Looking for trends in absence

Trends at Whole School Level - Areas to Explore

• How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected attendance at your school, both during and post-pandemic?  What longer term effects has this created?

• What does your attendance look like when plotted across the term/year on a week by week basis?  Does it follow the national pattern (see this page for more info on national termly patterns)

• What does your attendance look like when plotted across the days of the week, are all days similar in attendance?

• How do your rates for groups compare to national (check boy v girl, year groups, 4yo, pupil premium, SEND and EAL)?

• How does your use of attendance codes compare to national?  Are there any that are particularly high/low and why?

• Is there any correlation between year group attendance and the timetable (eg one academy found that on the days they had music attendance was always better because the children enjoyed the lessons so much)?

• Are there any particular local events that could influence your attendance (eg Hull fair week affects attendance in Hull schools)?

• What is attendance like at the start and end of each term (usually high and low respectively)?  Can you use the timetable creatively to increase attendance?  Are you placing INSET days strategically to support attendance?

• Do you notice any difference in attendance when you have non-uniform days (there are claims that in some areas of high deprivation children do not attend school on days such as Xmas Jumper Days as they have nothing to wear)?

• Is attendance lower for girls in UKS2 than for boys (is this linked with access to sanitary protection)?

• Is there a higher rate of absence due to holidays at certain times of the year (could you change your holiday dates to minimise this)?

• Is your school significantly affected by any religious holidays and how can you offset this?

• Do you discuss attendance with your school council and parents group to identify trends/issues related to attendance?

• How does your attendance rate compare to other local schools?  Why is there a difference (if there is)?

• What is your attendance trend historically over the last 5 years ?  Why is attendance changing (if it is)?

Trends at individual Pupil/Family Level - Areas to Explore

• Are certain pupils always late/absent on the same days of the week or month?

• Are certain pupils absent on their birthday?

• Are long holidays abroad a feature for many of your pupils whose country of origin in not the UK?  If so how can you work with the families to avoid /minimise them?

• Do you routinely cross-check First Aid incidents and absence?

• Do you routinely cross-check bullying records and absence?

• Are there any pupils who are regularly absent on PE/sports days (could indicate a safeguarding issue)?

• Do you routinely identify pupils who regularly have very short periods of time off school?