Doncaster youngsters denied cake and hot chocolate for not having 100% school attendance

An angry Doncaster mum says her two kids were left in tears after being denied hot chocolate and cake at their primary school because they did not have 100 per cent attendance.

Danielle Hand, 30, said her children were singled out while in class and not given sweet treats because they had missed a handful of days since the start of the new school year in September.

Michael-James Kendall, five, and Brooklyn-Harper Bond, seven, told their mum they had to sit amongst their pals and watch them eat their cake or cookie and drink a hot chocolate or milkshake.

Brooklyn had missed six school days, and Michael missed five days, which included an authorised absence to Specsavers and a doctor’s appointment.

The missed days also included an unauthorised four-day holiday in the UK which Danielle says she could only afford to take out of the summer holiday period.

The mum-of-three, from Doncaster, has since put in a formal complaint to the school, which she has asked not to be named but has as good Ofsted rating.

She has also launched a petition calling on an end to rewards for school attendance.

Danielle, a self-employed private carer, said: “Attendance should not be used as a weapon to not reward a child. In my opinion, it is a form of bullying.

“My issue is not that I think they should have been given the treat regardless of their attendance record.

“It was my choice to take them out of school. But the fact they had to watch other children eating and rubbing it in their faces.

“And that it isn’t something they can control. My children shouldn’t be punished for my choice.

“They also shouldn’t be punished for having a necessary eye test or doctor’s appointment.

“They don’t understand. Michael is only just learning to write his name. It is ridiculous.”

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Danielle said she became aware of the incident on Thursday, October 22, the last day of school ahead of the October half-term, while putting her children to bed.

The children were given the reward if they had 100 per cent from the start of the school year in September.

She was told by her kids that while they were in class, most of they children were given the treat to eat and drink while doing their work.

Michael’s attendance is 93 per cent, while Brooklyn’s is 91 per cent.

Mum says medical appointments also counted against attendance

Danielle took her children on holiday to Tattershall, Lincs., in September to cheer them up after losing several family members over the past year.

But Danielle says they still would have missed out on the treats regardless of the holiday.

She claims it was specified to her that the child had to have full attendance to be eligible, meaning no authorised absence.

She said: “When I put them to bed, I get them a drink of their choice.

“Brooklyn asked me why she couldn’t have a hot chocolate.

“I hadn’t made them yet, so I asked what she meant, and she said at school.

“I thought I might not have paid for something, so I asked her what happened.

“That was when she explained the attendance issues, and that she and a couple of other children in her class had to watch their friends eat cake in front of them while doing Maths.

“Brooklyn is currently being tested for autism, and she was really upset about it.

“I asked Michael if the same thing had happened to him, and he said so, but he wasn’t given a cookie and milkshake, I’m assuming because he was in a lower key stage.

“But what broke my heart was that he is only a toddler still and is being punished for something he doesn’t understand.

“I later found out four other children in his class weren’t given treats.

“I felt sick to my stomach, I was furious.”

Danielle says she was not made aware of any rewards scheme for attendance by the school.

Though she said there have been similar instances in the past at the school, with them not giving select children ice pops at lunchtime during the summer for the same reason.

As well as Halloween and Christmas banquets – but this time the children were taken out of the classroom to enjoy themselves.

That same night, Danielle posted what happened on Facebook and it went viral, being viewed over a million times.

She has also had thousands of messages of support.

Danielle has since contacted the school and submitted a formal complaint.

The school has since opened an internal investigation and has agreed to meet with Danielle to discuss what happened.

The mum also contacted Ofsted as well as her local MP, Ed Miliband who has since sent a letter to Danielle stating that he has “noted her concerns” and “encouraged” her to raise the issues with the school.

He also said he wishes her concerns were given “full consideration” and to find a “constructive resolution”.

She has since launched a full-scale campaign calling for attendance not to be used as a “weapon” for rewarding or not rewarding a child, as well as creating t-shirts and jumpers with her campaign to help spread her message.

You can sign it here – https://c.org/mtmXyJ5TnC

A spokesperson for Outwood Grange Academies Trust said: “As this matter is currently under review by the school principal in accordance with our complaints procedure, we will not be issuing a comment at this time.”

Ofsted have been approached for comment.