Issue - meetings

To note this item for information.

Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack.

Members queried the correlation between pupils free school meal status and attendance. Officers confirmed that pupils in receipt of free school meals had poorer attendance than pupils who did not receive free school meals. Members congratulated the team on the amount of work carried out in making the correlations and looked forward to the outcomes of the work.

Members enquired if Estyn had been contacted and what was their approach to absence. Officers commented that Estyn were concerned that our Covid attendance recovery rate has been slower than other local authorities. Conversations have been held with Estyn on a number of matters, including standards, attendance and safeguarding; Estyn will discuss attendance with individual schools on a school by school basis.

Members questioned if families were continuing to take holidays outside of term time due to financial pressures. Officers advised there has not been an increase in the number of holidays taken by individual families but there has been an increase in the amount of families taking holidays during term time. However, Officers noted that Neath Port Talbot do not fine parents for taking a single holiday if attendance is otherwise good.

The report is for information and is noted.