Good attendance ensures that children and young people get the best possible start in life. Regular attendance supports learning, well-being, the development of social skills and the ability to build positive relationships with others.
At Beechcliffe School we are committed to:
- Promoting good attendance
- Reducing absence, including persistent and severe absence
- Ensuring every pupil has access to the full-time education to which they are entitled
- Acting early to address patterns of absence
- Building strong relationships with families to ensure pupils have the support in place to attend school
- We will also promote and support punctuality on a morning and for students to have a full day attendance.
The school’s attendance team are DSL Laura Bownass and Attendance Officer, Emily Bridge. The team can be contacted through the school number 01535 603041. Parents/carers will be expected to contact the school for queries or concerns about attendance.
Children Missing Education (CME)
Children Missing Education (CME) are children of compulsory school age who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at a school i.e. privately or electively home education (EHE).
Why is the work around Children Missing Education (CME) a priority?
All children, regardless of their circumstances, are entitled to an efficient, full time education which is suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs they may have.
Children missing education are at significant risk of underachieving, being victims of harm, exploitation or radicalisation, and becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) later in life.
Effective information sharing between parents, schools and local authorities is critical to ensuring that all children of compulsory school age are safe and receiving suitable education.
Reasonable enquiries by the referrer
Reasonable enquiries should include:
- Contacting family, relatives, neighbours and where appropriate landlords and other significant adults
- Making enquiries within school with class teachers, friends (if appropriate)
- Liaising with schools attended by siblings
- Conducting home visits
- Sending letters and/or emails
- Checking with previous schools (if appropriate)
- Checking with other agencies known to be working with the family
- If you have been provided with a forwarding address in the UK, it is expected that you make enquiries with that Local Authority
This list is not exhaustive; cases should be taken on an individual basis meaning that enquiries may differ case to case.
If at any point there is reason to believe a child is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, a referral should be made to children’s social care (and the police if appropriate).
What the Local Authority will do when they receive a CME referral
Once the Local Authority receives and accepts a Children Missing Education (CME) referral, we will:
- Check local databases
- Attempt to make contact with the parent, relatives and neighbours using known contact details
- Check school2school database
- Conduct checks with health, police, Children’s Social Care and other partner agencies.
- Conduct additional home visits if required
- Send warning letters to the family reminding them of their legal duty as a parent to ensure their child receives a suitable education
- Contact other Local Authorities/areas if required
This list is not exhaustive; cases are taken on an individual basis meaning that enquiries may differ case to case.