Thank you both for your prompt replies. I have tried to make the day boring for Matthew today by insisting that he stays upstairs in room whilst I study downstairs, (thought we would both endure a boring day - Open University) Anyway, I thought that he would be bored out of his mind until I went upstairs and found him sitting on his toybox, dressed top-to-toe as spiderman watching a DVD. Sometimes you have to laugh but really it is not funny. I shall certainly try the rewards system but my eldest son came in at lunchtime with a note declaring an in-service day on Friday.(yes THIS FRIDAY!!!) I must remember to thank them for the short notice. I can't help thinking already about the battle to get him in on Monday after 3 days off!!! Oh well, nothing for it but to roll up my sleeves and get on with it.
Thanks again, Sharon

Hi Sharon

My son did this when he was in his first year of school. He always hated going in and we had some major battles to get him to stay. He came home one day and announced he was going to try homeschooling. I agreed. Next day I worked that child so hard that he was only too delighted to go to school the following day! I used internet sites to print off Maths problems, printed word searches and simple crossword puzzles. I covered every subject that day. I told him I didn't want the Dept of Education thinking we couldn't do it right. Cruel I know, but I couldn't afford for him to be staying off on a regular basis.
Hope things work out

A