Mayfield Primary SchoolAttendance Rewards & Systems
DON'T MISS A MINUTE - ATTENDANCE AT MAYFIELD
Multi-Agency Attendance & Achievement Team
Whilst Mayfield's attendance figures are above all national and local comparisons (CLICK HERE), there is no doubt that attendance and attitudes to school attendance are declining across the country. Despite the above positive context for ourselves, we are aware of attitudes to attendance falling away if we don't maintain the focus and continue with the 'Don't Miss A Minute' messages. So we have taken a two pronged approach to attendance and punctuality this year. Yes, we have refreshed the profile and position of our rewards and incentives, but we have also furthe refined our monitoring systems - most specifically for chronic low attendance - we must offer positivity but equally there must be accountability for families who persistently fall into worrying attendance patterns. This is sometimes a tough message but it cannot always be about waving away fundamental issues that affect learning. Finding a balance between being positive but being clear when attendance is an issue and addressing this directly is equally as important.
The team meet to discuss attendance on a daily basis and take practical steps to intervene upon poor attendance and absence each and every day. We have a wide range of rewards for attendance. High attendance is imperative and essential to being a 'Mayfield Citizen', however we have a range of options and strategies available for low and persistent absence. We know our families well and our response will be determined by our knowledge of each families context and situation.
Below is a summary of the updated systems, incentives and methods that we use. You can find a copy of our latest policy at the bottom of this page.
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THE 96% GANG - ON TARGET TEAM AWARD
Whilst Mayfield's attendance figures are above all national and local comparisons, there is no doubt that attendance and attitudes to school attendance are declining across the country. Despite the above positive context for ourselves, we are aware of the continued importance of setting attendance aspirations for our individual children and each class. Weekly Team awards and termly individual awards are therefore based upon our 96% Gang philosophy (which takes its name from our minimum target attendance figure for all children). We have a class ON TARGET display which takes the shape of a golf course with classes earning golf balls for each week of class attendance at 96% or better. The class with the most golf balls each half-term wins a special attendance party to take place at an agreed date and time with the class and their teacher.
THE 96% GANG - INDIVIDUAL AWARD
As mentioned above, but it is important to talk about the individual nature of this award. Clearly we hope that a majority of children will well exceed a 96% target, but we aim for this to be a minimum attendance goal for all. This goal allows for genuine illness, unavoidable family events and necessary medical appointments whilst still creating attainable, meaningful attendance goals. Each term children receive a personal award should they achieve 96% for that specific termly period. We clearly aim for our children to receive a full set of Autumn, Spring and Summer awards.
DON'T MISS A MINUTE - HIGH PROFILE NEWS
We keep attendance news high profile externally via our Don't Miss A Minute campaign. Sited on our playground in full view of all the families we update attendance performance weekly using our rollercoaster display. We also communicate with all families each week through our dedicated section in The Headlines.
100% & ROLL OF HONOUR
Within our Pride of Mayfield Corridor, we celebrate our 100% attendees and our 96%+ attendees through our celebratory display. There for all to see and celebrate throughout the year.
FIRST DAY HOME VISITS
So we have several ways to reward great attendance, but we are not afraid to let families know that attendance is vital in different ways as well! We check attendance each morning via our Multi-Agency Team. If we are not happy with reasons why a child is not in school, we will come and find where they are and put families on the spot! Watch out for the knock on the door - or avoid it by ensuring attendance remains a priority. People don't like the knock on the door so make sure it isn't required!
INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS & REPORT CARDS
Families who have children with a concerning trend or reducing or low attendance or are classed as PA (persistently absent - below 90%) may be issued with individual contracts and tracking report cards identifying short-term targets and measurement time periods. We always apply reasonable discretion and common sense to such systems but if a child has worrying attendance expect a spotlight and lots of communication via our contracts and report cards. We have used these extensively and have seen quick improvements from the majority of families receiving these.
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Beyond these systems, the school team have the ability to refer families to the Local Authority Attendance Team, where there are a host a measures open in order to pursue attendance issues with families - these include fines for low attendance to offending parents. These measures have been taken previously and school will do so again if this is required. It should be noted that under the current monitoring systems, the LA Attendance Team have direct access to school attendance data as part of their wider safeguarding responsibilities.