AIBU with my child's school

Yes, you are going unreasonable.

The certificates shouldn't have been given out until the last day of term. You have admitted that your son had 7 days off school it may not have been his fault, but he did not have100% attendance.

Yeah I agree he didn't get 100% attendance, although I did ask if this absence will go onto his next terms attendance and they said no. So basically it doesn't really exist as it doesn't count towards anything. I just thought it was a bit harsh being the last week of school

Not unreasonable at all. I hate it when schools give rewards for 100% attendance. Most kids get ill, all they're doing is punishing kids for being ill, particularly when it's something like Covid, chicken pox or D and V where they are not allowed into school for a set period of time. Sometimes the children that miss out on these rewards are kids who are seriously ill and have attended school as much as they can cope with during treatment. Or they're children who have been absent due to the death of a close family member. If the school has a big problem with truancy then you can potentially have a reward for kids where their only absence was caused by things beyond their control, like illness. Otherwise they really shouldn't do it, it's not fair.

No, i don't agree with the previous poster that you are being unreasonable at all and to be quite honest I hate everything about this. Children get sick, especially young ones in reception!! Most parents do not keep their children off school unnecessarily and all this awards for attendance business for young kids, especially after the last 2 years is absurd. We were locked away on and off for 2 years, young kids were sheltered from viruses and now they are catching pretty much everything. They cannot go in if they have chicken pox! I don't think there is anything we can do about it because the stupid government are putting pressure on the schools but honestly it makes me so mad, and I wish schools would use some common sense. Rant over 😂

It is completely unreasonable for a school to reward children on attendance, which is completely out of their control. This angers me. Rewards should be for effort.

Ah I really hate it when school's reward attendance. Especially after we've just been through Covid when we had to keep them home when they were ill!

I hope schools will do away with these policies soon. Kids can't help it if they're ill. Just my opinion but I feel for you.

This is ridiculous and a harmful policy that sets children up for failure in later life. It’s actually borderline abusive as you’re encouraging children to ignore their bodies, put their sickness aside and turn up anyway, regardless of the physical damage (prolonged sickness) or mental damage this will cause.

Presenteeism is when an employee is constantly present at work despite being unwell . Illnesses are unpreventable; and taking time off work is completely normal. Yet some employees feel the need to continue working despite their sickness. Presenteeism is the exact opposite of absenteeism at work.

Presenteeism is the number cause of work related stress and costs companies billions every year.

Its pathetic and I would go to the LEA, board of governors, whoever, to have this harmful policy removed.

What if your child has cancer? Or some other chronic illness that requires medical appointments? They don’t get rewarded because of something completely out of their control. How demoralising is that!?

Take him bowling yourself and take some pals. It's ridiculous to be rewarded for just attending. Think of all the kids thrown into school when they are ill spreading germs to other kids! Your the responsible parent keeping your infectious child at home, while the irresponsible parents who send their kids in whatever state they may be get rewarded! Crazy.

My daughters old school didn't make allowances for children off with medical issues including a child in school with a brain tumor!!

They say an absence is an absence but you'd think they would have compassion for situations out of anyone's control

Nowt like teaching children that attendance rewards are basically "well done for not being disabled"!!!

Its disgusting, and essentially one of the MANY reasons I pulled her out and she's in a much more supportive school

Hi,

You're not being unreasonable in that you are entitled to feel disappointed knowing he had 100% up until the chicken pox episode. Unfortunately, like previous posters have said, its silly to reward 100% attendance.

My child has health conditions which affect his breathing and food intake so at times he is physically unable to go in. Do I make him go in just to achieve that 100% mark? No. But I do still feel annoyed and upset that he is always sidelined when it comes to attendance awards because he is nowhere near the mark they want.

This academic year just gone, he attended the most days he ever has in an entire academic year. However, there is no recognition for these children despite the fact that the school will have a health plan and full medical details to show why they are absent so much.

There isnt much you can do in terms of your situation - it's annoying but I've just made it the norm in our home to show my kid that its the effort behind attendance/tasks that matter, not the number. Ours is a different situation but you can just reassure your child that you know how well he has done and you can do something together if he wants.

Ofsted expects and checks what rewards and incentives a school has in place to increase and reward attendance and improve lateness. This is not the school's choice and is part of safeguarding.

However, how they operate their system and who they choose to include like those with proven persistent or recurrence medical needs to ensure there is equality is up to them.

Many schools operate a stepped approach.

Yes you are being unreasonable. Rightly or wrongly attendance rewards have to be black and white. The reward was for 100% attendance your child didn’t have 100% attendance, regardless of when the absence was. Simple as that really.

Move on and strive for 100% next year…

No you’re not being unreasonable. I think it’s unfair that the school are giving other children a treat for being at school all of the time. It just makes other children feel left out.

Definatley being a whingey mum, yes.

I imagine that the staff felt quite embarrassed for you.