They handed out certificates in assembly for Attendance and DS didn't get one .. would it bother you?

[Twiglett]

he hasn't missed a day .. he's never been late

how come they missed him out

if it was in isolation I could understand it .. but this is possibly the 3rd incident (the first was major .. the second minor .. this one kind of nothing)

am bothered

should I be?

[joash]

so...go and ask the relevant person - I'd like to know if it was my child

[Moomin]

At our school ALL 100% attenders get recognition - so I would ring up and ask the school what the criteria is. The kids that get the certificates at our school pu them in their Record of Achievement and take them to interviews etc. so it's a big deal here. (I know you're probably talking about primary but the principle's still there)

[Bozza]

I would follow it up.

[VioletBaudelaire]

If the children are being praised for having good attendance, then it is unfair to miss anyone out.
Does your DS realise?
I would mention it to school and ask why he didn't get one.
I would be bothered too.

[HuwEdwards]

Twig, when I got my DD1's report from Reception, it stated that she'd had 9 days of authorised absence. I counted 3 - and 1 day late because of dentist.

Kept meaning to challenge then went out of my head through summer hols. I would ask.

[Ladymuck]

Well if he is playing hooky in year 1....

Any chance you're forgetting a day off ill? I'd probably enquire at the school office "apparently DS has been recorded absent or late, could you jog my memory as to when"

[Twiglett]

I only found out today and asked teacher and she said it was nothing to do with her and told me who to speak to so I'll grab her (by the scruff of her neck ) tomorrow morning

DS thinks its because those who got certificates go in during the holidays .. he's so sweet sometimes .. and so very earnest ..

[Twiglett]

sorry LM he hasn't been sick at all .. no days off .. no dentist appointments nothing

[fryalot]

I would definitely chase it up.

[Mercy]

It would, mainly because the children are too young (I think your ds is in Yr 1?) to really understand the concept. At that age it's still mostly down to the parent to get the child to school on time.

Year 3 or 4 upwards might be different - or indeed a different approach altogether . A less public one I think actually.

[Berrie]

They did this a couple of times at the school I worked in. It was a scheme organised by the LEA I think We (the teachers) sat there in disbelief as the names being read out. We thought it must be due to mistakes on the registers. We dropped it after a few goes!

[fannyannie]

Definitely chase it up - DS1 is really proud of the one he got in Reception last year.....it's still up on the fridge

[Twiglett]

he got one today .. it was nothing to do with class teacher .. and a computer glitch supposedly

still he was very pleased with it and he got a sparkly pencil with it

[Blu]

I hate this whole thing anyway.
First we had a newsletter telling us not to send children to school if ill, then they encourage attendance with certificates...as if not catching a bug is something that you have any control over! Why be more 'proud' than a child who caught a 24 hour stomach bug - from another classmate?

Plus DS can never ever win this - we have no alternative but to take him out of school to get his shoes, for physio appointments, for consultant appointments...and they don't take that into account. He hasn't had any 'ill' time off, but still doesn't get the certificate.

I have no objection to competition per se - but it should be things that the children can have some control over.

[cremolafoam]

agree 100% blu
FGS they are rewarding children for not getting sick.it's ridiculous

[Twiglett]

actually he's 6 .. getting to school and on time has bugger all to do with him

so the sparkly pencil is mine .. mine I tell ya

[Blu]

An Alpha Mum trophy and no mistake!

[roisin]

My boys never get 100% attendance, because they are occasionally sick. But I still approve of the scheme.

In our setting many children have two generations of unemployed parents, and the ethic of getting up and going to school is being unlearned in some settings. So it is vital to encourage attendance, and to start this at an early age.

Also some of our children (secondary) seem genuinely unable to tell the difference between:
"I'm feeling extremely ill and am about to collapse and I need to go home", and
"I've got Maths next and I haven't done my homework, so I don't want to go"

[Blu]

And a sparkly pencil would change all that, Roisin?

[Miaou]

I agree it is ridiculous (and it's always my kids who get the certificates). As you say, it's pointless rewarding kids for not being ill

[Miaou]

x-posts roisin - yes I see that - but why not reward 95% attendance then?

[Blu]

Or address the real problem head-on and name and shame the maths maingerers in assembly! (not sure I would really vote for that...but it sometimes feels as if there is always some not-quite-right solution to dealing with deviant behaviour, which has illogical impact on the impeccable.

[Blu]

malingerers

[Miaou]

I read that as "maths mingers"

Sorry - bringing the tone down with puerile comments

[Twiglett]

wth is a 'maths malingerer'?

is that someone who goes 2+2= actually no I can't be bothered, I'll do it in a second, did you hear the one about the...?

or is it something else entirely that flew straight over my head?