School attendance strategy
Lincolnshire’s school attendance strategy recognises where we are, where we want to be and the resources we have to ensure that all Lincolnshire children and young people can and want to go to school. It puts a focus back onto school attendance and the importance of this to ensure the safety, wellbeing and achievement of all our children and young people.
Whilst there are always exceptions to the rule, children and young people who have good attendance, are much more likely to achieve academically. Evidence also suggests that children who attend school regularly are more likely to go on to lead healthier, wealthier lives.
This strategy recognises the complexity of attending school and that securing good attendance of all our children is a team effort. While many children and young people in Lincolnshire have very good attendance, leaving school well prepared for adult working life, our vision is that all our children in Lincolnshire attend as much as they can. We know there is excellent practice in schools and strong partnership working across all our services supporting children into school. However, we are also aware that going to school can be extremely challenging for some of our children and is multi-faceted.
This strategy focusses on improving attendance for children of statutory school age. However, it also recognises that good attendance is often learned behaviour and as such, it starts in early education, even pre-school. This strategy also promotes the attendance of young people post statutory school age at some form of education provision under the Participation of Young People in Education, Employment, or Training Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities (2016). Whilst the laws of attendance are different from post 16 until 18, this strategy recognises the importance of attendance and the link with positive outcomes.
