Questions raised on the webinar - please refer to official guidance and engage with your LA for definitive responses (which are likely to develop in the light of experience)
Q - Do you have to report 15 days of absence to the LA even if it is authorised? E.g. medical reasons/hospital stays? - How does this effect the Medical School and the PRU. My students can have 15 or more days off sick. Re the PRU , our students come and go all the time.
A - Schools should inform the LA as early as possible if more than 15 days of absence are anticipated and seek to identify the need for S19 provision if required - it expected that the LA will engage in identifying and meeting the needs of the learner
Q - do the LA monitor and decide when to issue FPN for several term time holidays or i s that for the school to flag?
A - this will depend on the LA but it is expected that they will consider attendance patterns over time
Q - Would severe snow be an acceptable reason given for Y2?
A - If learners cannot attend owing to widespread disruption to travel then yes
Q - Is code B for transition days?
A - Code B can be used for taster days at other schools with an appropriate note
Q - What about child actors?
A - In line with a license issued by an LA or JP then code C1 can be used
Q - Eid days off which is religious day off? - What about religious holidays - holidays abroad for pilgrimage etc.?
A - If a religious body sets apart a single day for a religious observance and the parent applies for more than one day, the school may only record one day using code R; the rest of the time would need a leave of absence, and this is granted at the school’s discretion as set out under Code C.
Q - Is the code T staying?
A - Use of the T code is unaffected
Q - We have had schools in previous years who have staggered in their YR pupils at start of academic year. As their due date is 02.09.2024 would they have to be admitted on this date and then an appropriate code applied until their first day of school or can we advise that the DOA is entered as their first day in school?
A - Learners should be added to the admission register on the date which has been agreed with the responsible adult and the attendance register maintained from that date
Q - if we have a staggered am/pm can we still use X code
A - Use of the X code (non- statutory school age - attendance not required) is unaffected
Q - I have allowed holiday for looked after child is this still ok?
A - The H code cannot be used from the new school year and holidays will not normally be approved
Q - Are children who have not reached compulsory school age, but are in YR regulated in the same fashion or are they exempt?
A - Learners reach compulsory school age from the term following their fifth birthday from which point the regulations apply
Q - With the PRU, our students come and go all the time so will we have to ask the LA before we off roll?
A - Our reading is that you would if the student is single registered with the PRU but you should liaise with the LA to understand practice in your area
Q - When you say 'service personnel' is that military only or does that include fire/police/ambulance/nhs
A - We are aware that there is some consideration of the position of serving service personnel but are not aware of any discussion wider than that - we would recommend speaking to the LA
Q - If children of non-statutory school age e.g. nursery or reception pupils who haven't had their birthdays are absent and parents call to say they are ill is it logged as 'I' or 'X' as they are non statutory
A - We would advise that this is up to the school - non-statutory attendance is not currently collected
Q - If a child has moved school and we are currently putting them through the deletion form roll process, what code would we use until the process has been completed?
A - You would need to identify the date of leaving and then use appropriate attendance codes up to this point which will depend on the particular circumstance
Q - We currently use Q from Sep 24 will this be shown as Q! or do I need to change to another code
A - You will need to configure an alternative code for use from September and ensure that this lesson code is adopted by classroom staff - when inspecting lesson registers taken prior to August 24 the codes will appear as !Q
Q - We use A code when not in a lesson and in support somewhere, can we still use this
A - Use of the A code for lesson attendance can remain unaffected - any use of codes K or Q will need action
Q - Will arbor be offering any training on the updates?
A - We don’t know as yet - there will likely be a webinar and we at OSMIS will be offering additional support from the start of the new term