To disagree with this school competition?

[LittleMissUpset]

School have told the children, and told parents, that children need to be in school every day in May, and that they will be entered into a competition to win a family day out.

I never send my kids in with a stomach bug, but if they have a cold, so long as they are well enough in themselves, they go in, I try and judge it, and always tell school to call me and I will pick up if I do send them in.

But kids can't help being ill, and I know attendance is a big thing for schools, but FFS! It's unfair on the kids.

One of my children has SN and is struggling in school, and I'm making referrals myself.

We have a medical appointment next week we have been waiting over 3 months for, so he won't be in the draw now. It seems so unfair.

Yes I could mention it to school, but there is no point. They would take it the wrong way, when I have politely questioned something previously about a school trip, and others did, we were put firmly in our place!

They have to have full attendance, and if you have any time off for anything, it's not 100% on your attendance.

But even if medical appointments are not included in this, it's still unfair on children who are ill, and some children I know have medical conditions which make them ill, it just doesn't sit right with me.

Ds has 4 appointments in May so that would be him out of the running from the off!

I won't tell the head what I think, it won't get me anywhere, I've tried before, very politely. It's pointless so I'm picking my battles, and while I don't agree with this, I have bigger fish to fry right now.

I just think it's very unfair, children can't help being ill.

Just generally, if they feel some parents will only make sure their kids go to school to win a competition they have a serious problem they need to address

That's ridiculous.

On the other hand, we could all realize that schools are judged on attendance and this isn't their fault.

My form group never win the prize because we have in our form 2 children who, for various understandable reasons, are off frequently. It doesn't stop us celebrating a month when we are all healthy.

On top of that, my own ds has lots of learning issues that mean he never wins academic prizes. However, he is in every bloody day and is madly fit apart from that. He's always pleased with his certificate and his class are pleased for him. Surely that's ok?

Speak to them about the medical attendance.

I complained that my sons attendance was logged as lower as he had a two day exclusion relating to his SEN in September.

The deputy head rang me and told me they had taken that off his absence list, so only his two day sick bug now stands. Barely even had to throw the exclusions and discrimination words at him ;-)

Agree with DrCoconut. A clinical appointment should NOT be regarded as an absence (obviously you may have to provide proof). I was told this by the head teacher of my DD's school some years ago when she was having kidney problems and had to attend an out-patients clinic once every 2 months for a year. Hospitals cannot arrange all their clinic times outside of school hours!

Competitions are just about luck though, so I don't see how this is much different. Wouldn't bother me much, it's clearly to get the skivers in- and they might even win! That would be quite nice wouldn't it, to have a normally marginalised child rewarded for improving their lives?

Ppl cant help being ill or having a medical condition. Bronco.