Education Department

Pupil Access and Support Services

County Hall

Martineau Lane

Norwich

        Director of Education: Bryan Slater

Norfolk NR1 2DL

 

 

 

Tel: 01603 222146

 

Fax: 01603 222900

 

                   Minicom: 01603 223833

 

Email:  grace.cheese.edu@norfolk.gov.uk

 

 

Please ask for:

Mrs G Cheese

Your ref:

 

Contact Number:

01603 223473/223324

My ref:

PA&SS/BCS/TB/GC/FM

NPAS-Svce Delivery - Let

 

 2nd May 2003

 

 

 

 

Headteacher

All Norfolk Schools

 

 

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

Norfolk Pupil Attendance Service – Future Service Delivery

 

Those of you able to attend our joint meetings last term heard a presentation from Managers of the Pupil Attendance Service relating to improving attendance in Norfolk schools.  Our collective efforts have resulted in some improvement in attendance levels and in order to continue this encouraging trend, we need to ensure the most appropriate use of the limited resources available so that in future there is a better match between resources and need than at present.  The DfES have just set us a target of ensuring that the overall unauthorised absence for all schools in the county is no greater than 0.58% by May 2004. The current figure is 0.71%. The DfES have also stipulated that this target should be achieved without any increase in the level of authorised absence.

 

As was pointed out at the meetings, the resources to deal with poor attendance must be targeted where the need is greatest and it is in order to ensure that we get this right that I am now formally consulting with you.  The Norfolk Pupil Attendance Service has finite resources with which to work with you to tackle and improve poor attendance.  Careful thought and planning must therefore be given to the efficient and effective allocation of Education Social Workers (ESW) time to individual schools and clusters. In order that a fresh look can be made at future service delivery, I would welcome your views on the following:

 

·        should a greater proportion of ESW time be given to Primary Schools to reflect the belief that early intervention is more likely to be effective and avoids difficulty in the future?  (Currently the split is 60/40 in favour of High Schools);

·        is the most important factor in any formula that allocates ESW time the schools unauthorised attendance rate?

 

 

 

 


·        how much weight should be given to other factors, for example numbers on roll or FSM numbers?

·        is there support for a ‘contingency fund’ that allows scope for flexibility in ESW’s responding to particular events or crisis, i.e. enabling a responsive service that meets need quickly?

·        would it be feasible for total hours to be allocated on a cluster basis?  Local schools could then contribute to decisions with regard to specific school based hours.

 

Please send your responses, along with any other comments to Grace Cheese, Head of Pupil Attendance Service, on the attached by Friday 23rd May at the very latest. Thank you for taking the time to contribute to this important exercise.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr B Slater

Director of Education