Agenda

The value of attendance

Explore how to promote, celebrate and challenge attendance of students in your setting.

This will include topics on:

• Keeping attendance on the agenda for staff, students and parents
• Effective school communications
• Assembly Programme
• The link between progress and good attendance
• How to build a sense of belonging
• Rewards
• Site opening times and activities for students
• Ambitious target setting

Agenda

Partnership working

Explore how to develop and foster positive working relationships with families.

This will include topics on: 

• Promoting the school's values and ethos
• The Tutor Programme 
• Having clear goals set out for the first half term
• Setting the tone on the first day of term
• Collecting valuable primary data to assist with transition
• Clarity surrounding job descriptions
• Creating the right first impression with parents
• How to build a sense of belonging

Agenda

Structure: Roles and Responsibilities

Explore how attendance is structured at Drayton Manor High School – specifically roles and responsibilities.

This will include topics on: 

• SLT structure – attendance lead and link with safeguarding, data, teaching and learning 
• Reports and scrutiny from assigned Governor/Trustee 
• Task lists/ job responsibilities of attendance team/student reception
• Training – shadowing opportunities/ policy/ knowing the law 
• Data schedule/ SLT weekly review - Role of tutors/HOY/Deputy HOY 
• Attendance/pastoral team role including innovative ‘return to school/work’ meetings 
• School Calendar setting and use of occasional days and INSET 
• Annual review of structures: staffing 
• Termly review of structures – querying what is the impact 
• How to develop capacity
• Staff development and support

Agenda

Data and Systems

Explain the ‘working tools’ of good attendance.

This will include topics on:

• Daily, weekly, half termly, termly   attendance checklists
• How to spot patterns in the data
• Attendance trackers
• Data required for SLT, Heads of Year, tutors
• System of tiered letters and attendance contracts

Agenda

Effective Interventions

To explore intervention methods for different groups and how to hold difficult conversations to drive attendance for certain groups.

This will include topics on:

• How to celebrate high attenders meaningfully
• Early intervention and support for students 99%-96%
• How to intervene with early warning students 90-95%
• Persistent Absentees
• Severely Absent Students
• Subgroups: Medical, EBSA, school refusal, lack of suitable excuse
• Effective interventions and use of support staff (MPM meetings)
• Careers appointments to increase aspirations

Agenda

Quality Assurance

To detail systematic quality assurance protocols that have worked in our context

To provide an opportunity for you to consider your own protocols