Attendance

UNCRC Article 28 – Every child has the right to an education

We understand that families may face a number of ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors which act as barriers for school attendance. As a child-centred school with a community focus, we believe that through working in partnership with families we can best support children to achieve high attendance and get the most out of their primary school experience.  At Somerdale Educate Together we work hard to make sure everyone feels welcomed, valued, and part of an inclusive culture where children and their families feel safe to attend. 

UNCRC Article 3 - When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children. All adults should do what is best for children

We aim for all children to achieve 100% attendance unless illness or an unavoidable cause prevents them from attending school. We know that children who attend school regularly are more likely to make progress in their learning and achieve better life outcomes. Attendance and punctuality are therefore crucial to children’s learning and achievement at school.

UNCRC Article 28 – Every child has the right to an education. Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level possible. 

School Day

Pre-School

Reception to Year 6

 
 
Supporting Good Attendance

Listen, Understand, Emphasise, and Maintain High Expectations

Parents/Carers should contact us immediately if they or their child/ren are finding it difficult to attend school. We will work closely with you to identify the attendance barriers, co-creating a support plan which will be jointly monitored. We work with a number of external agencies including the Local Authority Attendance and Welfare Services, The Mental Health Support Team (NHS), School Nurse and the Behaviour and Attendance Panel who all provide the school with additional support services.

We aim to:

·      Have high expectations for every pupil’s attendance at school.
·      Communicate these expectations clearly and consistently to parents and to pupils.
·      Set expectations about attendance from the outset – from Pre-School onwards.
·      Explain to parents and pupils why good attendance is important and how it helps pupils to achieve.
·      Listen to parents carefully to find out why their children are not attending well enough so that they can act accordingly.
·      Challenge parents who do not make sure that their children attend, but also offer support where needed.
·      Ensure that attendance is always recorded accurately.
·      Systematically analyse attendance information so that they can see patterns and trends.
·      Use this analysis to target their actions, both for individuals and at a whole-school level.
·      Make sure that attendance is ‘everyone’s business’ in school.
·      Understand that good attendance does not happen in isolation – there is an inter-relationship between attendance and the quality of the school curriculum, ethos, behaviour and inclusivity.
·      See the process of securing good attendance for all pupils as an ongoing process, never something that is ‘finished’.
                       
Adapted from Securing good attendance and tackling persistent absence (DfE Research & Analysis - Published 7th February 2022)

Supporting Adults

·      Headteacher (Chris Thomas-Unsworth) Attendance Lead
·      Deputy Headteacher (Sam O’Regan) and Senior Leadership Team - Jess Scott & Rebecca Ware (SENDCo)
·      Learning Mentor (Jo Devine) 
·      Class Teachers

Monitoring Attendance

As well as the support mechanisms outlined above, we also monitor attendance following the criteria listed below:

Attendance Monitoring Flow Chart

Reporting Absences to the School

Parents must inform the school office on the first day of absence either by telephone, in person or via info@somerdaleet.org.uk. Parents are advised to report any continuing absences every day until the child returns to school.

Leave of Absence During Term Time

Leave during term time will not be authorised unless under exceptional circumstances. Families must complete a leave of absence form to apply for term time absence. This can be downloaded from the Office Forms area on our school website or collected from the school office.

Documentation

     ETAT School Attendance Policy 2023
     Working Together to Improve School Attendance  Statutory until 18th August 2024
     Working Together to Improve School Attendance  Applies from 19th August 2024

     Education Inclusion Services B&NES Local Authority

     B&NES Attendance and Welfare Services

Useful Resources

     Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)

References

    Supporting School Attendance
    Securing good attendance and tackling persistent absence