School attendance

[Fivemoreminutespeaceplease]

DC6 has just gone back to school after having chickenpox over Christmas and needing last week off as his spots still weren't scabbed over. I contacted school and notified them of this at the time and they advised he could not return until all spots had scabbed over.

He has come home today absolutely gutted - most of his class received certificates and attendance rewards in assembly this morning for 100% attendance; an assembly that parents of said children were invited to. He didn't know this was happening so didn't understand why I wasn't in the crowd until the awards came out towards the end.

I am livid that children of primary age are being awarded for something completely out of their control. Children cannot help being poorly, nor can they help if their parents decide not to take them into school for any reason so why penalise them for it?

Sorry, should have read AIBU for being angry about this and upset on behalf of my DS who has already had a terrible time being poorly over Christmas and now this.

I always find this horrendous. They still did it at my daughters school during covid when you had to self isolate

I'm a teacher and don't like this either. IME it is often schools with poor attendance who are desperate to improve it though. Surely not that big of a deal though? You tell him it's for going to school every day but he didn't get one because he had chicken pox, not his fault. Maybe next term.

New head teacher at my 9 year olds school and they have stopped this stupidness thank good. Her attendance is shocking over the last year due to illness so I'm waiting for some kind of letter to come through the door.

I don't know why they do the 100% attendance, it's not fair on kids who are unwell more frequently than others or kids who have hospital appointments to go to etc. I bet some of those kids are the ones who have been sent in when they could have done with a day or so on the sofa or those that were vomiting on a Sunday and sent in on the Monday.

Yes they are but our school has just had Ofsted..
Ine of the requirements for improvement are to improve attendence.

There is a lot of pressure on schools from above.

I hate this too, as a teacher and a parent.

Completely agree. Well done for not getting ill. Or for being lucky enough to be born with an immune system that means you fight off illness more easily than others. Or for having parents that send you in even when you are ill, so you can spread your illness around. It’s like having a ‘well done for having brown eyes’ award, it’s ridiculous.

Our school has started sending really patronising letters every term detailing percentage attendance so after a few days off in September my letter came to say below 90% and my child's attendance was being monitored as she was therefore at risk of falling behind etc which was ridiculous. It just pissed all the parents off.

100% attendance for what though they haven't even been back for a month yet seems very odd unless they are doing it weekly ?

It’s absolutely crazy. It’s punishing the children for being ill. Makes no sense.

If my kids are poorly, they stay at home.

I'm pleased to see that it's not just me. A friend told me earlier to just ignore it and not let it bother me but it's easier said than done.

They've sent an email tonight to tell us the school is closed on Wednesday for teacher strikes. That better not affect his attendance 🙄

Oh yes, we're getting these too!

One of my DC came home with one of these last year. I said that’s not going on the fridge with the other awards, as it doesn’t mean anything and it’s not a valid achievement. It went in the bin.

I can’t understand how they can still be doing these

I have never understood this. What if a child needs hospital appointments because they have some kind of disability. They have to watch the healthy and able get certificates. It's discrimination.