Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Original poster

100% attendance prizes.

177 replies

vintageteacups · 22/07/2011 10:41

I'm sure it's not me and dh but I cannot believe that primary schools actually make a huge deal of giving out prizes to children with 100% attendance.

For goodness sake - it's punishing the children who have been ill or been to hospital. In the assembly this morning, they actually added on 2 more children who's parents had obviously complained as their kids couldn't have their hospital apps at any other time than in the day! I mean - who gives a toss?!

My kids came home and without us saying anything, dd said she thought it was really unfair to punish her because she had been to hospital and had been off sick.

Out of 250 kids, 12 got the book prizes. It's basically just to make the parents feel utterly bad for keeping them at home.

Well fine - next time dd is throwing up, I'll send her in so she can vomit all over their carpet and not mine! Grin

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
BeerTricksPotter · 22/07/2011 10:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

oddgirl · 22/07/2011 10:58

Ds and DD school does this too and I dont get it either! Seems a weird thing to "reward". Several children at the school have long standing serious health needs (leukaemia/brain tumour): sorry no certificate for you lot needing your life saving chemo/radiotherapy...

crazygracieuk · 22/07/2011 10:59

I understand your frustration but as long as attendance is something that OFSTED uses to judge a school, it's inevitable that schools will reward attendance in the vain hope that it makes a difference.

Our school awards 100%, 97%, 95% and 90% attendance.

HarrietJones · 22/07/2011 11:00

I don't like them. Friend was a headteacher and was told that they should do them by the LEA. She refused due to having a high proportion of children with medical problem. The school was then hassled by the LEA for not being committed to high attendance.

Dd1/2 both got certificates for the summer term but hadn't for the previous 2. I felt term by term was a bit fairer but book prizes are a bit extreme.
Primary kids aren't usually skiving like teens might be!

BeerTricksPotter · 22/07/2011 11:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scurryfunge · 22/07/2011 11:06

I remember good attendance certificates going out to those kids who didn't really achieve any thing else all year -a bit like a consolation prize in case they felt left out. They do not mean anything really.

Itsuptome · 22/07/2011 11:14

I totally agree, my DD managed to pick up a bug and unable to send her in. She missed 2 days and I contacted her teacher re homework etc so she would not miss out on anything. Spent the weekend playing catch up (DD not happy). Back into school and a week later the awards being given out and she misses out due to being ill while her twin gets his! So unfair totally not into the whole 100% thing. Angry

SauvignonBlanche · 22/07/2011 11:21

I think they're a terrible idea! Shock

2shoes · 22/07/2011 11:23

awful idea and imo discriminates against children with sn

DiscoDaisy · 22/07/2011 11:29

I seem to be the only person who has children who really aren't bothered by 100% attendance certificates.
3 of them have hospital appointments all the time so have never had a certificate while 1 had 100% attendance for 2 years in a row so had certificates and a small plaque with her name on.

Original poster
vintageteacups · 22/07/2011 11:35

2shoes you're right - it is discrimination for children who have SN or medical issues. I might actually write to the LEA outlinging the issue.

OP posts:
Chandon · 22/07/2011 11:37

I think it is ironic that a State School that does not like competitive sports events (all a certificate for "taking part" no winners, non losers) then hands out awards for attendance.

Every week (WEEK!) one class get an award if they have the highest attendance rate. DS2 is upset about the unfairness of this, as his class has 3 SN children, 2 of which only come to school in the morning.

It's f%cked up if you ask me.

(sorry, ranting a bit as school sports day is "not happening" this year as the head does not like sports and competition, yet there she is banging on about attendance every week! What's it all about really, ticking boxes for Ofsted?!)

Original poster
vintageteacups · 22/07/2011 11:43

You'd think that by the time someone gets to be a headteacher that
a) they are assertive enough to make a stand about issues like this and

b) that the LEAs repsect head teachers enough to let them make their own decisions about such stuff.

OP posts:
ricepuddingish · 22/07/2011 11:46

why can't they include the kids in who've had authorised absents days in the draw? The kids who had docs certs or hosp appts would be included. This would keep the lea happy too surely?

Original poster
vintageteacups · 22/07/2011 11:48

That would be slightly better but tbh, it's still not fair for those who have had sickness or d&V etc who are told through school policy not to come back for either 24/48 hours after last episode.

OP posts:
camaleon · 22/07/2011 11:55

That would not be better. Attendance at primary education level is the responsibility of the parents, not the children.If a child has not attended school and it is not authorised, this is clearly not a decision the child has made. They should not be punsihed for it.

In my opinion, these prizes in primary education should be given to the PARENTS if they really want them to exist

Original poster
vintageteacups · 22/07/2011 12:06

I agree - it's just a way of making the parents feel bad.

OP posts:
BetsyBoop · 22/07/2011 13:07

I agree the whole thing is mad/unfair. DD's school have a party (yes a bl**dy party Angry) as well as certificates for those with 100% attendance each term.

I try to explain DD that so long as she goes to school every day that she is well enough then that is all that matters, but she was really upset last week that she couldn't go to the party - "but I've been to school every day this term Mummy" - "yes sweethart, but unfortunately one day you came home after lunch - but before afternoon registration - with tummyache, so because of that you couldn't go" - "but X went Mummy & he's away on holiday all next week" (this week) - so if a 5yo can work out that it's not fair then......

Unfortunately attendance is the only area out school isn't rated outstanding by Ofsted, so the madness will continue...

I agree though that the awards should go to the parents, primary age children should have no part in the decision as to whether they go to school or not...

Tiggles · 22/07/2011 16:31

Hate them with a vengeance!
some parents in our school send their kids in however ill they are - even brag "oh yes they vomited on the way in this mornning, but they are going to get their 100% attendance award" needless to say they throw up in school and everybody else in class is ill Angry.
DS1 hasn't had one for the last 2 years - they only do them as 100% attendance for the year, on the first day of the school year in year3 he was stung by a wasp and had severe allergic reaction, needless to say that was the end of his 100% attendance award!

letthembe · 22/07/2011 17:03

I am sorry but I agree with rewarding good attendance, but think it should be say 97%. Both my children have received 100% in the past 2 years, but they are blessed with incredible health. And we don't take holidays in term time!!!

LynetteScavo · 22/07/2011 17:17

They don't bother me either way.

DD came home with one today and I said "Oh, I can tell your mum works" Grin

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 22/07/2011 17:22

We do 100% attendance at school but we also do excellent attendance awards and they aren't based necessarily on a %. If a child has had lots of medical marks they are discounted, they are also awarded to children who make it into school despite difficult home circumstances.

pigsinmud · 22/07/2011 18:07

It's funny - there were only 5 children in the whole (small)school who had not missed a day all year. Someone whispered to me that for 4 of the children both of their parents work full time.

We get the termly attendance certificates at school. I refuse to clap a child who hasn't been ill. It's just crap. I suggested there should be a certificate for those who had not had any headlice ... see how that one goes down. My favourite bit is when she reads a child's name out and then they are not there! Dh has sent an email to the head complaining about it today.

They don't have these stupid certificates at my son's primary school.

lawnimp · 22/07/2011 18:14

seems the ones moaning at the ones whose children don't get them

they thing that bothers me is the amount of threads on here saying people send their child in when ill and not everyone does, some children are just well alot.

Mum2be79 · 22/07/2011 18:22

My school's just done this and we recognise this and give prizes to the 'almost 100%' attenders as we know that hospital appointments are unavoidable and actually encourage children to stay at home if they are sick to reduce the risk of infection. I'm not sure what the 'cut off' point was but being a school whose attendance is picked up on by OFSTED, we need to encourage children to come to school!