Essex Schools InfoLink

​​​​​​Maximising Attendance Bulletin

• Maximising Attendance Bulletin - April 2022​
  
• Maximising Attendance Bulletin - February 2022​
  
• Maximising Attendance Bulletin - January 2022​
  
• Maximising Attendance Bulletin - September 2021​
  
• Maximising Attendance Bulletin - June 2021
• Maximising Attendance Bulletin - May 2021
• Maximising Attendance Bulletin - 8th March 2021 Full Reopening - new DfE sub codes​
  
• Maximising Attendance Bulletin - January 2021
• Maximising Attendance Bulletin - November 2020
• Maximising Attendance Bulletin - September 2020
• Maximising Attendance Bulletin - July 2020

Guidance and Information

• Recording non-attendance related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Updated August 2021 (publishing.service.gov.uk)​
  
• DFE Guidance to School Attendance July 2019 - Refer to for Attendance Coding
• OFSTED Education Inspection Framework
  
• DFE Absence Statistics Guidance and Statistical Releases
• DFE Publication - Understanding and dealing with issues relating to parental responsibility

Your School Attendance Policy

• Essex Primary Heads Association Model Policy - Updated September 2021​
  
• Example Secondary School Pupil Friendly Attendance Policy - September 2021 (Word Document)
  
• Example Primary Schools Pupil Friendly Attendance Policy - September 2021 (Word Document)​
  

Useful Documents

• Is my child too ill for school? (NHS website)
  
• Categorising attendance by percentage and learning hours lost (PDF)
• Rough guide to hours of lost learning per half-term (PDF)
• NHS/ECC Guide to when it is or isn't appropriate for children to be absent due to illness (PDF)
• Step by step guide to first day calling and beyond (Word Document)
• DFE National Absence Rates (links to external site)
• Traveller Guidance/Leaflet (PDF)
• Attendance Incentives and Rewards - Ideas and Examples (Word Document)
• Quick Reference Guide (Word Document)​
  
• Quick Reference Guide - The Referral Process (Word Document)
• ​Chronology for school use of all actions (Word Document)​
  

Letters and Forms

Attendance monitoring

• Letter 1 - when attendance is a cause for concern - send at 95% (Word Document)
• Letter 2 - template letter - Request for School Attendance Meeting (Word Document)
• School Attendance Meeting form - Updated September 2021 (Word Document)​
  
• Failed to attend - will be issuing a Legal Action Warning Letter (LAWL) (Word Document)
• Legal Action Warning Letter (LAWL) - PLEASE NOTE THIS MUST NOT BE ALTERED (Word Document)
• Punctuality Concern Letter (Word Document)

Unauthorised holidays or unauthorised leave of absence

• Example letter from headteacher unauthorising leave of absence following application from parent (not holiday absence)
  
• Example letter from headteacher advising that leave taken has been unauthorised (no application made)​
  
• Leave of Absence Form (Word Document)
• Example letter from Headteacher unauthorising leave of absence (Word Document)
• Example letter from Headteacher advising believe absence is for a holiday (Word Document)
• Example letter from Headteacher where application refused but taken as sick (Word Document)
• Example letter from Headteacher unauthorising extended leave (Word Document)
• School term time absence for service children: Teacher's guide

Legal Action and Referrals

All information relating to Legal Action for school absence, including referral forms and the Essex Code of Conduct can be found under the Education Compliance and Attendance Compliance – Penalty Notices / Prosecutions area of Essex School’s Infolink.

For important updates and changes relating to Attendance and Legal Action, please visit their Important updates for schools section. It is recommended you do this prior to making a referral.

A referral cannot be made if a Legal Action Warning Letter (LAWL) has not been issued in the previous 18 calendar weeks.