Parents' fury as primary school bans children without 100% attendance from end-of-year bouncy castle treat

Daily Mail​

25-07-2025

Furious parents have blasted the primary which has banned children with less than 100 per cent attendance from their end-of-year bouncy castle.
Several pupils were left in floods of tears after being barred from an end-of-year party, as they watched classmates enjoy themselves, all because they didn't have perfect attendance.
Fuming parents said children were 'emotionally damaged' after watching classmates at Lanesend Primary School in Cowes, Isle of Wight, enjoy the reward without them.
One mother told how her daughter missed out over just a single sick day.
Others lambasted the decision as 'abusive' and staged a protest by keeping their children home.
The school's executive principal, Alex Augustus, insisted the treat was 'never designed to punish or discriminate'.
In an email to parents, he said: 'Please know that this was only done with the best intentions as we wanted to reward children for something that we thought was an exceptional accomplishment.
'It was never designed to punish or discriminate against other children.'
But parents weren't buying it, with Stacey Dale-Lamb telling the BBC her daughter came home in tears after missing the event by just one day's absence.
She said: 'Who gets 100 per cent? Illness - you can't help it, can you? Understandably, she was very upset on the way home, crying.'
Another parent, Riana Neocli, said her seven-year-old daughter was 'heartbroken' and believed she was being punished for not working hard enough.
The controversy has sparked outrage across the island, with some families accusing the school of failing to show compassion, and turning a celebration into a public shaming.
She said: 'I don't think she should be punished for being late for school because we are homeless and don't have transport other than bus... let alone having to sit and watch the children go on it, which is what they wanted.'
Peter Crates said his son had special educational needs and hospital appointments and could not attend school full-time.
He said: 'He wouldn't have understood at all. I don't see that as a reward. It's more of a punishment to the children that aren't allowed on there.'
Another parent, Danielle Hall, said: 'This is not down to the staff at all.
'I have had staff members crying on the door to me, trying to explain to the children why they can't [go on the bouncy castle]... It is the senior management.'
She said she had been falsely accused by a member of staff of taking part in a 'riot' over the issue.
Ms Hall said: 'It's absolutely shocking. I have had to explain to them why their peers can be involved and they can't.
'They were really poorly, hospitalised for it, it wasn't just a little illness.
'They weren't even fit to be at home, let alone at school. They have been penalised for that. How do you explain that to a five year old?
'It's frustrating. I just don't want to speak for my own children it's every child when I left yesterday when they found out and were walking down this lane in tears to their parents.'
Another parent, who did not wish to be named, said: 'This punishes children - some as young as five - for circumstances completely out of their control'.
Parents have said they believe it also contradicts the diversity and equality policy set out by the Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust (DCAT), which has run Lanesend since February 2024.
In its diversity and equality statement, DCAT said it is 'committed to preventing discrimination, valuing diversity and achieving equality of opportunity'.
It is understood that only parents of children with exemplary attendance were sent notifications about the bouncy castle.
The note to the parents, sent out on Wednesday, said: 'As a result of your child's exemplary attendance this school year we are rewarding them with a bouncy castle treat tomorrow in school.
'Children will be on it in small groups, monitored by adults. Congratulations once again for this amazing achievement!'
Mr Augustus' email to parents concluded: 'We are sorry if this has caused any upset and will take your feedback on board.'
Neither the school or the Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust (DCAT) responded to a request for comment.