Amendment 81...

No, it's not the name of Maddie and I’s new band!

Last night the Lords sat for hours going through suggested changes to The Schools Bill. 

They didn’t get to Lord Philip Hunt’s Amendment 81 to Clause 49. Yet.

Not the catchiest of titles, but it IS the change that could help families like ours - an Attendance Code of Practice.  I’ll explain…

Updated Attendance Guidance will apply from September 22. The Schools Bill as it stands will set the Attendance Guidance in law and also mean that it can be updated without going back to parliament.

As parents, Maddie and I are already seeing that schools are implementing updated Attendance Guidance. Worried parents, with even suicidal children and authorised absences receiving standard letters threatening fines and prosecution if their child’s attendance % doesn’t increase. 

One mum shared her experience with us:

We received a letter threatening fines or prosecution with regard to our daughter’s attendance this year. Our daughter awaits assessment for ASD and ADHD and has anxiety and this is known by the school and SENDCO. We were summoned to school to meet with the Deputy Head and a Governor. With the Deputy Head, instead, was an Attendance Officer (whose presence was neither alluded to nor explained). The meeting was aggressive and formulaic and it was clear neither the Deputy Head nor the AO had any knowledge of my daughter’s history. When we successfully challenged their suggestion that attendance was affecting our daughter’s grades, and questioned the illegal threat of prosecution for authorised absence, we were informed that the school simply, “did not have time to check every pupil’s situation”, and that the letter was standard issue.”

“Aggressive and formulaic” doesn’t work for anyone. This wasteful use of time and resources - causing great distress - is now happening across the country as a result of the latest Attendance Guidance.

That is where Amendment 81 could help. An amendment tabled by “Lord Phil of Brum” to Clause 49 of The Schools Bill - states that Attendance Guidance:

“must include a code of practice to be followed by local authorities” 

Maddie and I feel that a Code of Practice could help vulnerable families by defining support measures that the Attendance Guidance does not, with its focus on punitive measures.

On Monday 18th July Amendment 81 to Clause 49 will be heard in the House of Lords.

Can you show your support for Amendment 81 and an Attendance Code of Practice by:

- Sharing this update today
- Calling your MP’s office today and ask your MP to contact Lords they know to back the amendment
- Tweet @lordphilofbrum to thank him for tabling #amendment81 and let him know what this means to you and your family

Shall we do this together?

Maddie & Susan x