Our Attendance Strategy

We value the important of good attendance at Orchard. Our aim is to provide school-wide and bespoke support for children and parents to remove barriers to consistent attendance. We only ensure that alongside our support package, the right levels of challenge are in place where poor attendance does not improve over time. Our strategy is based on the 4-stage model below.

Stage One

This is the most vital part of the strategy. Every adult in school plays a role in ensuring that children feel a sense of belonging, feel safe and are where good attendance celebrated and rewarded for all children.  If children want to be in school, feel the benefits of consistently good attendance and feel that sense of community and belonging, then good habits can be formed. 

Stage 2

When a child's attendance requires attention, our attendance team work with children and their families to raise their awareness of poor attendance patterns and provide swift and accessible support. Our attendance team and wider staffing use the power of positive relationships to offer low-threat support to intervene when needed.

Stage 3

There are times that despite every effort to support children and their parents/carers, that attendance rates require more formal intervention. At stage 3, our team continue to work with parents and children to provide support through a formalised plan which include key targets to help improve a child's absence rates. At this stage, communication with parents is prioritised and more regular to continue to offer support throughout the plan. 

Stage 4

When all support methods and formal intervention plans have been exhausted and have not had the required impact on a child's attendance, then the attendance team will work with the Local Authority to put more formal plans in place. A joined-up approach with the academy, Local Authority and parents/carers is vital to the success of the plan. Stage 4 will also be actioned for Fixed Penalty Notices for term-time holidays. 

Please click this link to access the full version of our attendance strategy