Working together to improve school attendance
New DFE Guidance: Mental health issues affecting a pupil's attendance: guidance for schools February 2023
Summary of responsibilities where a mental health issue is affecting attendance and examples of effective practice. Guidance on how to support school attendance where there is a pupil experiencing social, emotional or mental health issues.
There is important updates relating to when mental health is impacting on attendance. This includes:
- This guidance applies to any pupils displaying any social, emotional or mental health issue that is affecting their attendance. It is not only for pupils who have a diagnosed mental disorder, or a disability or special educational need.
- The DfE encourages schools to identify a senior mental health lead who will have strategic oversight of their setting’s whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.
- School staff must record absences as authorised where it is not possible for a pupil to attend due to illness (both physical and mental health related).
- There is no need to routinely ask for medical evidence to support recording an absence as authorised for mental health reasons. This is because, in general, primary care health professionals such as General Practitioners are unlikely to be able to offer such evidence to support one-off absences related to mental health.
- In instances of long-term or repeated absences for the same reason, however, seeking medical evidence may be appropriate to assist in assessing whether the child requires additional support to help them to attend more regularly, and whether the illness is likely to prevent the child from attending for extended periods.
- If a parent proactively seeks out a note from a GP, it does not imply a need for absence unless this is explicit in their letter.
Reminders
1. School Attendance Network – Save the Date
The Warwickshire Attendance Service and the Stowe Valley Multi Academy Trust are jointly planning a school attendance network event. The purpose of the event will be to discuss the new attendance guidance and begin the development of an attendance support network.
The proposed date is 6th March 2023, 12:30pm to 3:30pm
The initial meeting will be in person and is targeted at those responsible for school attendance, especially the school’s Attendance Champion. The venue is currently being arranged and further details will follow.
2. An invitation for schools to share daily attendance data and sign up for webinars
The DfE have advised local authorities that at some point this academic year they will start to contact schools who have not yet signed up to Wonde, as this will become a requirement. Sharing data means you’ll be able to access daily attendance reports on view your education data.
3. To help you access and use the free reporting service, the DfE have a series of webinars for schools, trusts and local authorities starting this month. They will be holding monthly webinars, where you can learn about new features and get support with non-urgent technical issues.
4. Working together to improve school attendance is now the attendance guidance that should be used for schools, trusts, governing bodies and local authorities.
5. Improving attendance: good practice for schools and multi-academy trusts. There are some really useful effective practice attendance webinars produced by the DfE in conjunction with schools, with good or improved attendance, sharing their good practice. It is highly recommended that your attendance lead/champion access this free resource.
6. Additional attendance resources are available on the Education Hub and Teaching Blogs
Contact Us
If you wish to discuss any issues relating to school attendance, please feel free to contact the Warwickshire Attendance Service: was@warwickshire.gov.uk