PROMOTING GOOD Margaret Smith – Lead Attendance Officer Nigel Shaddick - Senior Education Welfare Officer EDUCATION ATTENDANCE SERVICE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

A key objective In the past, good school attendance wasn’t always considered as important as good attainment. Raising levels of school attendance is a key objective to improving attainment. (Narrowing the Gap)

Why is school attendance important? Good school attendance contributes to all the outcomes of for every child: Be healthy Stay safe Enjoy and achieve Make a positive contribution Achieve economic well-being

Why is school attendance important? (contd.) 1.Being healthy Attendance at school supports children’s emotional and social health and development; The school curriculum teaches children to be healthy

2. Staying safe “Basic to safeguarding children is to ensure their attendance at school.” OFSTED Enjoying and achieving Improving school attendance is part of the drive to raise attainment. Children who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve good results. Children who are frequently absent without good reason are 12 times more likely to leave school without any qualifications.

4. Making a positive contribution Membership of a school community builds confidence, gives children a sense of belonging and teaches them to contribute to and be responsible for the well-being of others. Young people who truant are 3 times more likely to break the law. Children who do not attend school are more likely to be victims of crime.

5. Achieving economic well-being Good school attendance supports – - engagement in further education, training or employment; - a prosperous and fulfilling life-style. Employers will not wish to take on staff who have a poor history of school attendance.

Factors influencing absence from school (National Audit Office, 2004) 1 Home factors parental attitudes to education; holidays during term-time; other leave, e.g. bereavement; family problems; children with caring responsibilities; transport difficulties; frequent house moves.

Factors influencing absence from school (National Audit Office, 2004) 2 School factors attractiveness and relevance of curriculum; quality of teaching; management of behaviour, including bullying; school-parent relationships; school policies.

Factors influencing absence from school (National Audit Office, 2004) 3 Pupil factors genuine illness (and medical appointments); behavioural problems; learning difficulties; personal problems; influence of friends and peers; being bullied.

Who is responsible for ensuring children attend school regularly? Parents / Carer’s “The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient education suitable – (a) to his age, ability and aptitude, and (b) to any special educational needs he may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise. Education Act 1997, Section 7 Under the Education Act legislation any person with day-to-day care of a child is identified as the ‘Parent’ (with or without parental responsibility)

What Parents should be encouraged to do.. Send their children to school on time every day; Take holidays only during school holidays; Send their children to school with the correct uniform and equipment for the day including provision for lunch; Take an interest in their child’s education; Talk to staff as soon as any problems arise.

Aim of Education Attendance Service To work with schools to raise the attendance and achievement of all pupils and to improve access to education for all groups so that they can gain the best possible education.

What does the Education Attendance Service do to support parents? The Education Attendance Service (EAS) supports parents in meeting their legal responsibilities by: explaining what those responsibilities are; ascertaining, with parents and schools, what the barriers to good attendance are; working with them, for a time limited period and with support from other services and agencies where appropriate, to overcome them.

School’s Responsibilities Registers Legal document – 2 sessions per day Authorising Absences – Head teacher's responsibility (which maybe delegated to other staff) Contact with Parent Liaising with parents regarding their children. First day contact Safeguarding children Refer child protection/safeguarding concerns Monitor attendance children with Child in Need Plans, CAF & those LAC.

What can schools do? (1) Have a regularly reviewed Attendance Policy which all staff, pupils and parents are aware of Clear expectations for pupils and parents/carers Challenge parents on both the need and the reasons for their children’s absence from school; Effective communication within school; Effective communication school-home - systems for first day calling, system of letters highlighting absences; System of rewards- weekly, termly, yearly, within year groups, whole school, county level

What can schools do? (2) Collect and analyse data, set challenging targets; Identify a member of the Senior Leadership team as the school’s Attendance Leader; Identify and challenge patterns of absence to ensure early intervention Use the Self-evaluation Audit Tool for Attendance;

Multi-agency work to support school attendance Many children with high levels of unauthorised absence will have complex needs. They are likely to be known by and/or to be receiving or to require support from other services and agencies. It is important that all these services and agencies understand the role they have in promoting and supporting good school attendance.

Referrals to Education Attendance Service Education Welfare Officers are assigned to schools and visits to schools are arranged dependent upon the absence levels of the school. Schools refer to EWO due to: –unauthorised absences –child employment & entertainment –missing children

Fast-Track Case Management Initial contact with Parents is a 1 st warning letter and meeting in school. Where an Attendance Agreement is compiled with School, Parents & EWO, with follow-up review meeting. 6 week action plan. At the end of the six week monitoring period the matter is Closed; considered for Prosecution or an extension to plan agreed.

Procedure Following Referral Ongoing visits dependent upon situation ( Action will be time-limited, Case Supervision for each referral takes place every 3 weeks Decision to prosecute is with Lead Attendance Officer, Senior Education Welfare Officer & Senior Manager Social Inclusion in consultation with Integrated Service Manager.

Other Duties of EAS Register checks and Inspections Child Employment & Entertainment Safeguarding children – including CME enquiries Truancy initiatives with Police Involvement with CAF and TAC.