By Oscar Woods 
Parents at Lanesend Primary School in Cowes expressed outrage after the school restricted access to an end of year bouncy castle reward to only students with 100% attendance. The decision left children in tears and sparked accusations of discrimination against pupils who had missed school due to illness or medical appointments.
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School Under Fire for Attendance Reward Approach
The Cowes school on Love Lane brought in the inflatable as a reward for children who had not missed a single day during the academic year. However, pupils with less than perfect attendance, including those who had been off due to illness or to attend medical appointments, were excluded from the activity.
Several parents chose not to send their children into school on the day of the event, while others made their frustrations known at the school gates at drop off time. One parent described the situation as absolutely shocking, noting that children had to be explained why their peers could be involved and they could not.
Children Left in Tears Over Exclusion
Parent Danielle Hall reported that her children were really poorly and hospitalised, and they were penalised for missing school despite not being fit enough to attend. She described having to explain to a five year old why they were excluded and saw children walking down the lane in tears to their parents when they found out about the restriction.
Another parent who did not wish to be named said the policy punishes children, some as young as five, for circumstances completely out of their control. Additional concerns were raised about the lack of regard for SEND children or those who needed treatment and appointments throughout the year.
Questions About Equality and Discrimination
Parents believe the reward contradicts the diversity and equality policy set out by the Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust, which runs Lanesend. In its diversity and equality statement, DCAT says it is committed to preventing discrimination, valuing diversity and achieving equality of opportunity.
Only parents of children with exemplary attendance were sent notifications about the bouncy castle event. The note sent to qualifying parents read that as a result of their child’s exemplary attendance this school year, they were being rewarded with a bouncy castle treat, with children on it in small groups monitored by adults.
Similar Issues at Other Schools
It is understood St Blasius in Shanklin, another DCAT school, had a similar situation the previous week. Children at that school were left crying, including ones that got the reward because they felt bad for the others.
Headteacher Responds with Apology
Alex Augustus, the headteacher of Lanesend Primary School, wrote to parents saying the bouncy castle hired exclusively for pupils with 100 per cent attendance was never designed to punish or discriminate against other children.
In his message to parents, Augustus explained the initiative was undertaken with the best intentions as they wanted to reward children for something they thought was an exceptional accomplishment. He stated they are sorry if this has caused any upset and will take feedback on board moving forward into next year.
The headteacher added that the school took into account the unique needs of each child, which meant those who missed school only due to medical appointments would have been included. He emphasized the initiative aimed to honour those children who have achieved something special.
Community Reaction and Broader Implications
The incident raises questions about how schools should balance recognizing achievement with ensuring all students feel valued and included. The number of those able to enjoy the school time bounce was just a fraction of the school population, highlighting how restrictive the perfect attendance criteria proved to be.
Attendance policies have become increasingly scrutinized as schools face pressure to maintain high attendance rates while also being mindful of genuine illness, medical needs, and special educational needs. The situation at Lanesend Primary School demonstrates the complex challenge of creating reward systems that motivate attendance without inadvertently penalizing children for factors beyond their control.
Schools across the country continue to grapple with finding the right approach to attendance incentives that feel fair to all families while maintaining educational standards and student wellbeing.