To School or Not to School by Nicola Foster

As each school term draws to a close, I watch the children get increasingly tired and run down. Invariably when the holidays begin they have high temperatures, infections or a vomiting bug and we remain house bound except for visits to the doctors and chemists.

However, during term time (specifically week days), the children will, from time to time, falsely claim to be unwell. There will be no visible signs of illness such as temperature, rashes, spots or swellings. The symptoms will be vague - a sore throat or tummy ache usually, together with droopy shoulders and a pathetically weak little voice. With no definitive evidence of an illness, I have to decide whether or not to send them to school and I can never get right.

Occasionally I have stood my ground and sent them to school, dosed up with Calpol and with the same unconvincing words my mother used to utter "I'm sure you will feel better once you are at school". The school has then rung mid morning to inform me a daughter is unwell and is requiring collection, then (in my opinion rather frostily) adding "she mentioned she had felt unwell before school". The inference is clear - I have ignored my daughter's wellbeing and sent her into school so she can sneeze, cough or be sick over everybody else whilst I go home for a coffee and to watch Cash in the Attic.

When I have kept them off school, it can be like watching a mist clear as their droopy expression is replaced by bright eyes and a healthy appetite for chocolate and sweets. Periodically they remember they are "ill" and the droopy shoulders and pathetic voice return leaving me feeling completely stitched up. On speaking to others, I suspect a firmer approach is needed. One of my son's pre-school teachers told me of the time her son was "ill" and she insisted he looked so poorly he must stay in bed. He wasn't allowed any comfort food and miraculously, by lunchtime, he declared himself well and was begging to go to school.

Unfortunately, I think I am naturally inclined towards days off - one of my favourite films is "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". I can think of nothing better than a sickie spent under the duvet with a packet of Hob Nobs, a remote control and re-runs of Columbo. I would actually like to see the introduction of "duvet days" for all. Under my scheme everyone would be entitled to three duvet days per year. It would be an excellent way to recharge low batteries without pretending to be ill and would benefit weary children and adults and I suspect such days may also reduce the number of actual sick days taken each year. I cannot deny this is without flaws but I firmly believe, particularly in the current climate, it would certainly help cheer us all up