Decision details

The report introduced by Jonathan Hewitt, Head of Service School Improvement and Frances Molloy, School Attendance and Children Missing Education Lead provided the Committee with an update on the levels of school attendance within Lancashire and included Lancashire's attendance data headline figures.

Frances reported that the attendance data related to authorised and unauthorised absence was collected from schools on a termly basis through the schools census and more recently there had been a focus on overall absence and persistent absence as a more accurate indicator of school non-attendance.

The data showed there has been a downward trend in absence and Lancashire reflected this trend and consistently outperformed national figures. In addition, district level data showed that the position was largely the same across districts with some variances.

Frances confirmed that there was a need for constant focus on attendance and recent research had shown that just a drop below 95% in attendance could affect attainment.

The threshold of persistent absence was reported to have changed from 85% attendance or less to 90% attendance or less which would increase figures in this category. 

A concern was raised and noted on the potential safeguarding issues where it was reported that the authority does not have the right to inspect the admissions and attendance registers of non-maintained schools to establish which pupils are missing out on education.  All schools are required to notify the local authority of absences (including academies).

Jonathan commented that schools were very innovative in addressing individual issues.  In addition, the local authority provided strategies for all schools to challenge behaviours which could include addressing barriers to attending school (such as domestic abuse situations and online gaming) and to assist, for example, single parent families who may not have a support network in place.

Resolved that:

  i.  Officers be thanked for the report and their attendance at the meeting

  ii.  The Committee's concerns and comments be noted

3. Further data be provided on numbers of children and ethnicity for circulation with the minutes