Attendance is a common stretch aim for all our of local authorities. Our Forth Valley and West Lothian Regional Improvement Collaborative has a strategic focus on attendance for 2022-2024. The strategic plan 2022-2024 contains an outlined Attendance Focused Implementation Plan.
We have created resources to support settings with their improving attendance work including our Interactive Attendance Guide thinglink which hosts a plethora of resources. A shortcut to some of these resources can also be accessed here.
The Attendance symposium was held in March 2023 to explore the latest research, share effective practice, identify support needs, showcase available resources and build networking.
Our Attendance Campaign was held in August 2023 to with featured Facebook articles, Radio Forth soundbites and adverts and local bus ads to promote the importance of attending school with the message #Be INspired #Be INvolved #Be IN School.
- We want to support establishments to increase their attendance rates with a particular
improvements sought in the following areas:- - S4 Attendance
- Improvement in attendance for children and young people with attendance between 50%-80%
- Attendance of care experienced children and young people.
- We want to empower staff and establishments to address the issue of attendance through building supportive networks, offering professional learning and creating partnership opportunities.
- Need to improve attendance rates as part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge – Supporting Local Authorities with addressing their Attendance Stretch Aim for Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC).
- Reduced attendance rates – Identifying common reasons for lower attendance rates post
covid - Variable systemic support – Ensuring our RIC establishments have access to systems,
approaches and examples of effective practice for improving attendance. - Variable access to professional learning and support – Identifying and addressing
professional learning requirements of staff
FACILITATE (Based on our current UNCRC operating model)
Build systems networks
At LA officer level create a steering group to look at Policy, Data sharing and take ownership of the initiative and drive this forward.
Build Practitioners Networks – Build networks to support key people in schools at Senior
Management. Pastoral and Classroom level to create opportunities to share practice ideas
and resources.
Attendance Symposium
We created, developed and offered a symposium on attendance meeting needs of different stakeholders.
Our symposium went live on 27th March you can gain access to the speaker’s and workshop presentations which were shared by clicking on this link. The Attendance Symposium
The symposium was designed to share effective practice, identify support needs, build networking, showcase available resources and explore the latest research on attendance.
Support
- Plan and create a data-informed programme of Professional Learning to take place
throughout the academic year. - Provide resources e.g. attendance toolkit to support schools with self-evaluation. Provide case studies and partnership working and support offers.
Support Required at Local Authority level.
It is essential that Local Authorities make all stakeholders and establishments aware that this is an immediate priority at Local Authority and Regional level, and encourage all staff to demonstrate a commitment to meet, share, collaborate and participate in this initiative.
Partnership Working
There will be significant partnership working with our Education Scotland Regional Improvement
Team staff (as there has been in the planning stage) in the following areas
1. Creation, facilitation and maintenance of networks.
2. Identifying research and best practice examples from across the country and
beyond.
3. Partnership creation and delivery of professional learning.
Partnership working within our RIC- this will include CLD and Psychological Services but may also include Social Work, Third Sector organisations, NHS and Colleges.
Partnership working outwith our RIC – Partnership working with other RICs and other Meta
organisations from further afield.
