Issue - meetings

(a) That the attendance data for Flintshire schools and the actions undertaken by officers to support engagement and safeguarding during the period of lockdown; and

(b) That the Committee recognise that the data provided had been impacted by COVID-19 lockdown and school closure.

            The Senior Learning Advisor (Engagement) introduced an overview of school attendance and exclusions for the year 2019/20, which had been impacted by the pandemic, as outlined within the report.  He provided information on the trends for attendance, persistent absence and permanent and fixed term exclusions which had been highlighted by Estyn. 

            Councillor Dave Mackie commented on the table showing fixed term exclusions and asked what processes were in place to understand the causes of the increase in these figures and what steps were being taken to address them.  In response, the Senior Learning Advisor provided information on the work carried out by the team, which was more proactive, working with children, families, head teachers and communities to better understand issues at an earlier stage. 

The recommendations,  outlined within the report,  were moved and seconded by Councillors Paul Cunningham and Dave Mackie.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the attendance data for Flintshire schools and the actions undertaken by officers to support engagement and safeguarding during the period of lockdown; and

(b) That the Committee recognise that the data provided had been impacted by COVID-19 lockdown and school closure.