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Primary education

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Original poster

Is this discrimination?

10 replies

Blanket12 · 04/10/2023 15:39

My child has a long term rare medical condition which the school are aware of, this requires regular hospital appointments at a hospital which is over an hour away.
The school have put in place a reward system (physical rewards that can be saved up to buy nice things) that the children will receive daily for attending school (this is so children and parents are encouraged to arrive at school on time and so they are not having sick days for having coughs and colds regularly now)

We technically will be there on time to drop my other child at school but wouldn't be much point sending my child in just for registration and then taking them back out to go to hospital

I have told the school about my childs upcoming medical appointments and have asked if they would still be able to receive the daily rewards as it is for important appointments which cant be helped due to the condition.
The school have said no!

I understand their reasoning that it is a reward for pupils that turn up to school on time, however I feel like it is discriminating against pupils that may have long term health conditions and almost feels now that my child will be punished for having a medical condition and needing to go to the hospital.

I am not one for confrontation but I want to know if my feelings are valid or not?

also the secretary originally verbally said it shouldn't be a problem but has now gone against this in an email and said that now my child wouldn't be able to have one

OP posts:
AmyandPhilipfan · 04/10/2023 15:54

I would send them in for registration. I've done before with my kids - send them in the pupil door then walk round to the visitor entrance and wait in reception for the register to be done and for my child to be sent along to then go to their appointment. Especially as you have to be there with your other child anyway.

Original poster
Blanket12 · 04/10/2023 15:57

Amazing! thank you, I think I may do this, I didn't know if it would be strange just sending them in for registration, we probably wouldn't be back for my child to finish the day in school, but if it means they get the reward and keeps them happy I think I will :)

OP posts:
StarlightLime · 04/10/2023 15:58

We technically will be there on time to drop my other child at school but wouldn't be much point sending my child in just for registration and then taking them back out to go to hospital
Why not? If you're physically there in the playground, you absolutely can send them in for registration.

VanCleefArpels · 04/10/2023 16:02

Despite the practical advice above I would also raise this with the governing body. I think rewards for attendance do discriminate against kids in your situation, and potentially shames kids who cannot make it to school on time for reasons not of their making, for example those whose family life is chaotic due to addiction or mental health, those who are carers for their parents or siblings, those whose disability (or that of their parents) means physically getting to school is going to be harder than for others.

StarlightLime · 04/10/2023 16:03

VanCleefArpels · 04/10/2023 16:02

Despite the practical advice above I would also raise this with the governing body. I think rewards for attendance do discriminate against kids in your situation, and potentially shames kids who cannot make it to school on time for reasons not of their making, for example those whose family life is chaotic due to addiction or mental health, those who are carers for their parents or siblings, those whose disability (or that of their parents) means physically getting to school is going to be harder than for others.

Aren't those the very kids the rewards are aimed at?

FloweryName · 04/10/2023 16:07

If it’s a daily reward then your child will get the rewards on all the days they don’t have appointments in school time, and I should imagine it will lose its novelty and become boring quickly anyway.

It is not discrimination, even if it is unfair.

TigerRag · 04/10/2023 16:11

FloweryName · 04/10/2023 16:07

If it’s a daily reward then your child will get the rewards on all the days they don’t have appointments in school time, and I should imagine it will lose its novelty and become boring quickly anyway.

It is not discrimination, even if it is unfair.

How isn't it discrimination? The child isn't at school for reasons out of their control. They are being treated less favourably than their peers

SkankingWombat · 04/10/2023 16:15

AmyandPhilipfan · 04/10/2023 15:54

I would send them in for registration. I've done before with my kids - send them in the pupil door then walk round to the visitor entrance and wait in reception for the register to be done and for my child to be sent along to then go to their appointment. Especially as you have to be there with your other child anyway.

This! I've done the same a couple of times. School were more than happy with it, as it makes their attendance figures better too.

VanCleefArpels · 04/10/2023 16:20

StarlightLime · 04/10/2023 16:03

Aren't those the very kids the rewards are aimed at?

Show quote history

Well quite, but the reality is it will be the stable, well organised and motivated families with kids without any health or disability issues that will actually gain most from this kind of scheme.

Irridescantshimmmer · 04/10/2023 16:26

You could also tell the school they could be discriminating against your child for none attendance due to a health condition.

Schools have to make reasonable adjustments with medical conditions and by excluding your child from a reward due to no fault of their own seems tremendously mean to be honest.

They are supposed to be teaching kids but thats a lesson for them to learn.

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