PARENTS of children in Taunton have voiced their concerns about schools offering rewards for good attendance and punctuality.

As the school year draws to a close, many schools across the county will be handing out certificates and badges for children who haven’t missed a day of school, or those who have always been on time.

But at one school in Taunton, the reward is a little more flashy.

St James Church School, in Cranmer Road, announced in January that it would be running a new initiative to increase attendance after falling short of the national average.

The national average for attendance is 96.1 percent according to the school, which rated at 94.52 per cent.

The school wrote in a letter to parents that pupils with a good record for attendance and punctuality would be rewarded with a ride in a limousine.

Terms and conditions of the ride were that the school would allow one block of illness and one late arrival, and that they would consider medical reasons for absence, when evidence is provided.

One Taunton mum, who wished to be anonymous, said: “I’m not against attendance and punctuality regimes, they are in place for a reason. However, a limo ride for primary school children? Surely a certificate awarded in assembly would suffice.

“Even though (my daughter’s) three absences this term have been due to sickness bugs, she has really not wanted me to keep her at home in case she didn’t qualify for the reward. This in itself is a joke, as the school policy is to keep the children off for 48 hours from the last time they vomited.

“So my daughter is being punished due to circumstances out of her control and school policy.

“Please also note she is never late for school, she abides by the rules and always completes homework.

“When I told her she would not be going in the limo, she was devastated. It is most girls’ dream to go in a ‘princesses’ car.

“That night she got so upset that she might be the only one not going in her class, she wet the bed.

“For me as a mother it was horrid seeing her in such an emotional state.”

The mum hit out at headteacher at St James, Jason Eveleigh, for allowing the initiative to run.

“I’m not asking the school to change their minds, my daughter and I are so over the whole limo thing,” She added.

“What I want is Mr Eveleigh to be held accountable for his mismanagement of the school.

“Our children deserve the right to attended a school that has values that are fair to all.”

However, the school defended the initiative, saying nearly half of pupils reached the goal and will be rewarded with a limo ride.

It also said it tries a variety of initiatives to improve a child’s chance of success.

Mr Eveleigh said: “In order for children to make good progress and reach their potential, they need to be in school and learning.

“This initiative was to strive for better attendance across the school and therefore better outcomes for children.

“For a significant time already we have run an early and late club and provide a whole school breakfast on a Monday morning, alongside numerous other pastoral support measures for children and families.

“The trip is to recognise and celebrate the additional efforts made by families to get their children in every day and on time.

“We are delighted that nearly half of the pupils have been successful.

“Our Year 6 results this year are fantastic, we have exceeded national averages for both attainment and progress.

“In this year group alone 83 per cent of the children have improved their attendance from the comparable period last year.

“We will continue to keep trying different initiatives to give children their best chance at success.”

The County Gazette ran an online poll and asked for opinions on whether or not attendance and punctuality should be rewarded.

At the time the paper went to print, 39 per cent said that children should be awarded for punctuality and attendance as it is an achievement, 60 per cent said that it was inappropriate to reward children, with one per cent saying they had no opinion.

A lot of parents defended the view that children should not be rewarded for this, as the pupils with medical conditions may never be able to reach the 100 per cent goal.

One mum, whose son suffers with asthma, said: “I think its ridiculous children get praised n put on pedestal for ‘not being ill or having a day off’. What about the children like my child that has a bad case of asthma, and on more than one occasion had to be taken to hospital by ambulance and put on oxygen, which the school has witnessed and had to do themselves.

“It’s like the children are being punished and made too feel less important than the rest for something they cannot help.

“My son never has full attendance and never will as asthma is a big hurdle for him.”

Melanie Hallett, a Taunton mum, said:”I think it’s disgraceful that children are rewarded/punished for this.

“If some children have an issue with habitual unauthorised absences or punctuality, especially primary school age, it’s indicative that there may be a real issue at home and the school should be seeking ways of supporting both parents and children so this is resolved.

“Sickness should never be punished or affect any kind of reward - we must teach our children that their health and happiness is really important and so is taking the time to recover, as well as not spreading the illness further - that’s usually a school rule anyway so it’s awful to then penalise them for abiding by it.”

However, some parents believe there is no harm in rewarding students for attendance, as it is no different from awarding someone for their sporting ability.

One mum, who wished to be anonymous, said: “My opinion seems to differ from everyone else’s.

“While I in no way think children should be penalised for having poor attendance due to sickness, I do not see why those who have 100 per cent should not get some recognition.

“I know children who are not terribly academic and will never achieve many qualifications and this may be the only recognition they get.

“Schools give out recognition for things such as sporting prowess, should we argue that this is unfair for children who have no sporting ability?

“Should I demand GCSEs be abolished because it is stigmatising children of lower ability?

“My own child received a certificate for 100 per cent attendance at school, that is all, no special prize or treat. But that certificate could be the only one that they get from school, so why should they not get something to show for their commitment?”