Mum livid after youngsters ‘denied sizzling chocolate and cake over major college attendance’

Danielle Hand, 30, from Doncaster, claimed her two young children were singled out in their class and refused sweet treats at their primary school after missing a handful of days during the current school year

A furious mum has demanded an end to school attendance rewards after her kids were left in floods of tears when they were denied hot chocolate and cake for not hitting 100 per cent attendance. Danielle Hand, 30, claims her two young children were singled out in their class and refused sweet treats at their primary school, having been off for a handful of days during the current school year.

Michael-James Kendall, five, and Brooklyn-Harper Bond, seven, told their mum they were forced to sit and watch their classmates tuck into cake or a cookie alongside a hot chocolate or milkshake. Brooklyn-Harper had been away for six days while Michael-James had missed five, which included an unauthorised four-day holiday.

Danielle, from Doncaster, explained she could only afford to take the family away outside of the summer holiday period. She took the kids to Tattershall, Lincolnshire, in September to lift their spirits following the loss of several family members over the past year.

The mum-of-three discovered what had happened on October 22, the final day of school before the October half-term, while settling her children down for bed, reports the Mirror. Children in the classroom were given food and beverages to enjoy while working, but only if they’d achieved 100 per cent attendance since September, reports Yorkshire Live.

The mum 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 claimed the school hadn’t informed her about any attendance incentive programme, though hinted that comparable incidents had taken place before.

The concerned parent has now launched a petition challenging attendance-based rewards and lodged an official complaint with the school, which she pointed out holds a strong Ofsted rating. The school has now initiated an internal review and has committed to meeting with Danielle to address what happened.

The mum has also contacted Ofsted and her local MP, Ed Miliband.

He has since written back to Danielle, confirming that he has “noted her concerns” and “encouraged” her to raise the matters with the school. Mr Miliband also voiced his hope that her concerns would be given “full consideration” and result in a “constructive resolution”.

A spokesperson for Outwood Grange Academies Trust commented: “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.”

Attendance rewards are commonly used in schools as a way to encourage pupils to turn up regularly and on time.