Unfair Attendance Reward Scheme at School

[AttendanceRewardConcern]

My kids school has low attendance statistics and the school have decided to start a new scheme to try to improve attendance (or to demonstrate to Ofsted that they are taking action). Children with 100% attendance for the entire half term will get to have a non-uniform day on a day of their choosing. I have 2 children at the school. 1 child has no health issues and was given the reward. The other child has a medical condition that meant they missed 3 days of school due to an exacerbation. The school are aware of the condition and have been provided with evidence from the child's health professional to explain the absence. However, the school have said they can't make any allowances whatsoever when applying the reward (including for children with severe disabilities). I think the scheme needs to be drastically changed and have written to the school explaining my concerns. After initially dismissing my concerns, they have now decided to refer to the LA's legal team. AIBU to think they either need to make an allowance for absences related to medical conditions and disabilities or to entirely scrap the reward scheme? Not to mention how this is encouraging children to come to school sick and focusing entirely on presenteeism above all else.

There's a difference here, though. In the case of academic or sporting prizes, usually you have a first and possibly a second prize; you recognize outstanding achievement, but you don't risk a situation where a majority get a prize for e.g. spelling, and a minority are publicly left out.

Although I question attendance awards in any case, I would not have the same strong objection to one or two children getting Top Attendance Prizes (though this is difficult to establish if many have 100% attendance), as to rewarding a large number of children and excluding a few- especially if this is shown in as publicly observable a way as the clothes they wear.

It's also not in line with DFE guidance which is about building a whole school attendance culture and addressing barriers (e.g. reasonable adjustments, family support where things are difficult/chaotic etc etc). I think all it says on reward is that you might want to praise things like an improvement across a whole class or year group. Which I think is fine, doesn't single out any particular kid and recognises getting from 40% to 60% might be a massive improvement for some children and families.

While I love to blame DFE for lots of things, in this case the schools are at fault. I would 100% be asking them how they are compliant with the equality act.

Attendance is horribly down, but there are reasons for that which won't be dealt with by a reward scheme.

Even if this wasn't discrimination (which it is) you wouldn't be unreasonable. Why are we rewarding sending germy sick kids to school? Gross

Good point @Bunda

This whole obsession with attendance is getting completely out of hand. Yes, severe and persistent absence is an issue, but the idea that children need to have 100% attendance is ridiculous. Children get sick, life happens. This nonsense has got to stop.

Totally. You're right, it's an obsession and it's putting a considerable amount of pressure on kids and their parents.

When I was at primary school I was often off for weeks at a time due to severe asthma. The only communication I had from school was a load of cards to say get well soon. No-one got on my parents case about attendance or percentages.

Agreed. Its a misplaced focus.

My son has a chronic condition and has to miss a fair bit of school for hospital clinics.

I don't see schools/Ofsted pushing for weekend/holiday clinics to solve this?

And in any event I have taught him to value education and focus when he is in school and paid for tutors to catch up if he missed lots. The idea he isn't tenacious or that I don't value education is a nonsense. He's remainded top of the top set at secondary precisely because we do.

I think it's particularly hypocritical from schools /Ofsted given they all closed during the pandemic and I had to suddenly juggle my full time job with home educating (we got nothing from school) yet I get letters telling me off when my son is missing school for asthma clinic appointments etc. particularly as all his conditions are exacerbated by getting bugs from the children who go into school when contagious and get a certificate/treat to praise them for spreading their germs

I’m with you, OP. I dont think these ‘schemes’ should exist in the first place, but as it does, surely it should only be unauthorised absences being penalised?

A child can’t help having a disability, health condition, family bereavement etc. and shouldn’t be punished or left out IMO.

Quite . weird, particularly post pandemic, to reward spreading viruses

And making the children with chronic conditions more likely to need to miss more school in the process

This is actually why my child needed those days off. Caught an illness from someone in school but gets a lot sicker than other kids due to the medical condition.

Same with my son. Every illness makes him very ill so each time some little 100% attendance hero battles on into school and shares their bug around my son ends up off for ages.

UPDATE - The school have responded to say that the LA legal team agreed the current scheme breached the Equality Act and they have made adjustments to allow for additional absences related to health needs or home circumstances. They are satisfied that the evidence I provided shows my child's absence was due to their disability so won't be excluded from the reward.

Anyone else having issues with similar schemes please do challenge the schools because clearly it isn't fair and the more parents speak up the less likely they are to continue with blatantly breaching equality law.

That's great news!

Excellent.

Everyone do the same please if you feel your child is being discriminated against.

Well done!

Well done OP for standing up for your child

Fantastic, well done OP!

Good. As a lawyer who sometimes advises on equalities issues (albeit in a different context) that's a sensible outcome and an approach I would expect any school that understands the public sector equality duty would realise they need to take.

Well done for sticking up for a child. You shouldn't have had to though!

Well done op. Well done for chasing this through. Hopefully there will be guidance sent to schools now to make sure any other schools indulging in this make it fair too.

Well done OP! I have long thought it was unfair!