CCS Attendance Support Roadmap, please see attached for full document download.

Attendance and Safeguarding

Attendance and Safeguarding go hand in hand. Our attendance and safeguarding policies are linked and support each other intrinsically. 

We believe it is of vital importance that our learners have high attendance at school as it contributes to the excellent progress that pupils make at Court Schools. We aim for an environment which enables and encourages all members of the community to be proud to belong, believe and to achieve their best. For our pupils to gain the greatest benefit from their education, it is vital that they attend regularly and should be at school on time, every day the school is open, unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable.

Regular attendance at school is of critical importance to a child’s education. Any absence affects the pattern of a pupil’s schooling and regular absence will seriously impact on their learning. We believe that high attendance at school has many other benefits besides supporting higher levels of learning and progress. Attending school as part of a routine can improve mental health and resilience and supports a healthier lifestyle. High attendance at school is an excellent way for pupils to grow and develop their social skills. We want our pupils to be happy, as well as successful. Social connection is a key factor in determining levels of happiness and high attendance supports this. Parents and schools have a key role to play in children’s success and happiness.

We believe that one of the most important life habits we can instil in children is attendance. Promoting good attendance helps pupils to understand the importance of education, commitment and taking responsibility, supporting them in later life. Ensuring your child’s regular attendance at Court Schools is your legal responsibility and permitting absence from Court Schools without a good reason creates an offence in law and may result in prosecution.

At Cardrew Court School, we work within the Cornwall LA and DFE guidance for attendance and safeguarding, adhering to LA policy and the following statutory frameworks;

KCSIE (Keeping Children Safe in Education) Keeping children safe in education - GOV.UK

Working together to safeguard children; Working together to safeguard children - GOV.UK

Working together to improve attendance; Working together to improve school attendance - GOV.UK

 

Attendance matters, creating a Belonging culture  

Consistent school attendance is crucial for your child’s achievement, development, and wellbeing. At Cardrew Court school we work to support your child not only academically via our curriculum offer, but holistically via our therapeutically inspired practices and approach to schooling, but we cannot do this without their engagement and regular attendance.  

CCS is here to support you and your child as much as possible, and we encourage you to speak with us about any concerns or struggles that you or your child have with regards to their attendance. Regular, supportive communication to address these concerns and discuss a plan for reintegrating your child back into school / supporting increased attendance is one of our main school priorities. Whatever the reason for your child’s persistent absence, we want to support you to break down these barriers and enable your child to receive the education they deserve. 

CCS Absence procedures

Please notify us if your child is going to be absent by calling the school before 8.30am daily, on 01209 91 21 26 and each day of absence thereafter. 

When you do not notify the school of a reason for your child’s absence, we must follow our attendance procedures, which includes contacting the child’s parent / carers by call and followed up by email. Should we have no response, we record an unauthorised absence, and in situations where we have concerns about a child’s welfare, we may carry out welfare home visits and even contact the police if necessary. Please remember to inform the school of your child’s absence daily by 8.30am by calling 01209 91 21 26. Thank you 

We have an obligation to report your child’s attendance to the Local Authority and Department for Education (DfE). Where your child has built up more than ten sessions of unauthorised absence during a six-month period, a referral to the Local Authority EWS (Education Welfare Service) may be made. This may result in you being asked to attend an Education Planning Meeting, receiving a fine, or in more serious cases, a court summons.