This policy must be in place if the setting receives Early Year’s funding and should include the importance of children’s attendance in relation to maximising their learning experience and their future outcomes.
Ofsted Inspectors will explore how well providers work with parents to promote children’s attendance so that the children form good habits for future learning. Inspectors will consider the attendance of children for whom the provider receives early years pupil premium.
An effective attendance policy should include:
- the reason why children’s attendance is important e.g., full access to the curriculum, embedding good habits, a supportive routine, building good relationships, developing positive self-esteem, securing learning and development as a whole family priority
- clear expectations when children should arrive for morning and afternoon sessions
- how and when parents should contact the setting to report absences
- the consequence when parent do not report their child absence (e.g., setting manager will try to contact the parents)
- the expectation that parents will have the support of the setting staff to resolve any attendance issues
- how the setting keeps attendance records including the classification codes for absences and lateness
- what reasons for absence are reasonable, e.g. illness, religious/cultural observance, holidays
- clear guidelines for parents who signed the parent declaration form, about the effect of absences in head count week and the expectation of regular attendance if the child receives Free Early Education Funding (e.g. that funding may be withdrawn if the child does not attend the indicated hours agreed with the provider)
- for children on a child protection plan that the allocated social worker must be notified of the absence
- how you will monitor attendance patterns (this should be reviewed alongside the child’s chronology and with the DSL)
- how exclusions are managed in the setting
- how to contact Families First team if at any stage of child being absent the child is thought to be suffering or at risk of suffering significant harm
- how reduced timetables are managed (please see further guidance below)
- that the setting will make reasonable adjustments to accommodate children with Special Needs
- what parents can do to help children to get into a good routine at home.
Reduced timetables
Reduced timetables for children are a short-term-solution rather than a long-term plan. Decisions regarding reduced timetables should be made on a case-by-case bases, considering the best interest of the child and the setting must secure parental agreement for this. It is important for the setting to address the underlying cause for the need for a reduced timetable.
Providers must provide appropriate support and resources to help the child overcome these challenges to help them reintegrate into accessing all their sessions as soon as possible. The setting has a legal duty to ensure that children receive their funding entitlements, and every effort is made to make reasonable adjustments to make this happen.