Agenda item

Sarah Tregaskis, Head of School Services and Post 16 Education presented the report to the committee, providing an update on school attendance across Warwickshire; since the Pandemic, there has been a focus on attendance nationally and locally.  The committee noted that there has been a change in need and experiences that children bring to school. 

It was confirmed that national rates post covid were concerning but there is now an increase in school attendance both nationally and within Warwickshire.  It is recognised that there is not one size fits all in relation to school attendance and officers are working to understand the barriers to attendance and identify the most appropriate support for each family.

The key messages from the Department for Education’s statutory guidance are that improving school attendance is everyone’s business and improving attendance should be built on existing early intervention support.  Children transitioning between schools is another area of focus. 

Absence rates are showing trends for particular groups, both nationally and in Warwickshire; Year 11.  This cohort were in Year 6 during covid and were transitioning from primary to secondary; and their Year 7 was also severely impacted by the pandemic; up until Year 8.

It was noted by the committee that evidence suggest that fining parents doesn’t reduce absenteeism; it won’t change the behaviour.  Officers need to work to understand the absenteeism.  However, it was noted that fining does have a place – e.g. unauthorised leave of absence (holidays).  Holidays are a parental choice, so some penalty notices are produced.  The committee was asked to note that one factor for parents taking children out of school for holidays is clearly the economic climate at the moment and the fact it can be cheaper to go on holiday outside traditional school holidays.

The following points from the report were also highlighted to the committee –

• There has been an increase in applications for home education.  316 referrals for elective home education since September.  This is a national trend

• The Children’s Wellbeing Bill is a proposal for a national register of children out of school which will improve visibility for all agencies involved.

Following a question from Councillor Piers Daniell, it was confirmed that an annual report in relation to unauthorised absence and the number of children known to the council could be bought to the committee.  The data can be broken into age group with the reason for elective home education.  Families electing for home education are all contacting to ensure they understand what is required of them and what support is available to them.

It was then confirmed that there has been a national debate for a long time in relation to school holidays.   Local authorities set term dates, but academies don’t have to comply with those dates.  What holiday companies charge is out of the council’s control.  Local authorities tend to try and work together on holiday dates because some families may have one child in primary school in one area, and a second child in a different area. 

Councillor Tim Sinclair noted that some home educating families are doing fantastic jobs.  Sarah Tregaskis confirmed that as part of statutory duties the team will make annual visits to all home educating families.  Some families will refuse the annual visit and there are no national guidelines on this.  Warwickshire teams do work to build strong relationships with the families.  An offer a report covering home educating families and the work done by the team was made.

There was a discussion in relation to the data available to the team and it was confirmed that currently, data is lagged by two terms.  The comparable data through the school portal is accessible three times a year.  It was confirmed that since September 2024, officers have been able to access data that is just two weeks lagged.  The school’s portal (WOND) can provide information on how schools are performing, and the schools can see this.  The figures are moving in the right direction.  Schools can view statistical neighbours and geographical neighbours.  Good practice is regularly shared and is blended into the approach across Warwickshire.

There is an attendance charter being used in Sheffield and Warwickshire is currently exploring this as an option.  All agencies involved with a charter would pledge three things that they would do to support families.  Sheffield’s charter included a pledge of support from the housing team.

Resolved 

That the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee considers and comments on:

1. the changes taking place in Warwickshire to support school attendance and those opting for elective home education; and

2. the latest data published by the Department for Education (DfE), in relation to attendance and the wider education landscape