Role of the attendance officer

Attendance officers’ key priorities are promoting attendance and absence, ensuring that students do not miss out on education and learning. This is most successful when a whole-school approach is taken. In this article, Ben Dunford offers some strategies to motivate students and keep them connected and engaged. Summary There is a clear link between attendance and achievement – motivated learners are more likely to attend.It is important that students receive clear, specific and accurate feedback about the tasks they have completed.Absences can be related to lack of engagement in the classroom – recognising a range of strategies to improve learning…

Joanne Sierzega asks how we can engage and work with children,parents and families in a meaningful way in the present circumstances.She outlines the challenges and considers how they can be overcomewhilst also keeping in touch with whole-school policy. Summary There are many challenges currently facing the attendance officer and new and amended ways of working are needed.Maintain some general good practice points whilst adapting your methods of working.Consider your usual methods and find adaptations that are compatible with school and safeguarding policy. Officers are facing many challenges in addressing the non-attendance of children since the return to compulsory school attendance…

How can attendance officers begin to identify attendance issues andaddress them after a period of confinement and enforced absence?Victoria Franklin reflects and considers the way forward. Summary Attendance officers have experienced a shift in culture.They have had to develop a different role during the pandemic.Now it’s time to focus again and put into place procedures for monitoring some key groups of children. On 23 March 2020, schools were shut to all but two distinct groups of children. All other children outside of these groups remained at home in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result of enforced absence, the…