100 percent attendance reward trips.

[JK2012]

Anyone else think it’s a silly idea? I know attendance is important, of course it is but can’t help feeling like trips for children with full attendance is unfair...

My son would have 100 percent attendance so far this year but the school sent him home early one Friday afternoon as they thought he seemed poorly which he wasn’t so has missed out because of the school. Fortunately he hasn’t been ill this year.

Generally I just think the trips are silly and unfair and parents might be feeling pressurised to send their kids when they shouldn’t be (sickness etc) to keep good attendance.

In reception my sons attendance went down to 85 percent. In the space of a year he had 3 bugs (probably because he caught them off children being sent back to school too soon), chicken pox, a chest infection and impetigo!! It wasn’t the case of keeping him off for reason that’s for sure. Thankfully things have improved and he never gets ill now!

I really don’t agree with big treats for going to school.

I think it’s important to acknowledge a child’s 100% attendance - a certificate at prize giving is enough IMO. It’s an achievement and I wouldn’t want it taken away from them.

But let’s be sensible about it.

its absolutely ridiculous, you cant help getting ill and I don't think you should be punished for it either. Its pure luck if a school age doesn't get ill in an entire school year!

I agree completely. I'm not sure 100% attendance is an achievement, it's surely just having the good fortune to not get ill. My ds missed 2 days because he had a d&v bug, nothing whatsoever he or anyone else could have done about it. He has also had 2 days for hospital appointments.

I do thing it’s just luck/bad luck some years. Like I said my sons attendance was borderline concern in reception but he was generally poorly. Thankfully it has increased in the last couple years and now in year 3 it’s pretty good but know he could get ill tomorrow... with a bug or something.

I have no problem with good attendance being recognised of course but a trip seems Ott.. and gutted for my son who was one afternoon off 😭

I find rewards for 'perfect' attendance to be so unfair. My DD will never ever have perfect attendance, on account of her disability. She never has 'frivolous' days off, but it's practically guaranteed that she will be hit hard by something or other at least once a year, meaning time off. Not to mention the obligatory hospital appointments, although I tend to pick her up and take her straight back to school if time allows.

If her school did reward trips, she'd be so upset if she couldn't go, and would rightly feel aggrieved that she is being unfairly sidelined through absolutely no fault of her own.

If a school wants to recognise attendance, then they should do it in a way that is not going to impact negatively on pupils who would like to attend school more but just can't.

I have three children.

One has 100% attendance
Another had perfect attendance until she got glandular fever and had to have 2 weeks off, would have been 3 if it hadn’t been half term holidays.
My third has a chronic kidney condition and is doing well with his 90% attendance (was about 75% last year)

I don’t think my child with 100% attendance should get a reward for staying healthy!

For some children that’s the only award they get. I don’t want to take that away from them.

I remember one little boy’s face as he picked up his 100% award. He had had a terrible year personally, so coming into school every day really was above and beyond.

I hate these. My eldest has a condition that needs several appointments throughout the year, so will likely never be awarded with a certificate. He's now becoming aware of his condition (he's only six) and is finding that hard enough, without being reminded that his healthy peers are rewarded for being healthy, yet he'll never be.

SPeaking as parent of a child who went through from reception to 6th form without a day off for anything, I think rewarding attendance is unfair on those kids with medical needs that cannot ever hope to attain 80%+
(and no, my child's attendance was never acknowledged, she largely went through school pretty much under the radar - other children got attendance certificates for improving their attendance over previous term, but you cannot improve on 100%)

My DD had to leave school 1hr early on 2 occasions for hospital appointments in the autumn term. Appointments she has to go to for a life limiting condition that can't be arranged outside school hours.

She didn't get invited to the celebratory party nor received loads of extra housepoints. I pointed out to the school that they were discrimination against due to her disability and that disabled children should be applauded for every hour they spent in school not punished for having a condition.

School quickly changed their policy