Attendance policy
Attendance policy from April 2024:
1. Introduction
We are committed to ensuring every child receives the best start in life. Childcare settings across the county offer a safe and secure learning environment where children are nurtured to develop their skills and become ready for school. Research shows that children who attend high quality pre-school provision obtain better grades at GCSE level than those who do not.
Childcare providers recognise the importance of monitoring attendance and will encourage families to participate in early education by ensuring that children take advantage of their funded entitlement of hours wherever possible. This policy defines how providers can work with the Local Authority and other organisations to improve attendance and to promote the welfare of children in early education.
2. Who the policy is for?
This policy is intended for childcare/early years providers accepting children on funded places.
3. Aims & Principles
Providers must:
- Ensure all children/parents that are eligible for funded places are encouraged to take advantage of them
- Ensure all parents are supported to understand the importance of consistent routines and regular attendance for their child starting at the session time mutually agreed
- Develop and maintain effective partnerships with parents and other organisations to tackle issues which may result in inconsistent attendance/ absence whilst recognising the individual needs and circumstances of children/families.
- Develop positive and consistent communication between home and setting, providing guidance and support as appropriate.
Initiate an Early Help Assessment (EHA) where issues of sporadic attendance and absence cannot be addressed by the setting in isolation and involvement from other services is required.
4. Responsibilities/Expectations on Providers
Ofsted Early Years Inspection Handbook (January 2024) states:
Although attendance at the setting is not mandatory, inspectors will explore how well providers work with parents to promote children’s attendance so that the children form good habits for future learning. In particular, inspectors will consider the attendance of children for whom the provider receives early years pupil premium. (clause 193)
The current Provider Agreement 2024 states:
17.8 Providers must maintain an up-to-date record of attendance for all children for whom they provide EEF places and make it available to the council when required along with other monitoring information. The council shall ensure that Providers are not penalised by withdrawing funding for short term absence and the council will generally pay for a maximum of twenty (20) days absence (whether over consecutive or sporadic days) within a single *term time period for which the child would normally have attended for EEF hours.
For any amount of absence that exceeds the twenty-day period, the Provider must adjust the claim in the related amendment task for the term.
However, the council shall use its discretion and review cases when there is fair reason for absence. The review will determine if funding should be applied for a longer period than the first twenty days of a child’s absence. Reasons for which the council will review extended periods of absence can be found in the Attendance Policy.
Requests to review absence beyond the first twenty days in a single term, should be submitted to: eefportal@staffordshire.gov.uk outlining the reasons for a child's absence.
*Term Time period parameters:
- 1st January - 31st March (spring)
- 1st April – 31st August (summer)
- 1st September – 31st December (autumn)
17.9 There could be occasions when a child does not consistently attend for the EEF hours in a day as arranged and therefore absence does not meet the full day parameter as noted in clause 17.8. The council can review such cases and consider reclaiming monies if the overall absence is 30% or more within the same term. Providers have responsibility to encourage families to attend for the funded hours they have been claimed for and the benefits there for children with good attendance. Where absence is due to consistently late drops off/ early collections or Parents consistently not making sessions without reasonable explanation, the Provider should discuss with Parents if the package on offer is suitable for their requirements.
4.1 Providers will ensure
If attendance is sporadic and inconsistent, you may wish to initiate an EHA to work with others to address this issue. However, there may be instances where you may need to involve your local family support provider who could work with the family to address any issues preventing regular attendance.
- Sporadic and inconsistent attendance is defined as when a child is not consistently attending the provision for their set pattern of hours. Providers must use their discretion on when to discuss this with parents and involve other services.
- Inform the EEF Finance Team when a child has been absent from the provision and absence falls within the parameters of clauses 17.8 or 17.9 as noted above. If a reason has not been given for repeated absence and contact cannot be re-established with the family, providers may wish to involve the health visiting service if they have concerns. Consent would not be required under these circumstances, as this is covered within the Parent Declaration form. Providers can contact The Education Safeguarding Advice Service if they wish to seek further advice and guidance.
- Settings must continue to follow their own policy and Staffordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board guidance when they have concerns that a child is at risk of immediate harm or neglect. Further information on where and who to report to and listening to the child's voice can be found on our website.
5. Child absence review and funding
The council must be clear in cases where there is no valid reason for child absence that has gone beyond the 20 day or 30% parameters outlined in 17.8 and 17.9 of the Provider Agreement (which the council will fund), providers must amend funding for that term to reflect the attendance from that point. In cases where amendments have not occurred the council have the discretion to reclaim monies for such absence.
Providers are advised to discuss attendance with parents, and where there is a trend of absence without a valid reason, it could be appropriate to determine a more suitable funding claim that is in line with the actual average attendance of the child.
Providers are responsible for monitoring absence and recording of attendance as outlined in the EYFS, which is now reviewed by Ofsted at inspections. Where providers are unsure about absence, how to proceed with a claim, or wish to request a review for extending EEF, providers are encouraged to seek advice as soon as possible by contacting the Early Education and Childcare Team via email at: eeac@staffordshire.gov.uk
Providers must outline:
- details/ reason of child absence so far,
- expected absence return date (if applicable)
- child and parent information,
- proof of reason for absence (if applicable), i.e. doctors note, letter (parent consent required).
5.1 Reviewing a child case to extend funding
The reason for an extending funding will be influenced by the circumstances (i.e. child sickness) and when in the term the 21st day (or 31%) of absence of funded hours has occurred. i.e. if sickness or injury fell in the last two weeks of the term that took a child over 20 days of absence, it could be reasonable for the council to fund the child for the full term and the case will be reviewed again at the beginning of the following term.
Circumstances where the council might consider extending funding for circumstances that prevents the child regularly attending for EEF sessions could include:
- Serious child illness
- Child sickness ( i.e. pox, flu),
- Child injury/ accident
- Treatment (i.e. hospital care),
- Welfare concerns ( i.e. LAC, in and out of care),
- Family bereavement (parents),
- Provider breakout (i.e. chicken pox, covid),
- Issues arising due to physical disability/ learning difficulties.
- Professional involvement (i.e. Families First, social services)
- Mental health
- Parent circumstances (i.e. illness)
This information is to give an indicator of a valid reason for absence where extending the funded period can be reviewed that would align to clauses 17.8 or 17.9 of the Provider Agreement.
The decision is to extend funding is done on a case by case basis and individual cases will be reviewed at every half term period. The council will ensure the provider and parent is advised.
5.2 If child absence is not clear or has a valid basis
The council must be clear in cases where there is no clear or justifiable reason for consistent absence or when reviewing extended periods of absence for EEF, the council has discretion to amend funding to a more appropriate level based against the child attendance for the term. Reasons for absence must be within the parameters of those outlined in 5.1.
If a parent offers no explanation or proof of why the child did not attend, or simply kept the child home for extended periods (5.1 notwithstanding) or doing something else other than attending and missing booked for EEF sessions at a childcare provider, such reasons are not deemed justifiable reasons for absence.
It may also be appropriate for the council to look back at absence in general cases if this has been ongoing issue, but the provider has failed to notify the EEF Finance Team or the council has discovered attendance issues via other methods ( i.e. audit). Such cases could mean the council could reclaim back funding if the provider has not adhered to the conditions of the Provider Agreement 2024.
The parent declaration form that parents must sign with their childcare provider, advises parents that failure to attend for the hours agreed could mean funding is reduced or removed in full, meaning parents could incur costs at the provider.
It is also important to note that childcare providers that they can only claim for funded hours that the child will be expected to be in attendance for and as agreed with the parent/carer as outlined in the Provider Agreement 2024.
The local authority cannot decide on or advise on whether a child's placement is terminated at a childcare provider. This is a private matter between provider and parent.
6.0 Family Support Service - request for support
Current manager and district commissioned support contact details, as well the Family Support/ Early Help Referral Form and Guidance can be found on the StaffSSCB website.
7.0 Important links, information and contacts