Priority 3

Goal

In 2026 the latest local data indicates an overall attendance rate of approximately 89.3%, compared with a national average of around 91.1% All partners will work with families to achieve average attendance of 94% for all children and young people. Where attendance falls below this level, targeted support will help secure improvements for this cohort of up to 5% across the academic year over the next three years.

Key Actions

• We recognise that attendance is often a symptom rather than a cause. Our approach will focus on belonging, relationships, wellbeing and practical support for families experiencing adversity.
• Settings will come together to create a set of Torbay shared relational, restorative ‘Belonging’ principles to guide all the work we do.
• Schools and services will jointly review pupils who fall below key attendance thresholds and co-design individual recovery plans.
• Support will move from reacting to absence towards proactively building relationships with families through mentoring, engagement programmes and effective interventions.
• Strengthen relationships between schools and families through Reach approaches.
• Everyone collaborates to create a Belonging Strategy which creates a collective culture of belonging to “The Torbay Family”, showcasing all the opportunities open to children in Torbay.
• Develop impactful solutions for young people who may need a fresh-start approach to improve behaviour and attendance.

Measures of success

Key measure: Overall pupil attendance and a reduction in persistent absence, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs is seen over the course of the next three years.

Potential other measures:

• Overall attendance meeting the 94%+ target.
• Reduced exclusion and suspension rates at all ages.
• Less persistent and severe absence rates.
• Collaboration between local leaders in families of schools and with partner agencies on this shared priority.
• A collated and published extra-curricular offer across Torbay.

Accountability: Primary and secondary headteachers, the local authority attendance team, family support teams, and the Family and Attendance Working Group.