Case studies/best practice

Angela Vincent writes about how to engage and motivate your workforce. Summary It is important to acknowledge that most people will already be motivated.Your role is to build on your team’s natural motivation.A key motivator for all workers is the ability to see the bigger picture, and understand the scope of the whole organisation.A motivated workforce is a more productive, student-focused and cohesive workforce.The benefits of motivation mean better staff wellbeing, better staff retention and better performance. It is important in schools that staff work together in a cohesive way and are motivated. But what does a motivated team actually…

Attendance officers can sometimes feel as though they are working in isolation. However, the work they do is crucial and requires continuous updating of knowledge and information. Our star author, Victoria Franklin, offers her suggestions for support. Summary The attendance officer needs to check that they are working according to the brief of the organisation.Local, national and even international networks can be a very useful source of support, advice and information.It is important to continue your own professional training through either internal or external sources. My career in school attendance work has spanned over 30 years. It has been driven…

Sam Garner examines what you really need to know about SEND, exclusion and your students. Summary Students with lower attendance are more at risk of exclusion.The decision to exclude a pupil must be lawful, reasonable and fair.With regard to attendance and exclusions, schools must not discriminate against students protected under the Equality Act 2010. Recent government statistics show that pupils with a SEN statement or education healthcare plan have an overall absence rate of 8.7%; pupils with SEN support had a rate of 6.5%; pupils with no identified SEN had a rate of 4.3%. This is double the non-SEN student…