Brother and sister barred from school's Christmas disco for taking time off when father died of cancer

Sean Watson, five, with his seven-year-old sister Claire: The youngsters were barred from a school disco because they took time off when their father died of cancer


A primary school barred a grieving five-year-old boy from a school disco organised to reward children with good attendance after he took time off when his father died of cancer.

Samantha Watson's children, Sean and his sister Claire, seven, were distraught when they were not allowed to go to the end-of-term Christmas event at Ryecroft Primary School, Bradford.

She had hoped the event would cheer them up after a traumatic year.

The 35-year-old was told both children did not to have a perfect attendance record because they had taken some time off when their father, Michael Watson, died from an aggressive form of throat cancer at the age of 46.

Outraged Samantha, of Bradford, said: 'They had a couple of days off when their dad passed away and then a couple the week after because of the funeral.

'I then found out that they were not allowed to go because they had time off so I rang the school office to check this was the case and the woman said "bereavements count".

'Michael had cancer for two years and got it really bad. The school knew he was poorly and we said we had been told he had not got long.

'I made them aware that if the worst happened we would have to drag the kids out of school.

'It's a lot for them to take in at Christmas.'


Tragic: Michael Watson died from an aggressive form of throat cancer at the age of 46


A spokesman for the school said: 'Following conversations with the headteacher, it appears there was a mistake about the Year 1 little boy and he could have attended the disco.

'This would have been put right if the mother had spoken to the right person, because of the way the mother spoke to the admin assistant the opportunity to rectify this appropriately was missed.

'The school will apologise to mum for this genuine error.'

Headteacher Jayne Clarke said an extensive programme of Christmas events was taking place at the school that would involve every child without exception.

She said: 'We have an attendance disco and within that policy we look at the children who have a 100 per cent attendance record.
'It's not instead of all the normal Christmas parties, it's in addition to that as a reward.

'We are trying to build a community that attends school and regards school as absolutely vital for the future.

'It's so strict that, for example, families who have a lot of lates are not invited to the disco because we are committed to getting children here.

'I would feel so sad to take away this reward for excellence because some people are sad that they are not invited.'

Mrs Clarke said the school always supported families that suffered bereavements and was sympathetic to the Watsons' situation.

She said: 'We have gone from the bottom six up 39 places in the league tables of achievement in Bradford.

'We beat the national standard for writing and for science.'


source: dailymail.co.uk