Islington Council is launching an 'attendance call to arms' to boost school attendance across the borough, aiming for a 1% improvement by the summer term of 2025. The initiative comes in response to concerns about rising absenteeism, particularly among vulnerable groups.

The council is developing a system for ongoing tracking of attendance data to identify trends and areas needing attention, according to the Public Reports Pack. This system will use a variety of metrics to assess the impact of interventions, including attendance rates, academic performance, and pupil engagement.

The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee heard details of the plan, which includes several key components:

  • Family Hubs: Three Family Hubs have been established to provide support to parents and children, offering a single point of access to various council services.
  • Attendance Mentor Programme: The council has appointed 10 Islington Professional Partners to work with schools and has commissioned Bright Futures to deliver an Attendance Mentor service from Spring Term 2025. During the meeting, the diversity of Place2Be staff was discussed to ensure they are reflective of the diverse community in Islington, according to the Minutes.
  • School Support Programme: A School Support Programme has been launched and has been well-received by schools.
  • Attendance Summit: A borough-wide Attendance Summit will be held at Emirates Stadium in May 2025.
  • Youth Council Survey: The Youth Council will survey pupils to gather their views on school attendance.

Councillor Micheline Safi Ngongo, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families, reported that the council is investing in improving school attendance, particularly for vulnerable groups. She emphasised the importance of addressing the root causes of poor attendance and working with parents to overcome barriers to their children's education.

The council is also focusing on unauthorised absence during term time, working to ensure both parents sign requests for leave of absence. Schools have been reminded of the correct codes for different absences and the legal requirements around requesting medical evidence.

Katie Wood, Attendance Lead, presented an update on the council's efforts to improve school attendance, highlighting the findings from visits to all 52 mainstream schools in Islington. These visits identified common barriers to attendance, including parental attitudes, mental health issues, and housing challenges. Wood noted that schools with better attendance have clear policies, strong community links, and dedicated staff to monitor and improve attendance.

The committee also received a presentation from Dr Jill Sasseni, Principal Educational Psychologist, about Emotional-Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA). Dr Sasseni outlined the four main reasons for non-attendance:

  1. To avoid uncomfortable feelings brought on by attending school.
  2. To avoid stressful situations.
  3. To reduce separation anxiety or gain attention.
  4. To pursue rewards outside of school.

Dr Sasseni shared the key principles of the council's new EBSNA Protocol for Schools, which is designed to help schools understand and meet the needs of children who are not attending school. The protocol emphasises early intervention, a whole-school approach to wellbeing, and collaborative working between families, schools, and outside professionals. The new EBSNA Protocol for Schools includes a range of tools and resources to help schools identify the function of a child's non-attendance and develop bespoke support plans. The protocol also provides school staff with easy access to a range of tried and tested resources, audits and templates - to avoid having to re-invent the wheel.

The council hopes that the 'attendance call to arms' and the various support measures will lead to a significant improvement in school attendance across Islington, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to thrive.