When was the last time you took a day off work because you had a cough, or a cold? Probably never. Just bought some Lemsip and sat quietly at your desk. Maybe you sloped home slightly earlier than usual. But you got on with it.
When it comes to our offspring, however, it seems that the merest hint of a sniffle is enough to keep them snugly at home, cuddled up in a blanket on the sofa watching CBeebies.
That, at least, appears to be the case in East Sussex, where the council has become so frustrated with the number of pupil absences that it has launched a series of adverts targeted at parents, with slogans such as “Get a grip. Most parents do. No excuse for missing school”, and “Good reasons for missing school – there are none”.
The story made me laugh, and inwardly cheer, although predictably it has drawn outrage from local parents, who are now petitioning for the campaign to be withdrawn….
