Management Information Sheet

Thank you to all schools who completed the Attendance Service Support Survey that was distributed via MI Sheet 5/18. Please find attached the full survey report.

Key Facts:

174 schools completed the survey, including responses from:

• 50% of LA Maintained Primary Schools
• 24% of Primary Academies
• 5% of LA Maintained Secondary Schools
• 17% of Secondary Academies

The results show that schools rated a subscription service including an attendance toolkit & advice line as the most important services proposed. Schools also indicated that termly network meetings would be of use, with in-school advice and support being the least required service.

The majority of responses indicated that training for legal intervention including the Fast Track process and the use of Fixed Penalty Notice's was a priority with 60% of schools asking for training around preparing for legal intervention.

Our response:

Training Opportunities

The Attendance Service has been working on 2 different training packages and is now in a position to offer the following training to schools.

• An introduction to managing school attendance
• Managing school attendance: improving outcomes for children

We will be offering both training packages throughout the Summer Term with dates confirmed as-

• Tuesday 24th April 2018
• Wednesday 2nd May 2018
• Tuesday 15th May 2018
• Wednesday 23rd May 2018
• Tuesday 12th June 2018
• Wednesday 20th June 2018
• Tuesday 3rd July 2018
• Monday 9th July 2018

Course booking and further details about the courses will be available via Educator Solutions by the end of the Spring Term.

Academic Year 2018-19

From September 2018 the Attendance Service will be offering the following traded services:

• Termly Network Meetings
• A consultation line
• Attendance Toolkit
• Attendance Audits

All of our traded services will available as products to purchase individually and also in a number of packages that schools will be able to buy into. Further details will be made available in the Summer Term.

Data Collection

DfE Guidance is clear that all pupils of compulsory school age are entitled to a full-time education. In very exceptional circumstances there may be a need for a temporary part-time timetable to meet a pupil's individual needs but a part-time timetable must not be treated as a long-term solution and must have a time limit by which point the pupil is expected to attend full-time or be provided with alternative provision. In agreeing to a part-time timetable a school has agreed to a pupil being absent from school for part of the week or day and therefore must record it as authorised absence using the C code and not a B code. This is a safeguarding matter as every child is legally entitled to a full time education and the law requires that children are kept safe in school. The LA needs to be assured that schools are not placing children on part-time or re-integration timetables for longer than is necessary and will begin to request data from schools about any such arrangements.

In addition, the LA is required by law to submit data to the DfE regarding parental responsibility measures issued to address poor attendance in state-funded schools including academies and free schools. This data was historically captured by Attendance Officers through their work with individual schools. Moving forward, the Attendance Service will ask all schools for the following information on a half termly basis:

• Details of children who are on part-time or re-integration timetables
• The number of cases entering and leaving attendance case management (including fast-track case management) and the reasons for closure
• The number of attendance action plans offered to and accepted by parents/carers

A template for data collection will be sent to schools on an individual basis by the Attendance Service.

Further information about this can be found at: www.gov.uk.

The Attendance Team continues to be available for advice and support through our duty line on 01603 223 681 throughout the Summer Term.