Education Services

The Attendance Team discharges the local authority statutory duties in relation to; School Attendance

• Currently, Local Authorities are the only body that can instigate legal proceedings against parents for their child's non-attendance at school and therefore we will continue to present cases to Magistrates which meet prosecution criteria and respective legislative and regulatory requirements under S444. S444 (1A) will include the completion of (PACE) Police and Criminal Evidence.

 

• The Team will accept referrals from a school for severely absent students if attendance is 50% or below, all absences must be unauthorised in the 20 school weeks prior to the referral.  The 20 school week period prior to referral commences from the point a school converts to an academy or ceases to purchase attendance services.  School must also be able to demonstrate that have made satisfactory attempts to address the attendance prior to referral.  The referral must include         copies of all attendance letters, minutes of meetings, telephone contacts, home visit details and school based attendance plans.  This evidence may be used in any subsequent legal action.  School based staff may be required to provide to also a witness statement in relation to their interventions and give evidence at court hearings.  Referrals will be actioned within 10 working days.

 

• Where a pupil has had unauthorised absence for a period of two continuous weeks or more and school have been unable to make contact with parent/carer, a referral should made to the Attendance Team. The officer will endeavour to make contact with parent/carers within 10 working days to establish and reason for absence. This information will be shared with school and the referral closed.

 

• The Team will publish a code of conduct for Penalty Notices and issue Notices in line with this code of conduct. 

 

 

• On receipt of a Children Missing From Education referral form the Attendance Team will track and attempt to locate pupils who go missing from education, or fail to start school when reaching compulsory school age. The Team will continue to track pupils once they have been removed from the school roll (4 weeks from referral) and inform school or academy of the destination, and maintain a list of all pupils whose whereabouts are unknown.

 

 

• All schools and academies can contact Hannah Sanderson via email at attendanceteam@hartlepool.gov.uk inbox is for advice in relation to attendance concerns or queries. This inbox is managed by Hannah and a response time for all enquires to be answered is within 5 working days.

 

• A targeted support meeting will be scheduled with all schools once per term, these will be provided via Microsoft Teams.  The amount of time allocated to each school with be calculated based on pupil numbers. 

 

• The Team will facilitate an annual opportunity schools and academies to come together to share good practice.

 

• Provide support and advice to schools, to ensure they are in compliance with suspension and exclusion guidance.

 

• Monitor and track suspensions and permanent exclusions

 

• Attend governor meetings in relation to permanent exclusions or when suspensions are in excess of 15 day in a term.

 

The Team works with schools, young people and their families, alongside partner agencies, to address attendance issues.

 

The Attendance & Inclusion Team has the specialist and practical experience of meeting extensive legislative and regulatory requirements. The Team is represented at all local, regional and national networks to ensure up to date and best practice is maintained

Contact
​Jackie Webb, School Attendance & Inclusion Co-ordinator
Tel:​ Email:	01429 523272 jackie.webb@hartlepool.gov.uk