Hi guys, my daughter's 9 year old girl was off sick from school late Nov 2023 until early Dec 2024 (approx nine school days). She and her mother were very sick at the same time.
She always phoned in each day and the school have records of this and any messages, which we have copies of. They even had a school attendance officer woman who turned unannounced at their door one day, presumably to try and see if she could catch them out. My daughter answered the door looking like death and gave her short shrift.
When she was a bit better she got her into the doctors surgery where they were both found to have an upper respiratory tract virus and not to go back to school until we'll enough.
The school were sent the doctor's letter which they acknowledged. She had a meeting with the deputy head and developed a plan of action for her daughter's future attendance. ( but if you're not well you're not well?)
Well it looks like the local authority school attendance officer has gone out on a limb with this for some reason and put it through to the magistrates court, because the next thing that happened was some documents came throughfrom the court asking her to attend a couple of weeks ago. This court is a 76 mile round trip which she is unable to make, she doesn't drive and public transport is hopeless and not direct.
She saw there was a section that in her absence she could list details of her side of the situation and post it off to them, which she did.
She received today this letter (see pic) which said her case has been adjourned until early July when they will decide how the 'trial'? will be conducted and she needs to provide the court of any witnesses she wants to call, the trial will then be adjourned to another date when there is sufficient court time to hear the trial in full?
Don't really know why it is so heavy handed like this? The school are unaware of there being a 'trial' as its not them that instigated this.
They have been extremely happy with her daughter's school work, and her attainment is always really good as are her school reports, she has never been late going into school, always well presented and her health and attendance recently the school are very happy with.
So the first date in July which is just to decide how the 'trial' will be conducted and may only take 5 minutes? she won't have to attend that will she?
I looked online and it said legally you can challenge the grounds on which you have been prosecuted if:
Your child's absence was authorised by the school
(They were kept aware throughout including a doctors letter)
Your child's absence was caused by sickness and a doctors note must be given.
(Yes see above)
So in essence this just sounds like a Local council School Attendance woman has just got a bee in her bonnet over this and it has got like this without the school knowing? (May call them as a 'witness')
Thankyou for taking the time to read this and any helpful comments of how to deal with this heavy handedness is appreciated.
She always phoned in each day and the school have records of this and any messages, which we have copies of. They even had a school attendance officer woman who turned unannounced at their door one day, presumably to try and see if she could catch them out. My daughter answered the door looking like death and gave her short shrift.
When she was a bit better she got her into the doctors surgery where they were both found to have an upper respiratory tract virus and not to go back to school until we'll enough.
The school were sent the doctor's letter which they acknowledged. She had a meeting with the deputy head and developed a plan of action for her daughter's future attendance. ( but if you're not well you're not well?)
Well it looks like the local authority school attendance officer has gone out on a limb with this for some reason and put it through to the magistrates court, because the next thing that happened was some documents came throughfrom the court asking her to attend a couple of weeks ago. This court is a 76 mile round trip which she is unable to make, she doesn't drive and public transport is hopeless and not direct.
She saw there was a section that in her absence she could list details of her side of the situation and post it off to them, which she did.
She received today this letter (see pic) which said her case has been adjourned until early July when they will decide how the 'trial'? will be conducted and she needs to provide the court of any witnesses she wants to call, the trial will then be adjourned to another date when there is sufficient court time to hear the trial in full?
Don't really know why it is so heavy handed like this? The school are unaware of there being a 'trial' as its not them that instigated this.
They have been extremely happy with her daughter's school work, and her attainment is always really good as are her school reports, she has never been late going into school, always well presented and her health and attendance recently the school are very happy with.
So the first date in July which is just to decide how the 'trial' will be conducted and may only take 5 minutes? she won't have to attend that will she?
I looked online and it said legally you can challenge the grounds on which you have been prosecuted if:
Your child's absence was authorised by the school
(They were kept aware throughout including a doctors letter)
Your child's absence was caused by sickness and a doctors note must be given.
(Yes see above)
So in essence this just sounds like a Local council School Attendance woman has just got a bee in her bonnet over this and it has got like this without the school knowing? (May call them as a 'witness')
Thankyou for taking the time to read this and any helpful comments of how to deal with this heavy handedness is appreciated.
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