Attendance and the Education Social Work Service

Education Casework Officer
Ensuring Children's Rights To An Education
The Attendance Panel
Holidays In Term Time
Parental Responsibility Data
Contact Details

The Education Social Work Service (ESWS) has the lead role in ensuring that the legislation in relation to a child’s school attendance is being followed. The ESWS has a responsibility to assist schools, pupils and parents or carers to improve school attendance in order to maximise the educational opportunities available to children. This involves working with schools, children and families, as well as with the community and other agencies in order to perform these duties. Every school in Warwickshire has now been allocated a named Education Casework Officer.

Education Casework Officer

My name is Andy Danks and I am the new Education Casework Officer for Polesworth ILC. I will be working closely with the staff and students at Polesworth ILC to help maintain the current good levels of attendance. I will also be supporting with those students whose attendance needs to improve.

My role includes:

• Regularly reviewing the attendance of the children on the school roll;
• Direct Work with families and children;
• Working in schools on ‘whole school’ and project work;
• Working with other agencies to identify and assist vulnerable children;
• Legal action against parents where other means of improving school attendance have failed.

Ensuring Children’s Right to an Education

Most attendance problems can be resolved by talking with the school and agreeing actions to help with the problems identified. However, there are occasions when students are absent for no legitimate reason. In these situations, it is my responsibility to use legal measures to ensure the child’s right to an education. The legal framework I work under includes the following legislation

• The Education Act 1996
• The Children’s Act 1989
• The Children’s Act 2004
• The Crime and Disorder Act 1998
• The Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003
• PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act) 1984
• The Human Rights 1998

The Legal options that the ESWS is required to consider includes prosecuting for regular non attendance and issuing Fixed Penalty Notices. The ESWS is also required to consider whether a Parenting Contract would be appropriate. In an attendance court case, the Magistrate can issue fines of up to £2500 or detain parents in prison for a maximum of 3 months. The Magistrate can also direct the ESWS to run Parenting Orders and Education Supervision Orders with families.

The Attendance Panel

Attendance Panels are run by the ESWS at Polesworth on a regular basis. The attendance panel is a fast track prosecution process. Parents are invited to discuss the attendance of their child. If no legitimate reason for absence can be identified, an attendance target is set. If the target is not achieved, a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) is issued. If the FPN is not paid, the case of failure to ensure regular school attendance will be heard in a Magistrates Court.

Holidays in Term Time

There is no automatic right to holiday leave in school time. Parents may request up to ten days leave by completing in advance the holiday request form available from school. Schools may decide not to authorise holidays especially at important times of the school year, e.g. the beginning of a term, during exams, etc. In exceptional circumstances extended leave may be requested by direct contact with the Head teacher. If families chose to take holiday without authorisation from the school, the student’s attendance will be coded as Unauthorised. In these situations, the Local Authority has a responsibility to consider whether prosecution is appropriate.

Parental Responsibility Data

The Government requires Local Authorities to submit data in relation to parental responsibility. School attendance data is collected as part of this process. For the first 3 months of this year, from 1st January 2008 to 4th April 2008, 5527 Penalty Notices Issues were issued in England for the failure to ensure regular school attendance.

And finally..

The vast majority of parents do not have contact with the Education Social Work Service and work closely with the school if any attendance problems arise. However, I am available should any parent wish to discuss any concerns they have with me.

Contact details