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Children are being inspired to get to school on time every day by a pair of furry friends.

Einstein the Attendance Monkey and Peggy the Early Bird are the stuffed pets who are managing to entice children to make attendance and punctuality a priority at Freshwaters Primary Academy, in School Lane, Harlow.

The toys are so highly regarded by pupils, they celebrated the first year of Einstein being at school with a special lunch.

Tiia Sutherland, early years assistant headteacher, said: “Einstein spends each week with the class with the best attendance, while Peggy is placed with the most punctual class. Those classes are then tasked with keeping diaries of what the pair have been up to and learnt during their time in class. That makes the children stop and consider what they have been learning. On occasions, the toys are taken home with pupils for a little holiday, which is all documented in their diary.

“The children get really excited about earning the toys for their class. It seems to be really working in encouraging the children to come to school every day and on time.”