all parents were as concerned as you are!!

dharma200

I wouldn't worry about it at all.
I have a 5 and 6 year old.. I think we are just below the 20 days. It wouldn't concern me one bit.
Government departments, including social services are solo snowed under and under staffed and under funded the worst cases do not get investigated.
I also think this is a ridiculous measure, knee jerk, especially for under 7s. If my children feel under the weather I do not send them in,, I certainly do not go to the doctor every time they feel under the weather, nor do I feel the need to be policed by the school. Ofcourse there are cases where absences can ring bells on other issues, but teachers should have discretion. For instance there was an outbreak of head lice in the school, my children did not get them but we were told all children who had them had to be kept off until clear... also there was another outbreak of another illness which had a week on either side in which it was catching, that is already 2 weeks if the children were unfortunate to display symptoms.
There is some travelling children in our school also, some of whom have gone missing for 6 months! There is also another girl who has been in cambodia for two months.
If I decided to take my children out of school for any period of time I would deal with the 'authorities' accordingly.
School is a legal obligation, but it also angers me when whole days of my own children's education are taken up by religious practises etc etc, another issue for another day....
I wouldn't be worrying at all anyway. I would be very surprised if you got contacted even at 30 days absence.

muckisluck

mybigheart wrote: »

That's good to know I handed in notes for nearly half the absences and I had legit reasons for the other days missed, some were sick days where my child hadn't attended a doctor but it seems from what people are saying here that its just a marking point for early detection of prolonged absenteeism so I'm feeling much better now I may be able to sleep tonight!! Thanks for input

Just wondering why you didn't hand in notes for all the absences. All absences should be explained but it doesn't necessarily have to be a doctors letter. Parental explanations usually suffice.

mybigheart

muckisluck wrote: »

Just wondering why you didn't hand in notes for all the absences. All absences should be explained but it doesn't necessarily have to be a doctors letter. Parental explanations usually suffice.

that's what I meant, i handed in doctors notes for nearly half of the days missed, most other days I wrote my own notes.

mybigheart

dharma200 wrote: »

I wouldn't worry about it at all.
I have a 5 and 6 year old.. I think we are just below the 20 days. It wouldn't concern me one bit.
Government departments, including social services are solo snowed under and under staffed and under funded the worst cases do not get investigated.
I also think this is a ridiculous measure, knee jerk, especially for under 7s. If my children feel under the weather I do not send them in,, I certainly do not go to the doctor every time they feel under the weather, nor do I feel the need to be policed by the school. Ofcourse there are cases where absences can ring bells on other issues, but teachers should have discretion. For instance there was an outbreak of head lice in the school, my children did not get them but we were told all children who had them had to be kept off until clear... also there was another outbreak of another illness which had a week on either side in which it was catching, that is already 2 weeks if the children were unfortunate to display symptoms.
There is some travelling children in our school also, some of whom have gone missing for 6 months! There is also another girl who has been in cambodia for two months.
If I decided to take my children out of school for any period of time I would deal with the 'authorities' accordingly.
School is a legal obligation, but it also angers me when whole days of my own children's education are taken up by religious practises etc etc, another issue for another day....
I wouldn't be worrying at all anyway. I would be very surprised if you got contacted even at 30 days absence.

Yes you make some very good points there, its ok for under 6 years but after that age you are held liable, but there seems to be a lot of people out there who are twice over the 20 days and aren't being chased up,

Paddyo

What age is your child. They are not really concerned with absences of children under 6, I think.