School attendance

[Warrior-1]

Is anyone feeling like they're being harassed by the school education welfare officer about their child's attendance. As my child only had 2 days of in September 1 day off in December and 3 days off in February. All due to being on the higher doses of movicol and needing to use the loo more frequent. How can I stop them harassing me it's really stressing me out.

[Robinia]

Medical evidence is key. Do you have continence nurse or school nurse involved? If not get the GP to refer you or in my area you can refer yourself for school nurse. Both my continence nurse and school nurse have written letters for us. If you have consultant involved give copies of all clinic letters to school. Also you can give them copies of your prescriptions. It’s reasonable to be off if you’re on high dose movicol

[JJMUMOF4]

Hello, I agree with Robinia. Evidence everything! You shouldn’t have to but needs must. My son has had 2 weeks off school due to me insisting on doing a disimpaction, I had to pay for a gp’s letter to provide proof of the medical issue but I realise now there were other things I could have used (less costly). I found the key thing to help was meeting with the school and keeping them informed. They were understanding, and put things in place for my son which helped.I feel there is still a long way to go.. the school and some advice states to ‘try to wait until the school holidays’ to complete a disimpaction for example and I feel that this is wrong. A child whom has soiling issues is going through enough. There is still a lack of understanding across the board for how continence issues affect children’s well-being. How a child is expected to attend school and make good educational progress whilst fraught with worry over soiling beggars belief and things need to change.

Keeping the school in the loop would be my advice, it is tough, it shouldnt feel like a fight all of the time.. but quite often it can feel like that to get your childs plight heard. Like I said the school was really understanding and helpful, I hope that yours is too. 😊

[Frustratedmum1]

I agree with what the others have said. I was open with school informed them what was going on with his medication and the consequences. I have asked the doctors to give me a sick note with the reasons. The other thing we did is if we had to do discompaction regimes in school time. We informed school before we started. Asked if they needed us to provide anything and we also asked for school work we could do at home whilst he was of.

[Gemha]

We did the same as frustratedmum1 - got a sick note from the dr, I explained the situation to his teacher and got some work sent home. Sorry you’re getting hassle from the school - it’s hard to deal with these issues without having that as an extra thing to worry about.

[Warrior-1]

Thank you all for your advice. I had my meeting today I feel it didn't go well. I took all my hospital document. And had to explain my child's condition. It felt a bit awkward explaining it. That look they give you like I'm making it all up and kept saying oh really 12 sachets is a lot. As they have no knowledge of the condition. They didn't seem very understanding. I've been put on something called fast track where they monitor the attendance very carefully. I've even told them this condition is very unpredictable my child can go weeks doing very well on the medication then all of a sudden it can all change and it's back to doing a discompaction regime so I can't guarantee a good attendance.

[Misty10]

My lg due to start this year ive got a doctor letter also ive a got to ask the school for a pupil health care plan so thee eduction officer stays away lol.