Missing Education and Child Employment Service

Missing Education and Child Employment Service

Referral checklist for Essex schools – irregular attendance, including unauthorised leave of absence (term-time holidays)

This document has been designed to assist schools to ensure that all information is in place to enable the Local Authority to proceed to the Magistrates Court, if necessary. It is for the school’s reference only and does not need to be attached to the referral form, however, should the case proceed to court, this is the information we would require from you. Thefull guidance on referrals to Missing Education and Child Employment Service and unauthorised term-time holidays/leave, including template letters, is available via ESI: Missing Education and Child Employment Service on ESI

1.0 Referral type: School Attendance Meeting

To make a referral: Irregular attendance referral form

Question / Tick
Is there evidence within the last four weeks of the schoolworking with the family, or attempting to work with the family, with respect to school attendance?
Examples:

First day calling contact logs
Referrals to other agencies (including dates of recorded safeguarding concerns)
Letters and meeting invites to parent/carer(s)
Minutes from meetings / home visit contact notes

Are all conversations with parent/carer(s) regarding school attendance matters documented; dated; clearly identify all parties present and signed?
Have all letters been sent under separate cover to each parent/carer?
Have all letters been sent via Royal Mail?
Was the official legal warning letter produced on the school’s headed paper and sent within the last 18 weeks?
Has the referral criteria of 8 sessions unauthorised absence within 4 weeks been met?

2.0Referral type: Penalty Notice

To make a referral: Irregular attendance referral form

Question / Tick
Is there evidence within the last four weeks of the schoolworking with the family, or attempting to work with the family, with respect to school attendance?
Examples:

First day calling contact logs
Referrals to other agencies (including dates of recorded safeguarding concerns)
Letters and meeting invites to parent/carer(s)
Minutes from meetings / home visit contact notes

3.0Referral type: Investigation

To make a referral: Irregular attendance referral form

Question / Tick
Is there evidence within the last four weeks of the schoolworking with the family, or attempting to work with the family, with respect to school attendance?
Examples:

First day calling contact logs
Referrals to other agencies (including dates of recorded safeguarding concerns)
Letters and meeting invites to parent/carer(s)
Minutes from meetings / home visit contact notes

Are all conversations with parent/carer(s) regarding school attendance matters documented; dated; clearly identify all parties present and signed?
Have all letters been sent under separate cover to each parent/carer?
Have all letters been sent via Royal Mail?
Was the official legal warning letter produced on the school’s headed paper and sent within the last 18 weeks?
Can you provide a full and justified rationale for this referral?
Has the referral criteria of 8 sessions unauthorised absence within 4 weeks been met?

4.0Referral type: Unauthorised leave of absence/term-time holidays

To make a referral: Unauthorised leave of absence referral form

Question / Tick
Is it clear to parent/carers that pupils are required to attend school every day the school is open to them – policy, newsletters, home/school agreement etc?
Is the school policy and process on term-time holidays regularly communicated to parent/carers – policy, newsletters, home/school agreement etc?
Does the holiday application form contain a warning regarding the possibility of a penalty notice for unauthorised leave of absence?
Have all letters been sent under separate cover to each parent/carer?
Have all letters been sent via Royal Mail?
If the parent/carer applied for the holiday:

Was the response advising the holiday will not be authorised sent within five school days of receipt of the application and warning of a penalty notice?

If the parent/carer did not apply for the holiday:

Was a letter sent within five school days of becoming aware of the holiday and warning of a penalty notice?

If the parent/carer subsequently responded to the school letter, was a further letter sent advising the absence will remain unauthorised and again warning of the possibility of a penalty notice?
Has the referral criteria within the current code of conduct been met?

Important notes:

It is important that the school continues to work with the family if there remain ongoing attendance concerns whilst the case is open to the Missing Education and Child Employment Service, carrying out first day contact, sending letters, arranging meetings etc.
The Investigation Officer must be kept fully updated following referral. This is particularly vital if parent/carer(s) provide any mitigation as any change in circumstances may have a bearing on decisions taken. This would includeany change in family circumstances, including address, or anything else of note, following referral.
If, upon receipt of a referral, the Investigation Officer believes the information submitted indicates that another course of action may be more appropriate, they will contact the school to discuss further, prior to any action being instigated
Full guidance and information: Missing Education and Child Employment Service on ESI