The Corporate Director – Education and Family Support submitted a report, in order to share with Cabinet school attendance data over the academic years 2015-2106 to 2017-2018, and also to seek agreement of a proposed amendment to the Local Authority’s School Attendance Strategy (2018-2021, which was previously approved by Cabinet on 15 May 2018.

By way of background information, he advised that there was proven to be a clear link between high levels of attendance and good educational attainment. In addition to this, poor attendance and late arrival at school could also have a detrimental effect on a child’s learning as well as impacting upon their wellbeing.

The local authority’s Attendance Strategy now also incorporated recent Welsh Government guidance on Schools’ rewards systems. This guidance reinforced the importance of schools considering the provisions of the Equality Act 2010. He added that, in particular, schools are required to ensure they do not disadvantage pupils whose attendance is negatively impacted, due to a disability or a diagnosed medical condition.

The next sections of the report outlined data in respect of:

·      Primary school attendance

·      Free school meal eligibility (and attendance data – Primary schools)

·      Persistent absenteeism in Primary schools

·      Secondary school attendance

·    Free school meal eligibility (and attendance data – Secondary schools)

·    Persistent absenteeism in Secondary schools

·    Other similar information in respect of Primary and Secondary schools, in respect of:-

1.    Looked after children (LAC)

2.    Pupils with English as an additional language (EAL)

3.    Pupils with special educational needs (SEN) – Statemented (S) and School Action Plus (SA+)

He pointed out that attendance figures in respect of the above, were across the board above the All-Wales average levels.

Attached at Appendix A to the report was a copy of the revised local authority School Attendance Strategy for 2018-2021, which highlighted (in 13.3 of the document) the proposed amendment suggested.

The Corporate Director – Education and Family Support concluded his report by advising that a Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 assessment had been completed and this could be found at Appendix 2 to the report.

The Cabinet Member – Education and Regeneration was pleased to note from paragraph 13.3 of the Strategy, that schools were taking into consideration the provisions of the Equality Act 2010, and not disadvantaging those pupils with a disability or medical condition. This meant that a young person with an attendance record of less than 100% because of health reasons or other circumstances beyond the control of the individual child, should not be negatively impacted with regards to schools’ rewards systems.

The Leader extended his congratulations to schools, School Welfare Officers and all the staff in the family support and early help teams for the positive results confirmed in the report, with regard to school attendance data. He noted that although the attendance at primary schools was projected to dip slightly, attendance at secondary schools was due to increase slightly.

He suggested the strategy is shared with School Governors as well as Head Teachers through the usual communication channels.

RESOLVED:                     That Cabinet:

1)                Approved the revised Local Authority Attendance   Strategy 2018-2021.

Considered the School Attendance Data outlined within the report.