to think that this was a really crappy way to reduce school absenteeism?

[itsmeolord]

DD aged 9 came home from the childminders yesterday very upset.
There had been an assembly held in school headed by a lady from the LEA. She called the assembly "Lazy or poorly?"

She gave a talk on absenteeism and told the children that they were going to hand out fines to parents from now on for children being off school. (£50).
She then read out some names and called the children to the front, these children had 100% attendence this year and she told them they were going to get a treat.
Then she called out some more names including dd's. They were called to the front and asked to explain why they had missed school. After each explanation the woman asked the rest of the children to put hands up for "lazy" or "poorly".
DD said that she had missed a week because she had had german measles, she then burst into tears. Apparently quite a few of the other children were in tears as well.
Alot of children were putting hands up for "lazy", I think this is because they haven't got a concept of what is a good reason for absence or not and it wasn't properly explained.
The lady was counting hands up but not then saying, ok so we have x who think this is lazy , it is/isn't because x y z.
So dd was labelled as "lazy"
At the ned the lady then said something to the effect of "all children who were lazy this term are going to have to find a way to pay back mum and dad that £50...."

I'm really cross with this lady and the head as well for thinking this was a good way to deal with absence.

1. The school has very low unauthorised attendance.
2. There are a fair few children who have medical conditions which require regular time off school and will never get 100% attendance.
3. If there is am issue why not speak to the parents rather than make an example of children in front of their peers?

1. "Lazy or poorly" is a really shitty way to talkm about absence. People are absent for different reasons, bereavement, pre bereavement, family illness, whatever.

Surely there is a better way to differentiate between authorised and unauthorised.

Any ideas on what to do next would be gratefully received. I am thinking speaking to the head firts to clarify exactly what happened is best......

Am fuming at the idea of dc being called up to explain themselves and then being judge - I actually hope your DD misunderstood, although I accept that at 9 she is probably recounting what happened accurately.

Could the £50 be for holiday abscence, I understand that some schools make a parent pay for taking their child on holiday during term?

Thing is, even if the dd did misunderstand, it is wrong for anyone to hold an assembly that could be misunderstood in this way.

Quite worried in case they have something like this planned at our school

They are very funny about absence and attendance.

I hope it isn't something LEAs are encouraging.

awful, completely inappropriate. Another request for an update please.

I agree edam, even if was a misunderstanding op's DD was still upset by what happened.

Was just trying to put a positive spin on it, but, with my recent dealings with my LEA, they really do not seem to give a stuff about the happiness of children

I am wondering why the need for such an assembly in the first place? Surely the school knows the "offenders" and should take it up directly with their parents (as THEY are the real offenders IMHO) rather than treating all of the children as suspects of "chronic laziness" or worse, making them feel bad because they have been poorely!

Good lord that's absolutely ridiculous.

Watching for an update with interest

I'm not generally the type to rock the boat but I'd be incandescent... dd will never have 100% attendance as she has to attend hospital eye clinic appointments which ideally need to be done before she gets too tired - so we can't really schedule them for after school.

I'd be raving if she had to stand up in front of the whole school because of that.

DD is reallyupset that for the first time ever she will not be on the 100% attendance list at the end of term!

She is in bed sick at the moment so really couldn't go in!

I think it is all crap.

. Please do keep us updated.

I don't condone feckless absenteeism, but I have never understood why children are praised and rewarded at prize days etc for 100% attendance. Either they have had the good fortune to remain well and healthy all year, which is sheer luck, not a personal achievement, or their parents are too hard pressed/career-obessed/hard-hearted to let them have a day or two off when they are poorly. In which case they will be infecting the rest of the class with their lurgy and delaying their own recovery by not resting.

your poor DD!

Absolutely, TiggyR.

And yes please to an update, itsme.

TiggyR, I agree with what you say about rewarding 100% attendance. The only absence my dcs had last year was 2 days to attend the funeral of a close family member several hundred miles from where we live. Ds was upset that this meant he would have lost his 100% record!

Nothing to add but and

Absolutely, TiggyR - my friend's daughter is in the same class as my DD1, and has much more frequent absences due to health problems and hospital appointments. It's something over which she has no control; we are very lucky that DD1 has very infrequent absences, but I don't feel it's something DD1 should be rewarded for.

this fifty pound fine is a relatively new thing being brought in to try and tackle unauthorised absences - most local authorities wil jump on board with it, I am sure, as it will be another money spinner. It is aimed, i think, at parents who repeatedly take children on holiday without permission, and whose children are off for no good reason for long periods of time.
see ehre for doncaster's take on it -
www.doncaster.gov.uk/Learning_in_Doncaster/pupil_and_parent/cssws/Fixed_Penalty_Notices_for poorSchool_Attendance.asp

I am similarly appalled at what has happened, but can well believe it has happened - these LEA bods, with little or no school experience, possibly no kids of their own - nae idea how to talk to kids! I bet the head was similarly appalled - I certainly hope so, anyway.

I would definitely complain to the local authority and quickly, as it is likely this woman wil be going round all the schools in the local authority area doing exactly the same assembly.

Your poor daughter.

ici

This is awful on several levels, it's discriminatory against children with chronic illnesses (e.g. diabetes or asthma) or a child with disabilities who might have a higher level of absence so they can attend health appointments (e.g. speech therapy etc). Secondly reasons for absence are confidential and should remain private between the parents and school. In fact if mine are absent I just write a note saying they were absent due to illness I don't specify what was wrong as I don't believe the school needs to know that. I am amazed by this thread I didn't realise ritual humiliation was the way to improve school attendance.

Otter, is your comment 'yes please to an update' aimed at me, because I don't understand it - are you mixing me up with someone else?

Tiggy, I think she was agreeing with your post, and asking the OP (itsmeolord) for an update asap.

Sorry Tiggy - yes please to an update from itsme - the OP.

Unbelievable

My God, I cannot believe how appallingly this person treated your daughter. I am livid for you

Please let us know how you get on with your meeting, I would love to see how they try and justify this.

Sadly Hob I am not surprised that ritual humiliation still takes place...people are always telling me schools have changed so much since we were kids, it's just not always the case.

where did the OP go?!!