Dumfries and Galloway schools should have a clear vision and strategic plan to promote and manage attendance. This should include identified staff and systems to support the tracking and monitoring of attendance and robust procedures for responding to absence.
Schools should be guided by the principles of self-evaluation to ensure that they meet the needs of all children and young people to promote good attendance for all. School should give due consideration to the features of highly effective practice contained within How Good Is Our School 4 (HGIOS4).
Self Evaluation plays a critical role in supporting positive attendance within Scottish Education. By integrating self-evaluation into their practices, schools and ELCs can create supportive and effective strategies to enhance student attendance and overall education success. Effective and robust self evaluation supports:
1 Identifying Barriers to Attendance
Self evaluation supports schools and ELCs identify specific barriers that individual children and young people may face, such as socio-economic challenges, health issues and/or family dynamics, allowing for tailored interventions.
It provides a comprehensive understanding of both academic and non-academic factors affecting attendance, ensuring that interventions effectively address the root cause(s).
2 Improving Policies & Practice
Schools and ELC can continuously assess and refine their attendance policies and practices based on feedback and outcomes, promoting a culture of ongoing improvement.
Self-evaluation utilises data to inform decisions, ensuring that policies are effective and grounded in real-world evidence.
3 Enhancing Engagement & Relationships
Encouraging students to reflect on their own attendance helps foster a sense of responsibility and ownership over their education.
Furthermore, self-evaluation fosters open communication between students, parents/carers, practitioners and partners. Strengthening relationships and trust which is crucial to effectively addressing attendance and late coming.
Promoting a Positive School Ethos/Environment
By involving the whole school community in self-evaluation, schools promote an inclusive and supportive environment.
Recognising and celebrating improvements in attendance can boost morale and motivate students to maintain regular attendance.
Supporting Equity & Inclusion
Self evaluation supports schools and ELCs identify and address disparities in attendance among different student groups ensuring that all students have equitable opportunities to succeed.
It allows for the development of targeted support strategies for vulnerable and/or marginalised children and young people, fostering a more inclusive educational environment.
Aligning with National Standards
In Scotland, self-evaluation aligns with national frameworks like ‘How Good is Our School 4‘ which emphasises the importance of self assessment in improving educational outcomes, including attendance.
Regular self evaluation ensures that schools meet national standards and expectations, contributing to overall educational quality and accountability.
