This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Making sure kids attend school
05/12/2006
New guidance to promote good school attendance was put out for consultation today.
Engaged and Involved sets out best practice procedures for schools to reduce absence and make stronger links between absence and protection of children.
The guidance, published on the same day as the annual attendance and absence statistics, was prepared following a review of parent contact regarding absence from school, prompted by the murder of Livingston schoolboy Rory Blackhall.
The guidance sets out procedures councils should follow when dealing with attendance and absence, including contacting parents when a child has not arrived at school.
This is in the context of looking at wider reasons why children may be absent from school and how these can addressed.
It also proposes re-classifying non school based medical and dental appointments as authorised absence, rather than attendance.
Education Minister Hugh Henry said:
"Missing school means children are missing out. Education is vital and pupils can pay a high price for missing school in terms of future career prospects and life chances.
"That's why it's essential that everyone - parents, schools, councils and the Executive - works together to improve attendance and ensure pupils make the most of their education.
"The draft guidance published today draws together best practice and clarifies requirements for recording attendance and absence, as well as exploring wider issues around the promotion and management of good attendance.
"Just as importantly, we're also making stronger links between absence and protection of children, ensuring schools take immediate action when a child fails to turn up at school without explanation.
"We've already funded a nationwide pilot of automated call systems - which provide an early alert to parents when a child does not attend school - and I look forward to seeing the impact of these systems on attendance when the latest statistics are published, later today."
Examples of authorised absence include sickness, bereavement, religious observance, attendance at children's hearings, immediate family weddings and attendance at sporting or cultural events not organised by the school, but approved by them. Unauthorised absence includes family holidays, truancy and unexplained absences.
The consultation runs until February 27 next year.
Section 30 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 states that it is the duty of parents to ensure they provide appropriate education for their school age children.
Once a child is registered and begins attending school, the parents must also ensure she or he attends regularly.