School giving sweets to kids as a reward for weekly 100% attendance. Is this acceptable?

[sparklyeditor]

DD's primary school has introduced attendance competitions. Classes with 100% attendance get packets of Haribo each week, and at end of half term a trophy will be given to the class with highest attendance, and at end of year all kids with 100% attendance get to go on a fun school trip.
I feel really uncomfortable about sweets being given as a reward to kids, especially in school where healthy eating should be promoted. And then there is the issue of attendance, which, by government regulations includes illness. So effectively the classes who are in best health are being rewarded with sweets weekly. I also think a competition based on whether kids get ill or not is unfair and doesn't tackle the more important issue of unauthorised absence, which at this age is down to parents not kids.
I've talked to the head and she's not willing to change the policy.
What do you think? Am I overreacting if I take this further?

Send in a pack lunch full of junk food and see what happens!!!! When they say it's not good enough tell them they should practice what they preach by not giving out sweets as a reward!!

I agree, unacceptable. Our schools gives the class with 100% attendance a go on a computer game

Stupid idea IMO

Individual kids being rewarded for 100% attendance is inappropriate - I have less of a problem with bulk rewards and trophies for the class/house/yeargroup with the highest attendance so long as the group sizes assessed are large enough to have broadly equivalent numbers of children with complex situations which could lead to numerous absences, and the prize is for highest attendance not for 100% only. Rewarding the whole class only if 100% is achieved isn't good. It will lead to a child feeling guilty about being ill as the whole class is effectively punished. Rewarding the whole class within each year group or keystage with the highest attendance would be better as then it isn't enforced as a "one strike and you're out" policy.

Thanks very much for your replies. Very good point re it not taking personal circumstances into account. Much better to aim for high attendance, as you say.

To be fair I shouldn't even read these threads as the obsession with kids been in school everyday is ridiculous.

There are children and families who need help and support to get there children regularly into school but rather than target them they are targeting everyone . My DS's class last year about 1/2 had chicken pox so week after week there seemed to be someone off. It causes no concern to me , normal childhood illness but they need to be at home.

The best place for a poorly child is at home recovering. The body recovered better with rest.

but in answer to your question is does seem quite contradictory , lets celebrate health by giving junk food

Hear hear!