Columnist Lauren Abbott says its hard to think of a worse school policy than attendance awards where children who go in most can get Nando's vouchers...

At the end of each term – which we're now days away from – many schools will present pupils with attendance awards.

But as parents navigate another round of classroom Covid, the sick bug and of course Strep A there are few school policies likely to irk families more.

While research confirms good attendance goes hand in hand with better academic outcomes – after a global pandemic in which the focus was on protecting others from harm – is the concept of praising people for not getting ill or coming in regardless outdated? A miniature version of the worst workplace policy?

And points mean prizes. Everything from own clothes days, a pass for the front of the lunch queue, free lunch, Christmas parties, bowling trips... while one school further north is offering Nando's vouchers to pupils who haven't had a day off since September.

Class rewards feel better than those for individuals – and sliding scales (gold for 100%, silver for 95% etc) perhaps better still because at least there's a chance for everyone to claim something even if they have a 48-hour brush with norovirus.

But you've only got to look at Department of Health infection rates overlaid on a school calendar to appreciate the role schools play and there's nothing anyone can do about that apart from perhaps – stay home if you're unwell.

'Poor parent mental health and low family income are tied to absenteeism – so yet again should we be patting an eight-year-old on the head who may just be more fortunate?'

I'm not immune to understanding the need to teach a good work ethic. One of mine and my siblings' favourite childhood stories is a tale from the 90s when one of us was sent in with a broken collar bone for three days because our house had the 'oh, you're alright' mantra unless you were at death's door. But when getting to school is often down to the adults, aren't perfect attendance awards inadvertently rewarding the wrong people?

Poor parent mental health and low family income are tied to absenteeism – so yet again should we be patting an eight-year-old on the head who may just be more fortunate?

And when fines exist for unauthorised absences – which can address repeat offenders but also identify families in need of support – what is a free Nando's adding?

Yet so many schools adopt such systems. Am I missing the point or are headteachers simply under yet more pressure from the powers that be to show they're doing all they can to keep bums on seats?

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