School attendance has become an increasing concern since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationally attendance at schools has dropped significantly with the number of children who are classified as persistently absent (attendance below 90%) increasing significantly. This is a concern locally in Hammersmith and Fulham.
The DfE have published extensive advice in the document Working together to improve school attendance (publishing.service.gov.uk) which sets out the role of the local authority in supporting families and schools with attendance barriers.
This strategy has been developed in response to this guidance to establish a whole system response to working with children, young people and their families in Hammersmith and Fulham to secure good attendance.