My son was left in tears over his school’s unfair rewards system after pupils were given ice creams for full attendance

A MUM was left feeling furious after a school's "unfair" rewards system left their child in tears.

Gabrielle Houston said her eight-year-old son was heartbroken when she picked him up from his Jarrow school after his classmates were rewarded with ice cream, but wasn't allowed one.

Children at Bede Burn Primary School, in Tyne and Wear, with perfect attendance were rewarded with ice cream during lessons, leaving those who didn't to continue their school work.

Gabrielle, 28, said that her son was devastated when she picked him up on January 21: "As soon as he came out, I took one look at him and he started crying."

"He told me that some of the kids in his class had got ice cream from the school, and some of them didn't, he was one of those who didn't.

"He explained that the children who had 100 per cent attendance were able to leave class to visit the ice cream man, and then return to their seats with their treats, while those who didn't get one had to continue working.

"There were lots of other children who were also visibly upset and crying to their mums and dads in the playground too."

The mum-of-two said she was among several other parents who complained to the school on the day, but she felt their concerns were "brushed off".

She added: "Children can't help becoming unwell, and they shouldn't be penalised for having to stay off school because they are sick. It's just completely unfair."

Gabrielle's sister, Liv Mouter, said the school's reward system was "extremely damaging to young children's mental health".

Liv, 24, said: "When Gabrielle told me what had happened, I was in disbelief that a primary school would be using sweet treats as an incentive for attendance."

"Reward systems are not the issue. Children should be rewarded when they have done something positive or need to celebrate an achievement, but children as young as four-years-old should not be rewarded for their physical health."

The school said they didn't count Covid related absences but Liv said that the pandemic has still likely impacted attendance rates.

Liv said: "It's ridiculous to teach children that because they've managed to avoid a tummy bug over the term, they deserve an ice cream and those who were less fortunate do not.

"Children at this age are very sensitive, and whilst it might seem trivial to an adult, to a young child, not being treated the same as your other classmates is a huge deal and causes a divide between pupils."

I would go as far to call it cruel

Parent Liv Mouter

Gabrielle said the school also gave students pencil cases if they submitted all of their homework on time, but as the work was submitted by the parents online, she said it was unfair to penalise the kids who weren't able to.

She said: "These are really young, primary school-age children and they rely on the adults to make sure it gets sent off.

"It's therefore not the children's responsibility to make sure their homework reaches the teacher, it's on the parents, but it's the child who will be penalised for it.

"There are also families at the school who don't have permanent access to technology and the internet, which makes completing online homework a real challenge."

which she hopes will encourage schools across South Tyneside to find "more inclusive ways to reward pupils".

Liv said: "It would be great if we could raise awareness over the issue, and even get the council on board to help us encourage a fairer system in schools for the future."