Attendance

 To create a whole school ethos and culture where children feel that they are safe and belong 

·       Uphold our vision and values; ensure they are lived through our whole school.

·       Be an inclusive school with representation and equity at the heart of policy and practice- see school’s Personal Development Framework.

·       A behaviour management policy based on restorative practice.

·       Regular focus in assembly on values, personal development framework and attendance.

·       Regular opportunities for all children to use their voice respectfully across the school.

·       A school that recognises all emotional reactions as normal and helps pupils to express their emotions e.g. through the use of a listening box.

·       Provide quiet and safe spaces for children.

 To have strong leadership of attendance in place at all levels 

·       Whilst attendance is acknowledged as a whole school responsibility, key members of staff have specific roles and responsibilities.

·       The office manager leads on the overall implementation of the strategy.

·       Our office manager is also a trained Deputy DSL as we acknowledge the key link between attendance and safeguarding. She has become a key contact for vulnerable children and families.

·       The office team ensure first day phone calls are completed where we have not received any communication. They also ensure letters and communication are sent to families in line with our policy.

·       Our office manager works closely with the trust’s Attendance and Welfare Officer. They meet regularly to review data and trends, review specific cases and meet with families to offer support.

 To monitor and evaluate data effectively acting on the information

·       Daily monitoring of children absent from school with quick actions to establish reason for absence.

·       Home visits where required and more rapidly implemented when child is already vulnerable.

·       Regular monitoring of overall attendance, pupil premium children and SEND children.

·       Regular monitoring of overall Persistent Absenteeism for all, pupil premium and SEND children.

·       Ongoing monitoring of patterns with the days of the week for attendance.

·       Ongoing monitoring against national averages as outlined on ISDR.

 To have tiered levels of support and intervention in place working with all stake holders

·       Ongoing communication with all families on the importance of attendance and the school’s procedures for reporting absence.

·       Information and signposting available as part of the school’s Early Help Offer which is on the school’s website.

·       Where school or home have a concern for attendance, families will be invited in for a meeting with a member of staff- this will depend of the child and family’s circumstances.

·       Where necessary, individual children will have individual plans for them to come to school with individual targets and rewards agreed.

·       Named members of staff in place for support: Mental Health Lead, Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy DSL, ELSA and SENDCo.

·       The Headteacher is able to authorise the use of the Swallows Breakfast and After-school club to support attendance for a limited period of time where required.

·       Home visits on day 2 where families have not been contactable. If a child is an open case to social services, this will be home visit on day 1.

To have skilled staff across the school in all areas relating to attendance

·       A team of people trained as Designated Safeguarding Leads.

·       A trained ELSA.

·       Mental Health Lead training.

·       Ongoing awareness of key concepts in the monthly safeguarding briefing such as trauma informed.

·       Yearly Safeguarding training to focus on why attendance is important to safeguard children.

·       Relevant staff to attend the trust network meetings for DSLs.