A school has been slammed for holding an afternoon tea party just for children with a 100% attendance record this term.
Furious parents hit out Packmoor Ormiston Academy in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, for "discriminating" against boys and girls with health issues.
The guardians claim students who had missed at least one day off due to sickness had to stay in their classrooms while their mates enjoyed a chocolate fountain and a selection of cakes last week.
One angry gran said her grandchild had missed lessons due to a bout of highly-contagious chickenpox, Stoke Sentinel reports.
She said: "I am not against rewarding children, that is a good thing and carries on through their working life.
"But to penalise children for something totally out of their control is wrong. It was done outside the class windows.
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"My grandson was doing 100 per cent until he caught chickenpox. How can he help that?"
Packmoor Ormiston Academy has defended its decision and stressed it is important to reward children.
In a post on Facebook , the school said: "Well done to all our children who gained 100% attendance this term. They all enjoyed an afternoon tea party in the spring sunshine.
"A reminder that our attendance incentive begins again after the Easter break with a further reward at the end of the summer term."
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But one furious mum said: "There are different ways of rewarding good attendance.
"Children who have an illness which impacts on their life are already feeling 'different' and discriminated against and this practice just reinforces that very issue.
"They should reward good behaviour and those who have tried their very best.
"I am mortified and very sad. I thought this was a school that was child centred and not about statistics."
Another upset mum commented: "Primary age schoolchildren cannot, and do not, decide to have time off school. If they are ill they cannot come to school.
"It’s not their fault, therefore they shouldn’t be punished. If the adult responsible for the child keeps them off school when they are not ill that’s also not the child’s fault, that’s just bad parenting.
"It is basically shaming a child for a situation completely out of their control."
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One parent pointed out it was the school's policy to not allow children who have experienced sickness back in lessons for 48 hours.
She said: "My heart aches for my boys who missed out. They were able to see and watch the other children having fun and being treated through the classroom window.
"I'd have rather contributed financially for him to have had the opportunity to enjoy the day with everyone else."
A parent was dismayed when her child - who had attendance of 98 per cent - could not go to the party.
She said: "This is so unfair on the children who have been poorly. I think it would be a good idea to say if they have excellent attendance rather than 100 per cent as that's still an incentive.
"I did feel sad for my son who was shut inside through no fault of his own."
One mum felt parents were being too critical of the school.
She said: "No one has control over illness, sudden onset or long-term, but I hardly think an afternoon treat deserves this outrage. Let’s back this school not look for flaws."
Another said: "Thank-you, my son really enjoyed his treat. What a shame a kind gesture can upset people, it's quite sad because if we're not careful the treats will stop for all children, for fear of offending."
Packmoor Ormiston Academy, which serves more than 400 kids aged three to 11, was rated as Good by Ofsted after its last inspection.
In a statement, the school said: "In order to recognise and celebrate the excellent standards of learning, behaviour and attendance amongst pupils at the school, we have a number of merit schemes in place which reward pupils for their achievements on a daily, weekly, monthly, termly and yearly basis.
"The afternoon tea party is just one of the many reward opportunities given to pupils throughout the year and in this instance, it focuses on attendance.
"Since launching in September, we are pleased that the initiative has been positively received by almost all parents, as well as it leading to a marked improvement in overall attendance at the school.
"As a school, we are committed to raising educational standards and ensuring that all pupils have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
"We believe that good attendance is essential in order to facilitate teaching and learning, and it is important that pupils who achieve this are recognised."
