To think that attendance recording at school is unfair

[ICompletelyKnowAboutGuineaPigs]

So not actually attendance recording per se. I understand why schools monitor attendance and why this is important.

But at my DS's (aged 6) primary school they reward attendance (100%) at the end of every term with a special assembly, a certificate and extra 'golden time' in the afternoon. Now DS has not missed a full day of school or been late this term BUT he has had some appointments during school time. He is currently being assessed by the ASD team and they requested assessment by Speech and Language therapy and Occupational Therapy. The school know about this and the services have liaised with the school to keep them updated. No complaints so far, the school have been great.

The appointments are made by the services and so on 2-3 occasions he has had to miss an hour or two of school - but I always pick him up as late as possible and drop him off afterwards. He hasn't been awarded his attendance certificate because of these occasions. AIBU to think this is a bit unfair? I can't decide if it is discriminatory and whether I should take it further or whether the school are being perfectly reasonable because he hasn't been IN school 100% of the time (my friend's DD, however, has received her certificate despite leaving school early due to illness so I'm not sure what their exact criteria are).

I have spoken to the school SENCO/attendance monitor and he actually agrees with me but says he has to work within the guidelines. Should I challenge the guidelines or just it go?

[Dancergirl]

Some very good points raised.

I do wonder though, if parents are taking it further....is that because of the principle of the thing or because their own child is upset by the system? Not criticising, just curious. Is this an example of something where parents are angry on their child's behalf but the majority of children in question aren't that bothered?

[MajaBiene]

The majority of people aren't disabled or with a chronic illness but it still isn't ok to discriminate against them.

[saulaboutme]

In our school, more than once, they give the certificates out for 100% attendance on the last day of term...most of the receivers aren't there because they've left afew days early to go on summer holiday...so unfair.

[saulaboutme]

In our school, more than once, they give the certificates out for 100% attendance on the last day of term...most of the receivers aren't there because they've left afew days early to go on summer holiday...so unfair.

[saulaboutme]

We have said they should a scrap the whole reward system for attendance. It's really a load of bollox and most secondary schools don't look at the Childs personal record incase parents think attendance goes in favour for acceptance.

[TolliverGroat]

The CHILD might be pleased to get an attendance certificate and ENCOURAGE the parent to help him or her keep up good attendance

And then the parent can point out that the child has the opportunity to be rewarded for other things and that there are still many, many other things in terms of their efforts and achievements at school that can be rewarded. Or does that line of reasoning only work on children with chronic health conditions?

You can't really have it both ways. EITHER the attendance certificates (etc.) are so incredibly important to children that they will form a huge motivating factor, enough to somehow get the child to completely change the mind of parents who are looking at saving hundreds of pounds on a holiday or who don't value good attendance (in which case it will be desperately disappointing for children who through no fault of their own or their parents are never likely to achieve 100% attendance, and those children aren't going to be easily jollied out of it by being reminded that they were once star of the week) OR the attendance certificates (etc.) are such a minor thing that children with chronic health conditions won't really care that they'll never get one (in which case they aren't going to be motivating for children, still less for parents, who are looking to save money on holidays or who just generally can't be arsed).

[tethersend]

I work with children in care- often, their attendance goes up once they are taken into care and placed with a foster family. What part of this are they in control of?

"The CHILD might be pleased to get an attendance certificate and ENCOURAGE the parent to help him or her keep up good attendance"

This is the spurious logic used to justify attendance awards for primary aged children. If a child cannot encourage their parent to care for them properly, what hope do they have of getting to school on time? Should they be penalised, further excluded and alienated from their peers due to their parents' inability to parent them?

Nobody (I hope) would seriously suggest rewarding children for their parents' income- yet the principle is the same. Children nagging their parents to earn more is likely to have a similar impact on their achievement.

[Nanny0gg]

IME feckless parents who can't be arsed to get up in the morning, or the terminally disorganised, do not change their attitudes so that their DC can get an attendence certificate.

And I feel really sorry for the child.

Horrible practice.

[Nanny0gg]

aarghh!
attendance

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

Most kids don't have a hope in hell of getting it. Why not just do awards for something relevant to the child. Well done for trying your best/working so hard/ being a good friend / reading nicely etc. attendance certificates might aswell say "you've been a pain in the butt all year but hey u turned up have this"

[Blu]

Dancergirl - as I said, I don't care one jot about Attendance Certificates, and would have said to DS that they were ppintless if they simply rewarded people for the luck of not having a cold.

I took it up with a committee I was on at school (Inclusion) and encouraged DS to write because one day he said, very ucharacteristically, he had never said such a thing before, "I wish i wasn't disabled". I took a secret deep breath and prepared for a deep conversation. Whe I asked what had made him think of that, just at that moment, he said 'Because it's not fair i never get an Attendance Certificate and I never will because I have so many apppoointments. I never want to go to * appointment AGAIN!". Of course his frustration was largely about having to go to appointments, but the attendance awards were salt in the wound.

So, no, I am not getting worked up on behalf of an imaginary position.

From what position or experience of these matters does your pov come from? A child who is persistently absent? A regular certificate acceptee? A child with a pretty average attendance who sometimes gets a certificate and sometimes not?

[Blu]

AuntPetunia - I assume you do not have the experience of needing numerous consultants and other appointments in hospitals? Make an appointment to suit our timing - WHAT a novel idea.

FFS.

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

The 100% attendance annoys me too, as the children who get it always seem to be the ones who come in after throwing up all night and spread the lurgy to everyone else.

My boys have both had chickenpox this term. Maybe I should have sent them in?

[Goldmandra]

There's a way to get round it...make appointment late in the afternoon so dc gets their school mark, or mid morning let them in for mark then pick up and take back before afternoon register.

That is so laughable! I can just imagine me phoning CAMHS and telling them I can only bring my child to appointments which fit round school registration times! The secretary would have me sectioned!

They only work with children. What would happen to the appointments which cover morning and afternoon registration then? Should the psychologists and psychiatrists sit twiddling their thumbs while their waiting lists get longer just so their patients can get their attendance certificates?

[Cherriesarelovely]

Sorry, haven't read the whole OP but couldn't agree with you more. If a child is ill it is hardly their fault and you would not want them attending school when ill anyway! If a child is frequently away and the school suspects there is another issue other than illness they should make inquiries and try to support the family. It is dreadful to penalise children and prevent them from attending special events because they have been unwell.

[Cherriesarelovely]

Being fortunate enough not to have been ill for a term or a year is not an achievement, it is just that, good fortune!

[auntpetunia]

Erm yes Thanks I have a ds who sees an ophthalmologist on a 3 monthly basis and I always ask for and receive appointments after 9.30 or after 2. And more often than not I attempt to make them during half term. It's possible.

[mercibucket]

auntpetunia, you have read these comments and still insist on this ridiculous approach to appointments. it is not always possible. end of. please just believe everyone who says this.

[Goldmandra]

Erm yes Thanks I have a ds who sees an ophthalmologist on a 3 monthly basis and I always ask for and receive appointments after 9.30 or after 2. And more often than not I attempt to make them during half term. It's possible.

Every 3 months is clearly very manageable. We're not talking about children who have four appointments a year here. We sometimes have four in one week, several of which are with specialised paediatric services.

Believe me it is not possible for me to arrange all the appointments around school registration times

[mercibucket]

it also depends how far you travel, how long you need to wait, and how long the appointments are.

[Sirzy]

Just because its possible for you doesn't mean its possible for everyone, and of course at Paediatric clinics a lot of the people using the clinic will be school age therefore it is actually impossible for them all to have appointment times that suit.

The paediatrician my DS sees does one mornings clinic a week. The clinic is very busy you take whatever appointment you can get.

[StanleyLambchop]

Auntpetunia- it may be possible for you to get appointments when you chose with your opthalmologist, but many , many parents do not get that luxury. With my childrens hospital appointments you get what you are given. You may be able to request a change of date/time, but that may involve the appointment being put back several months, and then you are again offered a school time appointment because there is nothing else available. Many consultants do their clinics at set days/times- you really do not have a choice.

I run around like a blue arsed fly on appointment days, taking them into school first so that they can be marked in for the morning, then hurrying across town (no city centre parking at city centre hospitals so we have to build in extra time for parking a way back & walking)for appointments, then rushing them back to school, making them eat a packed lunch in the car en route as there is no time to build a lunch hour in if they are to get back for afternoon registration. I really put myself out the sake of the schools attendance % even though my children have complex medical conditions. Is it really too much to ask in return that the school does not make them feel like shit because they have missed some school time because of that condition?

[hopefloats]

I will be proud to display another 100% attendance award for my DD at the end of this week. And so will she.

[landofsoapandglory]

You shouldn't have to 'get round it'!

The schools should not be so bloody unreasonable in the first place. It is unlawful to not make reasonable adjustments to their policies so all DC can pick up these rewards.

As the DC get older it stops being a certificate, the rewards become end of term parties, house fuctions and now DS2 is being threatened with not being able to go to the Prom. How is that fair? He has never been in trouble, never had a dention, has been Tutor Captain, on the House Council. Despite being a severe asthamtic plays rugby for the school where he has recently broken his shoulder, and is now missing school for appointments for that. He has represented the school in competitions, has been to Cambridge University 3 times in the last year to represent them, is on course to get 10A's&A*'s at GCSE, is used as an example of how to wear the uniform and according to his teachers a pleasure to teach and a credit to us and himself. But, despite all of that because he has fecking asthma and misses school through it he may not be able to go to the Prom!

It boils my fucking piss!