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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

100% Attendance Award

252 replies

user1489094655 · 19/07/2017 21:22

Hi
Today, the school my dd goes to rewarded the children with 100% attendance with a trip to the cinema. In a school of about 90, there was 7 from various years.

My dd didn't get 100% because we took a two week holiday in June. My husband has holidays allocated by his work which this year was the first fortnight of June. Total lucky dip and not negotiable. She had NO other time off.

It also doesn't seem fair on children who are poorly, why penalise a child because they had, for example, chicken pox.

What about religious festivals, bereavement, family weddings etc.

All of these situations are out of a child's control.

If it's an incentive to come to school, for some families they don't care about the cinema trip or school so the incentive doesn't work yet for some children like my dd, it is a disappointment.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
anchor9 · 20/07/2017 22:10

surely being ill etc etc is actually a much more legitimate reason for absence than a 2 week holiday. you don't choose to be ill.

Luluandizzy · 20/07/2017 22:12

I think the rule is ridiculous and unfair i agree, children should not be penalized for being unwell. However in fairness, your daughter had a two week holiday in term time! That surely out trumps the cinema by a long way! We can't have everything x

Mittens1969 · 20/07/2017 22:26

OneOfTheGrundys, yes, my DD1 too, and she also has had regular hospital appointments for her eyesight all her life. DD2 has hardly had a hospital appointment in her life!

I'm grateful our school don't do treats for full attendance, just meaningless certificates.

Madmama10 · 20/07/2017 22:37

Although a holiday is not the same as illness. I disagree that a child should be made responsible for the action of their parents. How exactly would a child be able to avoid going away with it's parents.

Mittens1969 · 20/07/2017 23:06

That's true, Madmama10. That's the reason why attendance awards are completely meaningless for primary school children, they only make sense once children start at secondary school as an incentive to get reluctant teenagers to come to school.

FineAsWeAre · 20/07/2017 23:43

I hate attendance awards. My son's school give certificates for 100% attendance every term; my son didn't get one in the first term because he had a day off for a funeral. Last term he missed a day because he had concussion. He's only 7 and has had to watch his friends get rewarded for something which they had no control over, they were lucky enough to have not been ill or have had other issues this year.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 20/07/2017 23:53

Both my DCs got 100% attendance this year. One will get an award the other won't it's just recorded on his report. I haven't had a day's sick leave in three years either and nor has my DH. I think part of this is that we have a strong work ethic which we've passed onto the children. I actually do think it's nice to get a certificate at school. Of course you won't get it if your child gets chicken pox or something but I'm not sure why no one should acknowledge the achievement just because most people won't get it.

ikulanappa · 21/07/2017 02:04

I hate these. As a (recently) ex- teacher, I have seen genuinely poorly children who should've been tucked up in bed at home get dragged into school to keep up attendance. The ones who have more time off than they need will do it regardless of a reward so it doesn't work in that respect.

I also worked in one school where they did a trip to Drayton Manor based on attendance in the last term (11 weeks long). There were children who'd had appalling over all attendance that managed to get 100% in the last few weeks and got the treat whilst children who'd had one or even half a day off in the last term due to a sickness bug but had 100% up till then missed out. How was that fair?! Bloody stupid.

Twillow · 21/07/2017 02:15

I agree its unfair for children genetically blessed with an iron constitution to be further rewarded. They're generally the type that love being at school anyway and have not made a special effort to be there every day that they need to be rewarded for. Also, sends a horrible message to poor kids who have had one day off with some genuine illness or accident.

MadamQuimby · 21/07/2017 02:33

I'm being perhaps a bit ignorant so excuse me the following:

  1. This won't affect her high school
  2. We don't always get to be the winner
  3. This is a stupid thread
Why do children need to be the "winner" ever time? GET a grip. Who actually cares if he got 100% record. His friends couldn't give a shit.
Glitterfish · 21/07/2017 03:08

I have been very ill this year (breast cancer) and due to all my surgeries etc my little boy missed a few days. Totally my fault not his and I had explained to the school in advance that he would have to be cared for by relatives during some of my hospital stays. he didn't miss that much for a reception class (10 days) but was so sad he didn't get the reward -its been so difficult getting through the year and to see his sad little face at the end was so disappointing

Starlight2345 · 21/07/2017 06:49

I just saw a picture of someone's children on FB posing with their 100% certificate..

I put my DS's HW certificates on the wall, attendance in the bin..He knows this..We have discussed it..I tell him if you are well enough you go to school if not you don't...He has only had a week off for an Operation this year so he knows he goes.

LoniceraJaponica · 21/07/2017 07:10

"I think part of this is that we have a strong work ethic which we've passed onto the children"

Hmm We all have a strong work ethic in our house. Unfortunately OH had a major operation for cancer two years ago. He is fine now, but has had to scale back his work.
Coffeetasteslikeshit · 21/07/2017 07:30

I haven't had a day's sick leave in three years either and nor has my DH. I think part of this is that we have a strong work ethic which we've passed onto the children.

Can you let me know how a strong work ethic strengthens your immune system please? Or are you going in ill?

Cailleach666 · 21/07/2017 07:37

So if we all had a strong enough work effort then everyone would be well enough to work, no one would get sick.

Brilliant!!!

Someone should tell the NHS- this country could save a fortune.

Cailleach666 · 21/07/2017 07:40

I feel bad now.

My son never had higher than 85% attendance in any year at primary school.
All that treatment, the surgery, all could have been avoided if he had a better work ethic.

If only I had known.

2014newme · 21/07/2017 07:49

Meh my dd hasn't had a day off school sick in five years, she doesn't get I'll, lucky her. But I take her on term time holiday every year so she'll never get the award. Does she care? No. There are plenty other awards to win. Children who aren't good at maths/music/sports can't win those awards. What's the difference. children are not being punished if they don't win an attendance award!

multivac · 21/07/2017 07:56

children are not being punished if they don't win an attendance award!

Did you miss the bit about the parties? The theme park trips? The free ice cream?

Cailleach666 · 21/07/2017 07:58

2014newme Meh

You clearly don't understand the sadness and frustration of a child who has a chronic health problem.
Being whisked off for a jolly holiday is not quite the same thing as finding yourself too ill to be able to go to school, for weeks on end.
Being ill takes an emotional toil.
Most ill children want to be at school, want to be with their peers, worried they are falling behind, frustrated and sad.

To then miss out on attendance awards can feel like a double blow.

Not quite the same thing as being taken out of school during term time to jet off to the sun.

Ktown · 21/07/2017 07:58

My kid had a 100% attendance and yes I did send her in with the sniffles a couple of times.
Some illnesses are more preventable through hand washing but most aren't. One thing that does bug me is children with asthma and eczema who have pets or smoking parents - and constantly have allergies/illnesses. I have seen this a few times and am very judgy!

Mittens1969 · 21/07/2017 08:17

A strong work ethic won't put right my DD1's hearing and sight problems, which she's had since she was a baby. She's needed regular hospital appointments through her life, and inevitably some of them will be in term time during school hours.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 21/07/2017 09:45

I also very much doubt my DS will get 100% next year either tbh. He has multiple hospital visits with different specialists so it is hard to dodge school days.
Will also probably increase next year as we get closer to other diagnosis'.

enterthedragon · 21/07/2017 11:37

A strong work ethic won't make my son's SEND dissapear.

Husk · 21/07/2017 12:39

Attend school, my taxes pay for it.

Willow2017 · 21/07/2017 12:48

Husk
WTF does that even mean?

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