CLA Attendance and Punctuality

Attendance 

Children must be educated in school while they are of statutory school age (SSA); that is, between the school term after their fifth birthday and the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16. From age 16 - 18, they must be in some form of education, training or employment; this can include voluntary work, internships and work experience. 

In order for children to realise their academic potential, it is highly recommended they have attendance of at least 95%. 

When children miss school other than when they are ill, not only are they missing out on teaching and learning, they are also missing out on learning essential life skills such as how to interact and communicate with others in a positive social way. Good school attendance is a safeguarding factor in the lives of Looked After Children. Carers, social workers and schools have a joint responsibility to ensure the children in their care attend school every day. They are expected to work together supportively if attendance rates dip. As part of our duty as corporate parent, Hillingdon commissions eGov solutions to monitor our Looked After Children's attendance via the attendance portal on ePEP.  

Unacceptable reasons for absence

• Medical, dental and therapy appointments should be made for out-of-school hours. Carers and social workers should negotiate with medical practitioners to ensure Looked After Children are a priority for such appointments 
• Holidays may not be taken during term-time and those with parental authority may be fined for taking their children on holiday when they should be in school 

Punctuality

Looked After Children should be supported to have 100% punctuality to school as missing the start of the school day can cause confusion and anxiety. For example, schools will often use morning assemblies and registration time to give out important notices, check home-school diaries and check that pupils have all the necessary equipment and uniform. Pupils who start late are disadvantaged.  

When a child is late before the register closes, they will be marked in the school register as being late. If a child arrives after the register closes (with each school this time maybe different), the child will be marked as absent. The register is taken in the morning and afternoon, each mark counts as half a day. Lateness can impact an overall attendance figure, as each absence will count.  

• Attendance reports for SSA and Post 16 children are circulated monthly 

• Attendance Focus group meetings are convened every term  

• Attendance updates provided at Team Meetings  
• All children who are classed as persistant absentees have a Raising Attendance Profile Page exploring the reasons for absence and strategies to improve.  
• All children must have an attendance target within their PEP.  

• Rewarding/acknowledging 100% and improving attendance  

Advice on attendance and punctuality 

• Clear lines of communication between school and home are essential in supporting good attendance and punctuality. To this end, from the first day a Looked After Child joins a school, there should be agreement between the school and the carer as to who to notify (attendance officer, designated teacher, head of year, tutor, office) and by what means (phone, text, email, note) when a child is to be absent or late  

• When a child is too ill to attend school or is going to be late, the carer is expected to let the school know before the start of the school day  
• When a Looked After Child does not turn up for school and there has been no notification from the carer, the school should, without delay, contact the carer, social worker and VSO to let them know so that a decision on appropriate next steps can be collectively made  
• When a child is in school but is truanting from lessons, the school should contact the carer, social worker and VSO on the same day and agree strategies for avoiding such behaviour in the future  
• If such absences are persistent, or there is a truancy from the school, a meeting should be called without delay between the school, the carer, the social worker and the VSO to discuss possible causes and future prevention of such truancy  
• Encourage good attendance and punctuality at every opportunity at home  
• Ensure that the child's social worker and VSO are notified where there are concerns about a child's attendance  
• Encourage and facilitate engagement in Out of School Hours Learning  
• Ensure that a child is prepared and organised for school (inc having appropriate uniform and equipment).