Stage 2: Local Authority Attendance Team intervention

Referrals to the team are accepted when:

• school completes the Stage 1 process
• unauthorised absences continue.
• the documentation to evidence completion of Stage 1 interventions by school is provided with the referral form 
• the referral threshold is met (10 unauthorised sessions in the previous 8 school weeks)

It is good practice to inform the parent(s) or carer that a referral has been made to the local authority attendance team.

All referrals should be accompanied by the following supporting evidence:

• copies of letters to parent(s) or carer
• details of home visits - dates, outcomes
• copy of school's attendance improvement support plan
• copy of the Early Help Assessment and details of review (provide reason if this is not in place)
• up to date attendance printout
• details of other agency involvement
• fully completed referral form
• details of person or people with parental responsibility
• signed and dated by the head teacher

On receipt of all the relevant paperwork, a fully completed referral form and an attendance printout displaying recent unauthorised absence, the attendance team will action the referral within 10 school days. The attendance team will make a decision to either:

• follow Stockton-on-Tees local authority penalty notice procedure
• arrange an Attendance Case Conference

Penalty notice procedure

A penalty notice warning letter will be issued by the local authority to the parent(s) or carers named on the referral form outlining their parental responsibility. The warning letter advises the parent(s) or carer the child should return to school immediately with regular daily attendance.

The warning letter will cover a 4 week monitoring period and no further unauthorised absence is expected during this time. Evidence to cover absences must be provided by the parent(s) or carer.

At the end of the 4 week monitoring period, the attendance officer will review the pupil's school attendance. If the target has been met (no unauthorised absences in the 4 week monitoring period) the case will be closed and passed back to school level monitoring.

If unauthorised absences continue, a penalty notice will be issued to the parent(s) or carer named on the referral form.

In cases of non-payment, the local authority will consider prosecuting the parent(s) orcarer in the magistrate court.

Parent(s) or carers may not be issued with more than 2 penalty notices in a 12 month period.

Attendance case conference

If parent(s) or carer have been prosecuted previously for failing to ensure their child's attendance, an Attendance Case Conference will be convened.

A warning letter will be issued to the parent(s) or carer detailing their parental responsibility and outlining the local authority's consideration of prosecution in the magistrate court if unauthorised absences continue.

The local authority attendance officer will contact school staff to arrange an attendance case conference.

Once the attendance case conference has been arranged, a letter will be sent to the parent(s) or carer inviting them to attend to the meeting. If other professionals are involved with the family, they will also be invited to the meeting.

A parenting contract and a 6 week attendance plan will be negotiated and put in place at the meeting. The parent(s) or carer will be cautioned according to PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, PACE).

The attendance officer will visit the parent(s) or carer within one week of the meeting to deliver the minutes and parenting contract. The parent(s) or carer will be invited to sign the parenting contract. All parties will be asked to sign the contract: school representative, parent, pupil, and local authority attendance officer.

Further home visits will be made at least fortnightly during the period of the plan to offer advice and support to the parent and pupil.

On review, if the attendance target set at the attendance case conference is achieved, a further 4 week monitoring period will take place. The attendance officer will maintain contact with the parent(s) or carer and pupil during this period. If targets continue to be met, the case will be closed and passed back to school level monitoring.

If new information becomes available to the attendance officer during the intervention that suggests the family circumstances have changed or a significant need emerges relating to the family, then it may be appropriate to return to attendance case conference to ensure the plan is fit for purpose.

If the targets set at the attendance case conference meeting are not met then the local authority will consider prosecuting the parent(s) or carer in the magistrate court.