Attendance Matters PlusEssex Education Welfare Service

What we aim to cover• Education Welfare Service Updates Education Welfare Service Updates

Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices Elective Home Education – new Appendix I formElective Home Education – new Appendix I form

• National absence levelsNational absence levels• Registration practices – link to CSERegistration practices – link to CSE• Schools/Governing bodies – working together to improve Schools/Governing bodies – working together to improve

attendance and outcomesattendance and outcomes• Ofsted: Sharing examples of good practice to improve school Ofsted: Sharing examples of good practice to improve school

attendanceattendance• Persistent absence threshold – 15% - 10%Persistent absence threshold – 15% - 10%• An opportunity to network with other schools An opportunity to network with other schools

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EWS Updates – Code of Conduct (PNs)

• The law states that headteachers should not authorise leave during term-time unless there are exceptional circumstances

• The LA must have in place a Code of Conduct which allows for Penalty Notices to be issued for irregular school attendance

• Headteachers hold discretion as to whether or not to apply for a penalty notice where parent(s) take leave of absence which has not been authorised (G coded absence)

• Important that we move parents away from applying for leave for ‘holidays’ and only allow requests for ‘leave due to exceptional circumstances’

• Pack due to be shared with schools with updated sample documents – ESI / Delegates Pack

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EWS Updates - Code of Conduct (PNs)• Current code of conduct allows for LA to issue a PN where

there are 10 sessions of unauthorised absence recorded for a pupil within a 6 week period

• For unauthorised leave of absence (term-time holidays) these 10 sessions must be recorded consecutively and, currently, at least one other prescribed criteria must be met before the LA can issue a PN on behalf of Essex schools/academies

• Colleagues have shared their frustrations with regards to the additional criteria as this has proved confusing

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Current Code of Conduct – Penalty Notices – Unauthorised Leave of Absence

5 consecutive days/10

consecutive sessions of

unauthorised leave

• Attendance is below 90% during the preceding 12 weeks before the leave was taken; OR

• Any day of the leave falls within the month of September; OR

• The leave was taken during tests or examinations; OR

• It is the second leave taken in any one academic year; OR

• The pupil is in Year 6 or Year 11

EWS Updates - Code of Conduct (PNs)• Local Code of Conduct must be agreed in consultation with

headteachers• Survey sent out to all Essex heads in the autumn term• Comments/suggestions were fed into Steering Group

discussions which took place early in the spring term• Updates and amendments to the Code of Conduct will come

into force as from 1st September 2015

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Essex Code of Conduct – Penalty Notices – SEPTEMBER 2015 onwardsPenalty Notices for Unauthorised Leave of Absence will be issued on behalf of Essex schools/academies solely on the basis of:

5 or more consecutive days/10 or more consecutive sessions unauthorised leave of absence (G coded)

PLEASE NOTE:•Where parent fails to pay the PN fine, they will face prosecution and could be liable for a fine of up to £1000 and receive a criminal record•If the parent pleads ‘not guilty’, headteachers will be called as witnesses at the trial

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EWS Updates – Elective Home Education• Decision taken to decommission the Home Education Service

with effect from 1st April 2015• Parents have no duty to notify the LA where they choose to

electively home educate • LA has no statutory powers to routinely monitor the home

education arrangements that are put in place by parents• LA does have a duty to intervene ‘if it appears’ that a suitable

education is not in place

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EWS Updates – Elective Home Education• Effective communication between schools, EWS and other

agencies is the key to ensuring that necessary actions are taken “if it appears” that a suitable education is not being provided by parent(s)

• If parent elects to home educate whilst a child is on roll at a school/academy – the SCHOOL/ACADEMY has a duty to notify the LA that they are removing a child from roll as a result of parents electing to home educate

• APPENDIX I – Intention to Remove from Roll form (via Essex Schools Infolink) – very user-friendly format

• This has been enhanced and is only available in an electronic format (must be submitted online) 9

EWS Updates – Elective Home Education• Schools now required to state on the Appendix I whether they

have any concerns about the parental commitment to offer a suitable education. Where concerns are raised, EWS will investigate

• Commitment NOT capacity • Welfare concerns – who have these been reported to?• Family Solutions/Social Care involvement? • If case is open to EWS, automatic consideration will be made to

investigate the home education arrangements that parents put in place (visit 4 weeks after decision and again, if necessary, 4 weeks later) – could be an attempt by parent to avoid punitive action

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EWS Updates – Elective Home Education• Where investigations indicate that a suitable education has not

been put in place, LA will instigate School Attendance Order (SAO) proceedings and instruct parent to enrol their child with a school within a stipulated time frame

• If a school is to be named on a SAO, the headteacher (and Chair of Governors) of the school will be contacted and offered a consultation about why their school has been named on the Order – e.g. distance from family home, etc

• Parental failure to comply with the SAO/provide evidence of a suitable education – will lead to court action for breach of SAO – parents will be liable for a fine of up to £1000

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EWS Updates - Various

• EWS Half-Termly RAG data – should only submit details for pupils who have reached statutory school age (not ALL reception children). This will give an accurate reflection of what your published figures will look like and the ability to compare your data with national/local data

• DfE ask you to submit, via your census ALL reception data• Changes to PA threshold – parental letter shared with all

headteachers• Children in Employment and Entertainment

Applications for licenses – if issued by LA school to authorise New standard application process – headteacher objections

requested within Essex• ESI – Useful documents/websites

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2013/14 (HTs 1 - 5) – National vs. Essex Absence Rates – (PRIMARY)

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District/Area District Ove

rall

%

Aut

h %

Una

uth

%P

A

Ill %

Med

Apt

s %

Hol

%

Exc

l %

Oth

Aut

h %

Una

uth

Hol

%

Late

%

Una

uth

Oth

%

Basildon South4.01% 3.09% 0.91% 2.52% 0.20% 0.12% 0.03% 0.19% 0.24% 0.07% 0.58%Braintree Mid3.87% 3.39% 0.48% 2.67% 0.26% 0.22% 0.01% 0.22% 0.20% 0.04% 0.23%Brentwood South3.20% 2.81% 0.40% 2.29% 0.19% 0.11% 0.00% 0.18% 0.20% 0.04% 0.13%Castle Point South4.20% 3.32% 0.88% 2.82% 0.23% 0.08% 0.01% 0.18% 0.34% 0.02% 0.43%Chelmsford Mid3.49% 3.08% 0.41% 2.46% 0.23% 0.14% 0.02% 0.21% 0.23% 0.02% 0.14%Colchester North East3.74% 3.22% 0.52% 2.51% 0.27% 0.21% 0.02% 0.19% 0.17% 0.06% 0.24%Epping Forest West3.88% 3.11% 0.77% 2.48% 0.24% 0.15% 0.01% 0.21% 0.19% 0.06% 0.42%Harlow West3.80% 3.18% 0.62% 2.60% 0.23% 0.13% 0.04% 0.16% 0.20% 0.04% 0.35%Maldon Mid3.81% 3.18% 0.63% 2.64% 0.28% 0.07% 0.02% 0.17% 0.27% 0.04% 0.26%Rochford South3.36% 2.69% 0.66% 2.17% 0.24% 0.12% 0.01% 0.11% 0.36% 0.04% 0.23%Tendring North East4.42% 3.59% 0.83% 3.01% 0.24% 0.09% 0.03% 0.21% 0.24% 0.04% 0.53%Uttlesford West3.34% 2.91% 0.43% 2.33% 0.26% 0.13% 0.00% 0.18% 0.18% 0.07% 0.15%Essex 3.79% 3.16% 0.63% 2.55% 0.24% 0.14% 0.02% 0.19% 0.23% 0.05% 0.32%Statistical Neighbours 3.76% 3.16% 0.60% 2.52% 0.24% 0.15% 0.02% 0.20% 0.23% 0.05% 0.28%England Average 3.83% 3.08% 0.75% 2.43% 0.24% 0.14% 0.02% 0.19% 0.26% 0.06% 0.36%

2013/14 (HTs 1 - 5) – National vs. Essex Absence Rates – (SECONDARY)

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District/Area Ove

rall

%

Aut

h %

Una

uth

%

PA

%

Ill %

Med

Apt

s %

Rel

ig %

Stu

dy %

Hol

%

Exc

l %

Oth

Aut

h %

Una

uth

Hol

%

Late

%

Una

uth

Oth

%

Basildon 5.67% 4.05% 1.61% 5.97% 3.19% 0.29% 0.01% 0.07% 0.09% 0.39% 0.16% 0.03% 1.40%Braintree 5.29% 4.40% 0.89% 5.37% 3.39% 0.38% 0.02% 0.09% 0.07% 0.45% 0.13% 0.02% 0.68%Brentwood 5.08% 4.25% 0.83% 4.78% 3.22% 0.48% 0.12% 0.08% 0.05% 0.28% 0.08% 0.03% 0.70%Castle Point 5.09% 3.96% 1.14% 4.81% 3.06% 0.46% 0.00% 0.04% 0.06% 0.34% 0.20% 0.07% 0.72%Chelmsford 5.35% 4.36% 0.99% 5.36% 2.91% 0.43% 0.51% 0.04% 0.06% 0.39% 0.12% 0.07% 0.76%Colchester 5.11% 4.31% 0.80% 5.24% 3.24% 0.42% 0.19% 0.07% 0.09% 0.28% 0.13% 0.04% 0.60%Epping Forest 5.33% 4.21% 1.12% 5.22% 3.02% 0.42% 0.09% 0.05% 0.10% 0.51% 0.12% 0.02% 0.73%Harlow 4.51% 3.55% 0.96% 3.88% 2.75% 0.32% 0.01% 0.03% 0.15% 0.27% 0.08% 0.05% 0.82%Maldon 5.27% 3.23% 2.03% 6.09% 2.35% 0.38% 0.00% 0.03% 0.11% 0.35% 0.18% 0.11% 1.53%Rochford 5.10% 4.12% 0.99% 4.83% 3.13% 0.45% 0.10% 0.06% 0.10% 0.28% 0.11% 0.10% 0.64%Tendring 5.64% 3.73% 1.92% 6.57% 2.94% 0.32% 0.04% 0.03% 0.08% 0.31% 0.14% 0.03% 1.68%Uttlesford 5.02% 4.24% 0.78% 4.55% 3.17% 0.57% 0.05% 0.03% 0.07% 0.34% 0.12% 0.06% 0.57%Essex 5.25% 4.11% 1.15% 5.30% 3.08% 0.40% 0.12% 0.05% 0.08% 0.35% 0.13% 0.05% 0.90%

England Average 5.11% 3.90% 1.21% 5.16% 2.88% 0.38% 0.09% 0.05% 0.11% 0.32% 0.16% 0.06% 0.87%

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Autumn 2014 Attendance SFR

PrimaryLeague

Position of League Position of

Auth %Unauth %

Overall %

151 LAs

11 SNs

PA (15%)

151 LAs 11 SNs

ESSEX 3.06% 0.66% 3.72% 34 5 3.29% 37 2East Region 3.16% 0.68% 3.85% 65   3.41% 55  Stat.Neighbours 3.21% 0.62% 3.83% 56   3.54% 61  ENGLAND 3.16% 0.76% 3.92%   3.73%  

SecondaryLeague

Position of League Position of

Auth %Unauth %

Overall %

151 LAs

11 SNs

PA (15%)

151 LAs 11 SNs

ESSEX 3.91% 1.02% 4.93% 69 5 5.37% 43 1East Region 3.98% 0.96% 4.94% 64   5.61% 60  Stat.Neighbours 4.14% 0.95% 5.08% 82   6.01% 80  ENGLAND 3.94% 1.12% 5.06%   6.09%  

Activity – compare individual school data with national data

• Are you comparing favourably?• If YES – what have you been doing to achieve this?• If NO – what has prevented your school from achieving higher

attendance rates/reduced absence rates?• Be prepared to ‘tell the story’ which explains why your data

looks the way that it does e.g. certain individual pupils, ill health, complex issues, use of strategies to improve attendance, impact of strategies used, multi-agency working, referrals to EWS, etc

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Improving attendance

Burnham-on-Crouch Primary School

Why?

In March 2012 our attendance was low; the headteacher’s report stated:

• “Our current attendance (05/09/11 – 01/03/12) stands at 94.3% compared to our target of 95.5% This level of absence, 5.7%, is significantly above average and is approaching the level that Ofsted defines as indicating ‘poor’ attendance.”

Why?

• “Absence due to term time holidays continues to decline but remains an issue that causes conflict with parents. Indeed, following the last letter sent to all parents regarding attendance I received a flurry of additional holiday requests, the vast majority of which have been declined. The workload associated with this is disproportionately large with aggrieved parents then seeking meetings and/ or phone calls to discuss the reasons and make their individual plea for special consideration.”

Headteacher’s Report Spring 2012

Who?

A concerted and co-ordinated effort was made to improve attendance, involving:

• Governors• Office staff• Headteacher• Family Support Worker• All staff

How?

Strategies included:• Governor Attendance Panel – focusing on term time

holiday requests• Zero tolerance policy• Attendance leaflet• Term time holiday information leaflet• Family Support Worker working with families and

children to address attendance and lateness• Rigorous and consistent use of penalty notices

Frustrations!

Included:• Arguments with parents• Complaints!• Lack of support from local MP

Progress, at last

“The school is being successful in reducing the number of pupils who are persistently absent. As a result, attendance is improving significantly and is above average.”

Ofsted December 2012

“The systems used for checking attendance and following up absence are very thorough and the school has adopted a hard line approach. As a result attendance is above average and the attendance of pupils supported by the pupil premium has improved.”

Ofsted November 2014

Our current data

May 2015 • Whole school attendance 96%• Persistent absentees at 20% none• Persistent absentees at 15% 1.97% (7/356)

Ofsted/Governor Evidence Folder• Historical data – trends/stories• Strategies employed to address identified issues• Narrowing the Gap agenda• Pupil Premium monies • Rewards/incentives – best/most improved • Pupil voice (relevance/engagement)• Attendance expectations high on school agenda –

newsletters/website/visible displays around school/assembly presentations

• Focus on punctuality• Scrutinise the data – use the system to get the information you

need to inform your role • Case studies – evidence of multi-agency work

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Registration Practices - CSE• Child Sexual Exploitation – not limited to Rochdale /

Rotherham / Oxfordshire• Happening much closer to home• Internal truancy can be a sign – not something you can refer

to EWS• Police? Social care? Family Operations Hub? Better to share

than to keep quiet – intelligence from different sources can build up to a bigger picture and enable action to be taken

• KEY: Do not mark a pupil present unless they are physically sat in front of you – do not take another pupil’s word for the presence of their friend/peer

• Designated Safeguarding Officer – if in doubt, raise concerns – better to be safe than sorry 26

Ofsted - Examples of Good Practice• Pupil progress is checked and monitored by ethnicity –

enables tracking of specified groups within the school’s cohort• Allows for resource/support to allocated, targets to be set

with pupils who are not meeting expected levels of progress• 1:1 support is offered to pupils who need help with reading• Parents are invited in to observe the types of activities that

they could engage in to support learning within the home environment

• Consistent approach to addressing absence – first day contact, if necessary staff collect pupils from home

• Ongoing absence concerns addressed by inviting parents in for a meeting – entitled ‘attendance surgeries’ 27

Ofsted - Examples of Good Practice• Parents reminded several times by telephone/text that

‘attendance surgery’ is due to take place – better parental engagement

• Consequences of poor attendance made clear at school-based meetings

• Persistent absence is tackled in partnership with LA Education Welfare Service

• Regular rewards for good and improving individuals and classes

• Notices about when school term dates begin are placed on the school gates/entrances

• Ethos – pupils enjoy school, understand the importance of regular attendance and want to come to school

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Ofsted - Examples of Good Practice• The school has gained the trust and respect of parents over a

period of time – dedicated roles Inclusion Manager/Attendance Officer

• Parents now understand the high expectations that are in place with regards to attendance and communicate any planned absences to school staff – traveller families included

• School trips – parents can keep in touch with their children via the school mobile, school calls anxious parents to inform them that all is well (appreciated by parents),

• Key staff available at the beginning and end of the day – so that parents feel that they are accessible and approachable. Home visits made if appropriate

• Low rate of staff turnover – helps strong positive relationships to be built between parents and staff

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Ofsted - Examples of Good Practice• Gypsy, Roma and Traveller month is celebrated every June• Entrance Hall is decorated and all pupils are involved• The headteacher has an unwavering commitment to celebrating

diversity and understanding the population her school serves; it is deeply rooted in the ethos of the school. Traveller pupils say they ‘fit in’ and develop a very positive attitude to school where they can be themselves. One comments: ‘If the staff understand my culture then I feel as valued as everyone else.’

These examples have been taken out of a Good Practice Example produced by Ofsted (March 2015) – Kingsmead Primary School, Hackney – ‘Outstanding’ judgement (4.5% traveller population)

MOST OF THE STRATEGIES / APPROACHES ABOVE COULD BE EQUALLY APPLIED TO ANY SCHOOL COMMUNITY

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Persistent Absence Threshold• 15% - 10%• Significant impact – need to address absence much earlier to

prevent pupils falling into PA category• Letter shared by EWS to assist schools to prepare parents for

this increased focus on attendance/absence• Encourage schools to work in partnership to send out the

same, consistent message• Transition – communication of attendance concerns is key –

allow colleagues to pick up where you finish a piece of work. Avoid duplication where possible – seamless handover of absence management

• EWS referral criteria – 8 sessions within a four week period – MUST HAVE EVIDENCE OF PRE-REFERRAL WORK

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Thank you• Evaluation Forms – value and appreciate your feedback

• Workshops to be held every six months – hope to see you all again in the new year

• Please do not hesitate to call our local ‘duty lines’ if you require support with coding of absence, advice on pre-referral work, etc.MID: 0333 013 9944 Mid.ews@essex.gov.ukNORTH EAST: 0333 013 9983 ne.ews@essex.gov.ukSOUTH: 0333 013 9845 South.ews@essex.gov.ukWEST: 0333 013 9910 West.ews@essex.gov.uk

• Essex Schools Infolink / Weekly ‘Education Essex’ newsletter