Home Visits
Being around teachers and friends in a school environment is the best way for young people to learn and reach their potential. Time in school also keeps children safe and provides access to extra-curricular opportunities and pastoral care. That is why school attendance is incredibly important and why we – at Stowmarket High School – are committed to tackling the issues that might cause some children to be absent from school and support families accordingly.
Within our Attendance Policy, it is specified that we may undertake a home visit if any of the following apply:
- A family has not contacted the school to explain a student’s absence on a school day;
- A student is refusing to come into school on a school day;
- A student has not attended for at least three school days in succession due to reported illness or other reasons;
- A student has a medical condition/issue that prohibits them from attending school for a period of time;
- A student is being educated off-site or at home full time – temporarily or permanently – in agreement with the school;
- A student has learning that needs to be dropped off or collected where it has been stipulated by the school as being appropriate e.g. during a suspension or a certificated medical issue that requires the children to learn from home.
The purpose of the home visit is to check on the safety and well-being of the student. Alongside this, it offers an opportunity to meet with families to discuss any issues concerning their child. Where applicable, the staff in attendance will try and establish why a child has been absent and will work with and support families in developing strategies to help their child attend school regularly.
We have clear protocols and procedures for staff members undertaking home visits. All home visits must be completed by at least two staff members, and they should be authorised by a member of the Senior Leadership Team. In addition, wherever possible, families should be informed of the home visit prior to the arrival of staff. There will be exceptions to this due to safeguarding criteria – for example, we will undertake home visits to confirm that an absent child is at home when families are not responding to telephone calls/text messages. Upon returning to school, the members of staff will complete a record of their home visit on our safeguarding platform, CPOMS. Any child protection concerns arising from home visits will also be discussed with a Designated Safeguarding Lead.
We believe that these visits are also vital in developing and strengthening partnerships between families and staff so that all parties can share their knowledge about the student to enable the individual needs of the child to be met.
