School absence / safeguarding

[Kirova]

My daughter had two separate school absences this week - the first was on Tuesday, the second on Thursday morning. On Friday I got an email reminding about the absence policy and stating that the school has a duty to refer to welfare and safeguarding if a certain level of absence is reached.

I understand the rationale, but I've never heard of this being a statutory duty / policy before - is it new? Or is this something that everyone knows about except me?

I imagine it’s because it was the first week of term, unless you’re in Scotland of course and two absences in the first week would perhaps flag concern.

Anyone below 90% absence is classed as a persistant absentee and this has to have further actions, possibly referral to the council education safeguarding team.

The government and ofsted are focusing on attendance and schools have to address the issue.

What were the reasons for the absence?

Did you follow the school's absence policy?

Unathorised absence is linked to safeguarding

In terms of an absence rate clearly that will be high given it's the first week back (unless you are in Scotland). So that might automatically trigger something.

Legislation (Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023) now dictates that schools and colleges must have a safeguarding response to children absent from education, including persistent and intermittent absence.

Ah, that makes sense - thank you! I was wondering if there had been new legislation or something.

In England, so yes - first week back. She was in school on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I'm pretty sure I followed the absence policy correctly.

Probably because attendance is measured by %
2 days off in the first 5 is a high % absence

I do get it - it's a bit of a drag for schools though, if they literally have to follow up on every case like this in some way. Obviously kids can get sick or have other legit reasons for absence in the first few weeks back, which is automatically going to result in a high percentage of absence!

At the end of week one the system would show a 60% attendance rate - which triggers a safeguarding concern. As the term goes on the percentage will increase and it will be much less of an issue. Most schools take a common sense approach at this time in the year but there can be an automated response set up.

If a child has missed 2 out of 5 days of school on the first week back at term, not even on consecutive days (such as needing 48 hours for a tummy bug) I think they're right to follow up on it just to check everything is okay.

It didn't seem like an automated message (as in, it seemed like an actual email someone had written rather than an automated one), but I'm guessing it is just what has to be done!

The absences were due to an immovable hospital appointment (Thursday AM) and ongoing illness which is the reason for that appointment (Tuesday). I sent in the hospital appointment letter for the Thursday absence (before the start of term) and a doctor's note from the GP stating that she has X ongoing symptoms which may result in absence for Tuesday's absence. I thought that would be sufficient as evidence that they're legit absences, but maybe I'm wrong?