As we predicted we are starting to hear from Worcestershire parent carers who are being issued generic ‘attendance concern’ letters (that warn of fines & legal proceedings) for their SEND children. Many of these children have neurodivergent diagnoses and aren’t having their needs met in mainstream school. We see a mixture of children receiving SEN Support and children with EHCPs.
Back in May 2024, Worcestershire Parent Carer Forum highlighted our concerns that for many neurodivergent students (diagnosed or otherwise) and their families, the new DfE Attendance regulations were compounding the perfect storm that was already building.
WCPF were invited to attend the Worcestershire County Council Attendance Conference in September and we were encouraged by the messages that the WCC speakers were promoting to the Head Teachers in attendance – “build relationships”, “offer early intervention”, “provide support, support, support.” Furthermore, the message was also clear that legal intervention should only be required when there was no engagement and that Head Teachers still have discretion around ‘exceptional circumstances’ and issuing penalty notices.
At the conference, WPCF’s co-chair Hazel Shaw also made a plea to all Head Teachers that parent carers were worried about schools’ heavy-handed implementation of the new attendance regulations. She also reminded them that ALL parent carers wanted their children in school and that non-attendance was the last and final resort. Plus attendance has a serious impact on a family’s employment status.
Fast-forward to the final weeks of the Autumn half term and some Worcestershire parent carers of SEND students are receiving these heavy-handed letters about their child’s attendance. For many parent carers already struggling in a precarious position juggling their own employment alongside their children’s unmet health, social care and education needs, these letters and threats are the final straw.
At yesterday’s Worcestershire SEND & AP Committee, the WPCF team reiterated our concerns to education directors from Worcestershire County Council, explaining the implementation of Attendance Regulations in Worcestershire was unfairly impacting on SEND students.
If you are a Worcestershire parent carer supporting a young person with SEND who is struggling to attend school and you’re receiving generic attendance letters or threats of fines, we’d be pleased to hear from you.
