LA communications to schools

Title: / Statutory action in relation to unsatisfactory attendance at school
Summary: / Options available for school staff to consider in cases of unsatisfactory attendance at school such as Penalty Notices or prosecutions.
Target school(s): / All primary and secondary schools, including special and TBAP
Specific schools
For attention of: / Head teachers, School Attendance leads
Author:
Contact: / Elizabeth SpearmanTri Borough Head of ACE
Email:
Telephone: / 020 7745 6610
Newsletter date: / 10th October 2016
Action required/
due date:

Support with improving attendance

The Penalty Notice (PN) initiative is now widely used in a number of schools; good evidence exists which shows significant improvements in the school attendance of children where a PN has been appropriately issued. However, a PN will not routinely be considered if a school has already made a referral to Early Help services, as any decision to take legal action in these cases will be made by Early Help colleagues.

Many of you will be aware of the change in support for schools from Early Help in relation to school attendance and a number of schools now employ their own attendance officers. Although the ACE team is not resourced to undertake casework with families or young people who are experiencing difficulties at school, ACE are able to advise school staff who have done significant work with a child and family to improve school attendance and now believe legal action should be pursued. A prosecution can be considered relying solely on school staff evidence, if specific criteria have been met, as outlined in the ACE manual (Section 2 – Legal Action),.

Please contact , or who will be able to advise school staff on the process and the preparing of witness statements.

If however, school staff feel external support or intervention is necessary to support an improvement in a child’s school attendance, they should continue to refer to Early Help services, following agreed procedures.

Elizabeth Spearman

Tri Borough Head of ACE

Attendance (statutory), Child employment and children in entertainment, Elective home education and children missing education

Tri Borough Children's Services

(London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, City of Westminster)

Postal address: Second Floor (Green Zone),

Kensington Town Hall,

Hornton Street,

London W8 7NX

telephone: 020 7745 6610

email:

Director of Education – Ian Heggs