Attendance awards for class

[Jennybeans401]

Youngest dc is in Year 2 and she's had every virus it seems since the start of the year. Covid once, tonsillitis, sick bugs, you name it.

The school are hot on attendance as I know all schools are. Every assembly they look at the percentage for attendance, at the end of the week the class with the best attendance gets treats for this. There are only three classes in the whole school as its very small.

AIBU to think this is a bit rubbish? The class seem to turn round and blame the children who are off ill because they don't get a reward. I've had a letter about dds attendance but what can I do? Send her in with a sick bug or if she's ill with Covid?

Threads like this often pop up. Yes it's unfair, you can't win either way.

Always confused me. As a kid I found a certificate my sister got for attendance. Confused me then as much as it does now, you're rewarding kids based on luck!

Yes attendance awards are very elitist as well. Poorer children are more likely to be sick, and also have parents who literally cannot afford to drive them to school. Watching other children receive an award that is completely out of their control is not going to make them feel included and eventually will lead to worse attendance.

OP I agree. The fault is with the government and OFSTED though; they are exerting unfair pressure on the schools to increase attendance, and then the schools pass it on to parents.

However, @GreenCereal ”Poorer children are more likely to be sick, and also have parents who literally cannot afford to drive them to school.” - What??? Do you have any evidence for this claim? And if there are parents who literally can’t afford to get kids to school (no one needs to be driven), then they are unable to care for children and services should step in. I do not believe any parents in the uk go “sorry, can’t afford petrol this week so you’ll be off school”, and if they did it would be inexcusable.

I agree, awards for something out of their control.

Yes it's really not the fault of children or parents, if someone is sick surely it makes sense to stay at-home until they've recovered.

It's making me stressed, I've had a letter about attendance and if it doesn't improve we will have a meeting about it. She's had about four days off since September which I don’t think is that bad considering she's had so much illness.

The system seems broken