Thread by @teamsquarepeg

Attendance policies may be set locally by each school, but they should not breach legislation or guidance. Far too many examples here of policy running roughshod beyond remit, placing untold pressure on families struggling to attend. Who can spot issues here…? 1/

- parents have authority + agency to decide if their child is well enough to attend
- parents have authority + agency to determine their child’s welfare + safeguarding is secure to attend
- schools should only demand medical evidence if veracity of parental opinion is in doubt 2/

- schools must authorise absence due to illness. BMA states they will not issue sick notes for children’s illness + schools should not require evidence from parents. 3/

- a child’s attendance % has nothing to do with requirement for medical evidence. If school doubt parental opinion, a meeting with the family is recommended. Visits to home should only be enacted if parental opinion is in question. 4/

- UN UDHR Articles 1, 2, 3, 6, Equality Act, Children & Families Act SEND COP clearly lay out boundaries & duties. Parents are being undermined, persecuted, bullied, harassed, blamed + criminalised at every turn due to institutional misappropriated systemic responses. 5/

It serves no one. Least of all our children. This is why parents are leaving education in droves - teachers + families. This is why families are forced out of education non-electively. This is why off-rolling is insidious, managed moves can be invidious. 6/

Far too much ‘doing to.’ Dangerously Nanny State. Parents have rights + authority in the first instance. The systems’ views + actions are driving division, increasing adversity, disabling + disadvantaging vulnerable families. #institutionalparentblame @Law_Leeds @Justforkidslaw