Introduction
Working together in Hammersmith and Fulham to improve attendance
Hammersmith & Fulham council is committed to working with schools and other partners to improve school attendance across the Local Authority. Partners across the local area have committed to our Early Intervention vision of ensuring "Every child, young person and family is happy, healthy and has the opportunity to thrive, supported by an effective community network."
Underpinning this commitment is the understanding that there is a strong correlation between good school attendance and achieving positive outcomes for children. Safeguarding is a borough wide priority, and it is recognised across all partner agencies that attending school is a protective factor for children and young people. Learning from national serious case reviews and child practice reviews highlight the importance to a child's life of having access to a school place and the need to place education at the heart of multi-agency planning and provision.
In our work with children and families, we are committed to ensuring that all staff advocate the child's right to a full-time and efficient education. This means that our work with children, parents and schools should be underpinned by the key principle that any child, regardless of their characteristics, needs or the type of school they attend, deserves access to a full-time, high-quality education that allows them to flourish and paves the way to a successful future.