Our new Family Engagement Support Assistants are increasing pupils’ attendance rates across schools, as they provide vital intervention to struggling families to overcome barriers and improve the life chances of young people.
Initial evaluation shows the positive impact the 18 new members of staff are already having, with over 50% of the children and young people receiving support attending school more often.
School attendance levels have steadily fallen across the country following the covid pandemic and are also being impacted by ill health and the cost-of-living crisis. Our new recruits are committed to engaging and helping families overcome the barriers they face to help children and young people improve attendance, engagement, attainment and achievement.
Our staff, who provide vital communication links between families and schools, have spoken about the challenges impacting on parents and their children. One said: “My role allows me to see first-hand the barriers families are facing and how these impact on school attendance. Some struggle with ill health, others from poverty and many from a lack of routine.
“Parents are often anxious about speaking to staff but once I explain my role most feel comfortable explaining their situation and allow me to support them. Whether it’s speaking to a school about a pupil’s health and wellbeing or providing details of another service which could provide financial or housing support, our intervention is making positive inroads for parents and young people.
“I would encourage parents to take the first step and together we can support children and young people on their path to a brighter future.”
Ongoing evaluation will continue to monitor the impact our officers are having on school attendance.
Councillor Michael McBride, Convener of Education, Children and Families, said: "The development of Family Engagement Support Assistants is part of an overall plan to improve attainment and attendance. Although only six months into the project, initial evaluation is very positive and indicates that more than half of children and young people who have engaged are now recording markedly improved attendance.
“Our experience has also highlighted that parental mental health and neurodiversity in children are significant areas of need with families where attendance is an issue.
"This complements our work to bring services closer to communities to generate more positive outcomes. We have brought our education and child social work services together, so they work collaboratively, and we are creating community hubs which provide both education and wider integrated support services within the one space, allowing families, children and young people to feel better connected in a safe space that is familiar to them.”