Attendance, Absence and Holiday Reporting
Woodlands Primary School, Hedgehogs Nursery & Sunbeams Club (the school) is proudly recognised as an Inclusive Attendance school. Our unwavering commitment to attendance centres around child-centric actions, evidence-informed practices, and a shared understanding of everyone's roles and collective responsibilities to promote exceptional attendance.
Inclusive Attendance Professional Development Model
Our attendance approach is fundamentally guided by the Inclusive Attendance professional development model. This model empowers staff to deepen their understanding by facilitating continuous professional learning for all staff. Within this model, the four domains of practice ensure the provision of professional learning, professional development, evidence-based practices, and exemplary leadership and management to seamlessly integrate theory into practice.
Multi-Tiered System of Support
In our school, we implement a Multi-Tiered System of Support. A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to support good attendnace in our school involves three tiers of intervention, with roles for teachers, the school, children, parents, and external agencies – including the Local Authority. Data-driven decision-making and training requirements are pivotal to the implementation of the system. The system aligns with the Department for Education's (DFE) "Working Together to Improve School Attendance" guidelines.
Tier 1 - Universal Approach: Establishing a baseline universal attendance approach that benefits all children.
Tier 2 - Individualised Strategies and Early Help Support: Tailoring strategies to individual needs and providing early help support for persistent attendance challenges.
Tier 3 - Higher Needs Strategies Support: Furnishing specialised support for children, young people, and families with complex attendance requirements, including access to external agency support when necessary.
The Importance of School Attendance
School attendance is not merely a requirement but a fundamental pillar of education. It plays a pivotal role in shaping academic success, personal growth, and future prospects, making it an indispensable aspect of any educational system.
- Academic Achievement: Regular attendance directly correlates with academic success. Children who attend school consistently are more likely to keep up with the curriculum, perform better in exams, and improve their life outcomes.
- Knowledge Acquisition: School is where children acquire knowledge and skills that are crucial for their personal and professional growth. Missing days means missing out on valuable learning opportunities.
- Social Development: School provides a vital social environment for children and adolescents to interact with peers, develop friendships, and learn essential social skills. Consistent attendance ensures children remain connected to their peer group.
- Building Routine: School attendance establishes a structured routine in children’s lives, teaching them time management and responsibility, which are valuable life skills.
- Teacher Interaction: Regular attendance allows for meaningful teacher-child interactions. Teachers can provide personalised support, address questions, and assess individual progress more effectively when children attend regularly.
- Preventing Knowledge Gaps: Frequent absences can lead to significant knowledge gaps, making it challenging for children to catch up with missed lessons, potentially resulting in long-term academic struggles.
- School Engagement: Children who attend school regularly are more likely to engage in extracurricular activities, sports, and other enriching experiences that contribute to their overall development.
- Legal and Parental Responsibility: Parents or guardians are legally responsible for ensuring their child's regular school attendance. Failing to do so can lead to legal consequences
- Community Well-being: High levels of school attendance contribute to the overall well-being of communities.
WHAT WILL WE DO, AS A SCHOOL, TO SUPPORT CHILDREN ACHIEVING EXCEPTIONAL ATTENDANCE?
All staff will:
- Create a Welcoming Classroom Environment: All staff will strive to create a positive and welcoming classroom environment where all children feel motivated and engaged. We recognise that a supportive, caring and nurturing environment will encourage attendance.
- Set Expectations: Teachers will set clear expectations for attendance and punctuality in their classrooms. This includes communicating the importance of regular attendance for learning and academic progress.
- Support Positive Behaviour: Teachers will implement strategies to reinforce positive behaviour related to attendance, such as recognising attendance and punctuality.
- Monitor Attendance: All staff, including teachers, teaching assistants, the admin team and SLT are responsible for monitoring the daily attendance of their children. Staff will maintain accurate attendance records, noting both present and absent pupils and staff will be encouraged to challenge parents when children are absent from school.
- Promote Punctuality: Teachers will encourage pupils to arrive at school on time each day. Punctuality is essential for a smooth start to the school day and minimises disruptions in the classroom.
- Take Immediate Action: When a child is absent without prior notification or a valid reason, teachers will take immediate action. This may involve contacting the school's attendance officer or designated staff member to report the absence.
- Implement Early Intervention and support: Teachers will identify patterns of poor attendance or lateness and intervene early to address any underlying issues. This may include communicating with the child, their parents or guardians, and relevant support services.
- Maintain Communication: All staff will maintain open lines of communication with parents or guardians regarding attendance. Staff will inform parents of any concerns about a child's attendance or punctuality.
- Provide Support: Teachers can provide academic and emotional support to children who may be experiencing attendance challenges. Identifying the root causes and addressing them proactively will help improve attendance.
- Identify Barriers: Teachers will be alert to potential barriers to attendance, such as bullying, health issues, or family problems.
- Keep accurate Attendance Records: Accurate attendance records are crucial. Teachers should submit attendance data promptly to the school's administrative team (usually in the form of daily registers). This information is used for reporting to local authorities and the Department for Education (DFE).
- Collaborate: Collaborating with other school staff, such as attendance officers, counsellors, and administrators, will be essential for addressing attendance concerns effectively. Teamwork ensures a coordinated approach to supporting students.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS/CARERS DO TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOL?
We ask that parents let the school know straight away why your child is absent. Home/school communication is extremely important in supporting your child to achieve and feel settled in school. We ask that parents/carers try to make any dental/GP appointments for your child outside of school time
It is pertinent that school and parents /carers work together with a shared plan and outcomes when supporting a child / young person’s attendance and wellbeing. If despite persistent attempts to work with parents, there continues to be a lack of engagement, then legal procedures may be followed to secure engagement and school attendance
As a school we recognise that building respectful relationships with families and working in collaboration is essential to ensuring the best outcomes for children / young people. We require all parents to actively support the work of the school, including promoting attendance and engagement. We are committed to ensuring that systems and processes are in place with regards to promoting attendance and would encourage parents to make contact if they have concerns about their child.
We will provide parents / carers with information about Emotionally Based School Non-attendance to discuss needs and strategies to support their child, as appropriate.
