Working together to improve school attendance

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1. Letter to school leaders on mild illness and school attendance

On 5^th September 2023, the DfE issued a letter to school leaders providing guidance written by the Chief Medical Officer, Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal Society for Public Health and Royal College of Psychiatrists.

The main points of the guidance are:

4. It is usually appropriate for parents and carers to send their children to school with mild respiratory illnesses. This would include general cold symptoms: a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat. However, children should not be sent to school if they have a temperature of 38°C or above
5. Schools are encouraged to share the NHS ‘Is my child too ill for school?’ guidance with parents and carers in your schools and communities which has further information.
6. More children may be absent from school due to symptoms of anxiety than before the pandemic. Worry and mild or moderate anxiety, whilst sometimes difficult emotions, can be a normal part of growing up for many children and young people. Being in school can often help alleviate the underlying issues. A prolonged period of absence is likely to heighten a child’s anxiety about attending in the future, rather than reduce it.
7. DfE has published useful guidance on mental health issues affecting a pupil’s attendance and those who are experiencing persistent symptoms can be encouraged to access additional support.
8. As we head into winter, encouraging high uptake of seasonal flu vaccination and routine immunisations for eligible children and young people will help to reduce absences and the disruption they cause.
9. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) recently approved 5 principles to promote school attendance. This should support GPs in having sensitive and reassuring conversations with parents, carers and pupils.

2. RAAC and school attendance

Schools that have RAAC will experience additional attendance related challenges.  Although we don’t yet know the full picture, a relatively small number of schools in Warwickshire have so far been identified.  The general rule is to follow the standard attendance procedures. Effected schools can contact the Attendance Service on the details below should they require specific support.

3. CME and EHE

We are currently reviewing and updating the CME/EHE processes and procedures. In the meantime, please continue to follow the current guidance.  If your school has a named Education Casework Officer from the Attendance Service, then please discuss any children who you are concerned may be CME or have suggested they may withdraw for EHE, prior to a referral to the CME/EHE department.  

Reminders

4. Update: DfE update on the progress of ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance

The DfE has written to all Directors of Children’s Services providing further update regarding progress of the working together guidance.  The pressures on the Parliamentary timetable remains and legislation to make the guidance statutory will not be in place before the beginning of the new academic year as planned and therefore the guidance will not be statutory from this September. During a briefing by the DfE on 22^nd July 2023, it was further stated that, ‘It remains top of the legislative priorities for the Department and will be pursued at the next available opportunity’.         

5. TES article.

Colleagues maybe interested to read the following article from TES. Nick Gibb, Minister for Schools stated to the Commons Education Select Committee that ‘we are in unchartered territory’ when talking about school attendance in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic. Read the full article here.

https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/school-attendance-nick-gibb-i-dont-know-absence

6. School Attendance Self- Evaluation Framework

All maintained schools across the county should have received the attendance self-evaluation framework.  This is the first stage in the free at the point of access offer to all schools by the local authority under Working together to improve school attendance. Please do return your SEF at the earliest opportunity, following receipt of the document your school will be linked with an Education Casework Officer who will then offer you the opportunity to have a termly targeted support meeting.

Academy schools will soon start receiving their attendance self-evaluation framework.  Once you receive yours, please complete as soon as possible. 

Contact Us:

If you wish to discuss any issues relating to school attendance, please contact your named worker if you have one.  Alternatively, please feel free to contact the Warwickshire Attendance Service and we will get back to you:

was@warwickshire.gov.uk