Too many parents are keeping children with the “sniffles” off school — and should send them in even if they have a cold, a government adviser urged today.
Charlie Taylor said it was better to send in children and let the school decide if they need to go home. Speaking at the publication of a report on improving attendance, the behaviour adviser said: “The last thing we want is a bunch of kids with the norovirus.
But, as a parent, you do tend to be more precious and trigger-happy. It is an education problem. I would say to parents, ‘If in doubt, send your children to school’ — sometimes kids are just playing it.”
Mr Taylor also called for the truancy rates of four- and five-year-olds to be published for the first time, to encourage schools to try to reform such pupils before truanting becomes ingrained.
