Government cracking down on school non-attenders. What happens in practice.

Yes it’s another reduction in service imo. Non school attendance is serious, in MOnica’s family the reason was ill health but for many children it’s an early indication of things not going well in theirs lives. The move to including EWOs on the CQSW reflected that. Teachers are generally skilled communicators and in primary school know the children and their families well
That doesn’t mean they include the work that used to be done by EWO in their busy role

Very upsetting to see this being done in such a heavy handed way. And no clear reason why...
Thank goodness our family missed the 'fines' period (only just). Our daughter's attendance was at times low (chest infections, pneumonia, asthma related etc) but she was only one of two children to pass the requirements at aged 10 to get into the local selective school. Which in itself is not the be all and end all either. So it's not always true that attendance is linked to achievement and wellbeing. Our daughter had the lowest attendance on the block.
Realise it's more complex than that but still....
The problem of bullying in school also needs addressing, it can be a very intimidating environment for a lot of children. No wonder sometimes they have to be kept safe at home. Being at home is too often presented as 'a problem' but, for some, being 'at school' can present a risk to their health and their ability to learn and feel safe.

Growstuff If two people had turned up at my door when I had to have 3 weeks of work,helping my son who was on crutches and I had contacted the School, provided proof, I would not be pleased. I did everything expected of me, why can't these school attendance officers, phone the School to find this information out?
My son had had a good attendance record before. No need to come door knocking. To be fair they did not anyway.

I do think huge secondary schools can be intimidating for some children, especially if they've attended a friendly, small primary school where teachers are familiar with all the families.

No wonder sometimes they have to be kept safe at home.
However, home is not a safe space for many children.

Callistemon21

Non-attendance at school can be a trigger warning sign that there may be all kinds of safeguarding issues.

In many cases, like this one, the reason will be genuine illness.

However, some parents may keep children off school because they are being abused or neglected but other parents may be unaware their children are not attending because they have been caught up in County lines, being exploited by gangs, or truanting because they are being bullied at school and no-one is aware.
Some children may be having time off because they are young carers for parents.

Calling unexpectedly means the situation can be assessed more clearly.

In this case the reason was clear but in some cases further action and referrals to Social Services or even the Police might be needed.

Are you saying that School Attendance people cannot make the distinction?

Because if they cant, something is wrong with the system somewhere along the line.

DiddyNan

fancythat

DiddyNan

I applaud any authority following this procedure

Really? Even in this "case"?

Yes

Why

fancythat

Callistemon21

Non-attendance at school can be a trigger warning sign that there may be all kinds of safeguarding issues.

In many cases, like this one, the reason will be genuine illness.

However, some parents may keep children off school because they are being abused or neglected but other parents may be unaware their children are not attending because they have been caught up in County lines, being exploited by gangs, or truanting because they are being bullied at school and no-one is aware.
Some children may be having time off because they are young carers for parents.

Calling unexpectedly means the situation can be assessed more clearly.

In this case the reason was clear but in some cases further action and referrals to Social Services or even the Police might be needed.

Are you saying that School Attendance people cannot make the distinction?

Because if they cant, something is wrong with the system somewhere along the line.

This!

Attendance Officers are not Education Welfare Officers.

rafichagran

Growstuff If two people had turned up at my door when I had to have 3 weeks of work,helping my son who was on crutches and I had contacted the School, provided proof, I would not be pleased. I did everything expected of me, why can't these school attendance officers, phone the School to find this information out?
My son had had a good attendance record before. No need to come door knocking. To be fair they did not anyway.

Exactly! They didn't probably because he had an otherwise good attendance record and realised that the absence (albeit quite long) was temporary. The most concerning absences are those when a child is absent nearly every week for a couple of days.

Having been pulled up by Callistemon I did a bit of delving about Attendance Officers and School Liaison Officers. Neither role existed when I was a Head of Year. It would appear both roles are employed by schools and aren't particularly well-paid.

Since local management of schools (in all its many forms), the number of school admin and ancillary staff has mushroomed. Many of the people don't even come into contact with pupils. Attendance registers are now done by computer, so are just figures on a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet data doesn't always communicate with other data about a pupil, which might be in a "confidential" file.

Years ago, the form tutor and Head of Year knew pupils more personally. There were fewer barriers between the school and education welfare services. I expect persistent truancy was sometimes missed, but support was probably better targeted.

This all smacks of targets and directives from the DfE. Absence rates are scrutinised by Ofsted and no allowances are made for context. One of the comments in Ruth Perry's Ofsted report was about high absence and contributed to the overall safeguarding fail.

Having been pulled up by Callistemon

I thought I was polite to you growstuff!
Yes, but it has changed.

This all smacks of targets and directives from the DfE. Absence rates are scrutinised by Ofsted and no allowances are made for context. One of the comments in Ruth Perry's Ofsted report was about high absence and contributed to the overall safeguarding fail

Yes, I agree and it is a tick-box exercise so often now.
Schools are too large and often impersonal.
There is a lot thst is wrong.

But I still think prolonged or repeated absences need to be followed up because, if one child falls through the met, it is one too many.

Excuse typos please.

met - net

The spreadsheet data doesn't always communicate with other data about a pupil, which might be in a "confidential" file.

Uk systems seem to become more like, people are just a number, more and more every day.

Been speaking with someone today, where one bit of the NHS doesnt speak to another bit.

BT is also known for that.

Grrr

In the 1950’s I was in hospital with rheumatic fever for over a year. Mum had regular visits from the school board man.

Diddynan, I second your opinion.

It has been fascinating to see how some on this thread have tried to justify this egregious misuse of authority.

They seem to fall into two groups, those who are not prepared to accept that the family had been in close contact with the school for some time, that the school were in the loop from the start. Several of DGS's sudden collapses and several faints had occurred during the school day, so the school had had to deal with them. So they knew they were not fake in any way.

He is in Year 9 with a very good attendance record until he became ill and they had copies of all the relevant medical reports. The school also spoke to the parents regularly

The other group seem to think that those following up absences, should treat every absentee the same, and visit every one regardless, whether all the problems or the cause of absence are known or whether there are reasons for concern or not.

Given the pressure the government is placing on schools to reduce absentee rates and the lack of resources available for the job, you would think resources would be focussed on the families where their efforts would be most likely to produce results.

But perhaps I am being naive. I have always worked in industry and commerce, never in education. In business you concentrate your efforts on the sectors of your business that show the best opportunity for a good return.

I would think in current circumstances schools would need to do the same, or perhaps the equality agenda means that the parents of a child terminally ill in hospital must be chased for non-attendance with the same assiduity as that of the children of a parent that cannot be bothered to get up in time to send their children to school.

To those who understood where I was coming from, thank you.

Just to say that for employment law, a fit note is required for an absence of more than 7 days or longer. School should be unable to ask for fit notes for a lesser period of time.

More hyperbole, MOnica.

Yes, we do understand M0nica

Would you have been happy, though, if your DGS's medical diagnosis had been shared with someone at County Hall without permission?

I agree that there should be better liaison between the school and Education Authority and this might not be the best way for increasingly poor school attendance to be dealt with but, as I understand it, a report of attendance below a certain percentage might well trigger alarm bells and a visit.

There needs to be better communication between school, parents and the LA .

According to Think Teaching, the average salary for a School Attendance Officer is about £21,938.
I'm guessing that's access data on a computer to see who's been off in the last week, downloading addresses and getting in the car. That the word Welfare has been taken out of the job title speaks volumes.
Btw I haven't seen an EWO in school since the 1990s.

This used to be routine in the past. But parents had respect for teachers and authority. I'm not saying it's the right way but school have to check ... honestly who knows someone whose little darlings have birthdays off school. Shopping days? Family holidays ? my grandad used to tell me that the "school man " would turn up take you to school in your pj's. I was scared to death if I was poorly in case they fetched me .

This actually makes me so angry, I grew up in the 80's and 90's and missed most of secondary schooling and my parents were never told. I skived repeatedly. Some days I didn't even bother getting a mark, some days I climbed on the 4th storey roof and tormented teachers through the skylight. Occasionally I just ran errands for the teachers so they could say I was doing something, yes I charged them and yes that involved runs to the local bookies buying cigarettes etc. I remember my mum going to a parents evening and even been told I was doing great by a teacher I'd never even met.
My DS is 11 and has a number of health issues. Syncopy being one of them and I try to send him to school as much as I possibly can. Their rules however are beyond stupid. Part of his condition means he sometimes wretches and is sick due to nausea. Its not contagious so no reason to miss school he just needs to sit down and ride it out let his blood pressure get back to normal then he can carry on. Instead they push him to the max until he does feel unwell then sends him home when he is sick instead of doing what he doctor advises. He has had a few bugs over the last few months and ended up with tonsillitis doctor advised he was well enough to go so I sent him. They sent him back. Then they question his attendance. I haven't yet had anyone at the door but I have already got to the end of my tether about my child getting sent home or whether I'm being scrutinised for him being genuinely ill. So I've made my mind you that as soon as that happens as my son has already expressed a wish to be home tutored if they do turn up at the door that is my next step. They then have no right to even talk to me. I have the ability to teach him and will do until he starts secondary if they do the same I'll take him out permanently, I'm not having my son's attendance overriding his happiness and ability to learn just so schools can tick boxes.

I have been on this site for one year.
I am finding this thread the most incredulous of them all, personally.

That some cannot see the difference between parents who have been doing their utmost, and those parents who do not.

Or perhaps some can see, but still think both groups should be treated in exactly the same way.

eazybee

Diddynan, I second your opinion.

Thank you eazybee.

fancy that
Safeguarding is crucial for all children.

Safeguarding children is everything

Of course it is.

But when parents have done their utmost with a school, and it still isnt enough?

There is nothing more I can say.