Working together to improve school attendance
(Taken from DfE guidance August 2024)
At Seaton Sluice First School, we want every child to succeed and flourish as a result of a rich and diverse educational experience. We promote the importance of excellent attendance.
We know that the most effective schools consistently promote the benefits of good attendance at school and make schools a place pupils want to be. At Seaton Sluice First School, we set high expectations for every pupil. This includes communicating these expectations clearly and consistently to pupils and parents, systematically analysing data to identify patterns to target any improvements, and working effectively with the local authority and other local partners to overcome barriers to attendance.
We recognise that attendance cannot be seen in isolation and that the foundation to good attendance is a calm, orderly, safe and supportive environment in which all pupils can learn and thrive. This is what we strive to provide for our pupils and regard every day as a new, exciting day that offers a wealth of opportunities. For this reason, we strongly discourage term-time holidays and unless circumstances are deemed exceptional, cannot authorise applications.
In accordance with our school policy, the Governing Body may decide to review requests for leave of absence. In some circumstances, where repeated term time holidays continue to negatively impact on a pupil's educational outcomes, a fine may be issued.
To manage and improve attendance effectively, as a school we will:
• Build strong relationships and work jointly with families, listening to and understanding barriers to attendance and working in partnership with families to remove them.
• Develop and maintain a whole school culture that promotes the benefits of high attendance.
• Have a clear school attendance policy which all staff, pupils and parents understand.
• Accurately complete admission and have effective day to day processes in place to follow-up absence.
• Regularly monitor and analyse attendance and absence data to identify pupils or cohorts that require support with their attendance and put effective strategies in place.
• Share information and work collaboratively with other schools in the area, local authorities, and other partners where a pupil’s absence is at risk of becoming persistent or severe.
• Be particularly mindful of pupils absent from school due to mental or physical ill health or their special educational needs and/or disabilities, and provide them with additional support.
We value our partnership with families and look forward to working supportively together to ensure the very best of opportunities and outcomes for pupils.