2021/2022 Covid Attendance Recording for Schools

We wanted to update you on the new year’s attendance regulations.

The following guidance is an addendum to the non-statutory, click here to view the non-statutory guidance.

Attendance is mandatory, and the usual rules still apply but in the case of non-attendance due to to COVID-19 you must record this if a pupil does not attend because their travel to, or attendance at, school would be:

• contrary to guidance relating to the incidence or transmission of COVID-19 from Public Health England (PHE), or its successor UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and/or the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
• prohibited by any legislation (or instruments such as statutory directions) relating to the incidence or transmission of COVID-19

This category must only be used to record where a pupil is not attending for the reasons set out above. It should not be used to record any other type of non-attendance or absence - for example, where a parent or pupil is anxious about attending school because of COVID-19.

The schools COVID-19 operational guidance sets out when pupils should self-isolate and when they ought to be tested in the 2021 to 2022 academic year.

Examples in which ‘not attending in circumstances relating to COVID-19’ could apply

• Pupils who are required to self-isolate as they have symptoms or confirmed COVID-19
• Pupils who are a close contact of someone who has symptoms or confirmed COVID-19
• Pupils who are required by legislation to self-isolate as part of a period of quarantine
• Pupils who are clinically extremely vulnerable when shielding is advised
• Pupils who are self-isolating but who have not had a PCR test

Remote education

If a pupil is not attending school because their attendance would be contrary to government guidance or legislation around COVID-19, we expect schools to offer them access to remote education. Schools should keep a record of, and monitor engagement with, this activity, but this does not need to be tracked in the attendance register.

For further information on the above categories please follow the link below.

Click here

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