Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of Children and Families on school attendance providing an overview of the national school attendance picture an overview of the Leeds school attendance data and the actions the local authority has taken and will continue to take to support schools in their work to improve attendance.

Members considered a report from the Director of Children and Families on school attendance which provided an overview of the national school attendance picture an overview of the Leeds school attendance data and the actions the local authority has taken and will continue to take to support schools in their work to improve attendance.

In attendance for this item were:

·  Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Children and Families

·  Julie Longworth, Director of Children & Families

·  Dan Barton, Deputy Director – Learning

·  Rebecca McCormack, Head of Service Vulnerable Learners

·  Alison Finley, Children Missing out on Education Lead

To introduce the item the Executive Member for Children and Families emphasised the need to get this right in terms of increasing attendance levels as it is a safeguarding, life chances and education issue which is why it is a priority to improve attendance levels in the city. Positive work has taken place but more is needed to improve attendance in the city.

In response to questions and comments from elected members the Board considered the following issues:

·  The Board asked about exclusions and whether these were classed as absences. The Board heard that suspension or exclusions are classed as authorised absences. Responding to further questions around some schools excluding more than others the Board were informed that the service does work with schools on behaviour policies and work where patterns develop in terms of additional support that can be provided. Ultimately, schools work in line with DfE guidance on suspensions and exclusions. Members asked for more detail on individual schools in terms of the number of suspensions. This was agreed to as an action for outside of the meeting and it was noted that officers were keen to hear about information linked to patterns in terms of suspensions. In addition, a ward by ward breakdown of data for schools was also considered to be a good idea and one that can be developed to provide information to elected members on attendance in their wards.

·  Members asked about different types of attendance so in some instances a 1 hour or part time timetable is operated. The Board heard that this is the case when considered to be appropriate and that records are kept where this type of timetable is used and inappropriate use of such measures are also monitored by both the service and the DfE. In addition, the Board were informed that new coding was introduced this year to highlight when part time timetables are being used. Work is done to ensure that the reasons for part time timetables are known and that they are only used temporarily with work done to ensure the timetable expands.

·  In response to a question on home schooling and comparisons with other areas the Board heard that data is kept on these and that there is a strong link between exclusion, attendance and elective home education. It was noted that the local authority does not have a great deal of power in terms of interventions albeit this could change in the future following a recent consultation. In Leeds there are 1,377 children of school age educated at home. Powers are limited but identifying those that are not in receipt of a suitable education is one of them. Assessment of the learning plans that are sent in by parents and carers takes place to ensure that a suitable education is being provided. In terms of comparison the Board heard that Leeds is broadly in line with the national average.

·  Safeguarding and additional needs and vulnerabilities are considered when home education is being carried out by families, though in a lot of cases home education is delivered successfully and is a positive for the children involved.

·  Members were also interested in socio-economic groups and attendance levels and whether it was possible to provide data on that in future reports. This was agreed to, and it was noted that Indices of Multiple Deprivation overlays with attendance figures.

·  The Board discussed attendance amongst the Gypsy/Roma/Traveller communities in the city and the difficulties sometimes experienced in accessing schools, it was noted that work is done to support those communities to access schools.

·  Members asked about absences linked to pupils awaiting places at special schools. The Board were informed of the work going on to provide more specialist provision and that it is prioritised to those who most need it and also resourcing and the need to provide placements in schools who can meet needs. Work is underway to go into schools to seek expressions of interest to work with the service on additional provision of this nature.

·  On ethnicity and attendance and comparison with other areas the board heard that comparisons are not done as standard on this measure but that the same groups highlighted in other areas, through regional work, are also of concern in Leeds.

·  Witnesses were asked about how the service is addressing attendance issues linked to those with child protection plans, particularly those aged 11 and under. In response the board heard about the work done by the virtual school in partnership with child protection chairs to address attendance in this cohort and to focus on school attendance and education issues. Education is considered to be a protective factor and multi-agency support is provided to support attendance and education. The board noted some initial improvement in attendance amongst CLA and those with child in need and child protection plans with a commitment to continue to work to improve those figures. The 3As strategy was also noted in terms of the framework it provides on a city wide basis to make education ’everybody’s business’.

·  The Board highlighted the impact that suitability of school placement can have on attendance and how much flexibility there is to change setting. In response the Board were informed that there is due regard paid to professionals working with the children to determine the best setting for a child. There is the ability to call a review of the EHCP and name another setting taking account of a wide range of professional opinion. The directorate is still developing its approach in this area but it is possible to adjust settings to better meet needs.

·  The Board were informed of early intervention and training being provided to support children and young people who are not regularly attending school due to emotional and mental health reasons.

·  Members asked about the increase in penalty notices issued for unauthorised absences and the reasons for that. In response the board heard that penalty notices are issued by the Council on behalf of schools effectively on request from schools. A key increase has been on penalty notices for holidays and the service is keen to avoid issuing notices where families have additional vulnerabilities. On penalty notices other than for holidays the service is keen to challenge to ensure that families with additional vulnerabilities are not being targeted.

·  Members were keen to hear more about ‘invisible absence’ where children and young people attend school but are not attending classes regularly. It was acknowledged that this remains a problem with schools developing their own approaches to deal with it and anecdotally the approaches being used are improving the situation. Targeted support meetings with schools are also used to share good practice. The Board noted that in some cases the children avoiding lessons are those who need additional support or who are awaiting a place in special school, albeit there can be other reasons for attending school but avoiding classes.

·  The Board asked for more detail on family interventions for those with child protection plans to support attendance. In response the Board heard that support is provided tailored to the needs of the children and family involved. This support is provided on a multi-agency approach focussed on needs and aimed at reducing risk and improving outcomes.

·  The Chair highlighted the data at page 5 in the report on unauthorised absence highlighting that in primary, secondary and special schools performance is in quartile D, adding that the hope was that this will improve over the course of the coming year.

Resolved – The Board noted the content of the report.

(This was proposed by Cllr Cohen and seconded by Cllr Edwards)