Frequently Asked Questions
Provided by the Department for Education, please refer to their support videos for your Attendance FAQs:
Working Together to Improve School Attendance Local Authority Effective Practice Examples - YouTube
FAQs for the new 'Working Together to Improve School Attendance' legislation coming soon.
Attendance Q&A for Gloucestershire Schools
General Attendance Responsibilities
Q: Who is responsible for attendance in schools?
A: Attendance is everyone’s business, but each school must designate a Senior Attendance Champion (SAC), a member of the Senior Leadership Team, to lead on strategy, data, and oversight. Day-to-day tasks are often delegated to Attendance Officers or administrative staff.
Q: What is the role of the Senior Attendance Champion?
A: The SAC sets the vision for attendance, ensures staff are trained, oversees data monitoring, and leads on strategic interventions. They also liaise with external agencies and ensure the school complies with statutory duties.
Q: What does an Attendance Officer do?
A: Attendance Officers monitor data, investigate absences, liaise with families, conduct home visits, and support interventions. They are key in identifying patterns and working with the SAC to reduce persistent absence.
Practical Support and Tools
Q: Where can I find Gloucestershire’s attendance guidance and templates?
A: Visit the Schoolsnet Attendance page for:
- GCC Attendance Guidance
- AIM (Attendance Improvement Meeting) templates
- Penalty Notice request forms
- Witness statement examples
- Training videos and session recordings
Q: What is the AIM process?
A: AIM stands for Attendance Improvement Meeting. It’s a structured, supportive meeting with families to address barriers to attendance before legal intervention. Templates and guidance are available on Schoolsnet. Meetings ahead of this should be made regularly with pupils and their families, as part of the 'Support First' ethos, and should be accompanied by investigations into ways the school can support the family and explore all possible avenues ahead of legal intervention. Schools can make use of the 'From First Signs to Legal Intervention' document available on Schoolsnet.
Q: What is the MRI portal (formerly Capita portal) used for?
A: Schools use the MRI portal to submit requests for Penalty Notices and Notices to Improve. Schools must ensure a Notice to Improve has been issued before requesting a Penalty Notice for other unauthorised absences or a combination of unauthorised absences.
Legal and Statutory Guidance
Q: When should a Penalty Notice be issued?
A: After a Notice to Improve has been issued and not complied with, or for unauthorised holiday absences totalling 10 sessions in 10 weeks; each case must be considered individually and must meet the criteria for requests.
Q: What is the threshold for persistent absence?
A: A pupil is considered persistently absent if their attendance falls below 90%. Early intervention is key to prevent escalation.
Q: What if a child has complex needs or a social worker?
A: Schools must work collaboratively with families and external agencies to provide holistic support. The DfE’s “Working Together” guidance emphasises a Support First approach.
Training and Development
Q: What training is available for Attendance Officers and Champions?
A: GCC offers Attendance Connections sessions via TEAMS, covering legal processes, documentation, and best practice. Recordings and resources are available on Schoolsnet. Training videos, checklists, models and templates are also available.
Q: How can I build confidence in my attendance role?
A: Attend training, use the Schoolsnet resources, and connect with your Inclusion Officer. Peer support and regular reflection on casework also help build confidence and consistency.