Children who missed at least 15 days of school in each of the last three academic years

​​​​​Request 730851451

Please could you tell me:

1. How many children of compulsory school age missed at least 15 days of school in each of the last three academic years. If this can be broken down into broad age groups (eg primary vs secondary) that would also be helpful. Also (separately if needed) could this be broken down into those with SEN and those without.

Could you also answer the same question, but for 30 days of school and for 60 days of school separately.

To clarify, I’d like a table with columns 

2022-2023

2023-2024

2024-2025 (if available)

And a row each for: 

Number of children of primary school age who missed at least 15 days of school

Number of children of secondary school age (compulsory school age) who missed at least 15 days of school

Number of children of primary school age who missed at least 30 days of school

Number of children of secondary school age (compulsory school age) who missed at least 30 days of school

Number of children of primary school age who missed at least 60 days of school

Number of children of secondary school age (compulsory school age) who missed at least 60 days of school

Number of children with SEN (compulsory school age) who missed at least 15 days of school

Number of children without SEN (compulsory school age) who missed at least 15 days of school

Number of children with SEN (compulsory school age) who missed at least 30 days of school

Number of children without SEN (compulsory school age) who missed at least 30 days of school

Number of children with SEN (compulsory school age) who missed at least 60 days of school

Number of children without SEN (compulsory school age) who missed at least 60 days of school

Number of children with SEN (compulsory school age)

Number of children without SEN (compulsory school age)

Total number of primary school children (compulsory school age)

Total number of secondary school children (compulsory school age)

2. Does Jersey have any guidance or processes equivalent to this UK DfE document? Arranging education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs. If so, please could you point me to it.

3. Does CYPES have a responsibility to provide (and fund) suitable full time education for children and young people who are not able to attend their usual school due to physical or mental health reasons?

Thank you 

Response

1. The number of children of compulsory school age who missed 15, 30 and 60 days of school in each of the last three academic years, broken down into broad age groups (e.g. primary vs secondary), and broken down into those with SEN and those without, is not held in this format, therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies. Schools record absence in sessions (am/pm) rather than the number of days missed.

The table below represents the numbers of children with and without SEN of compulsory school age as well as the total number of primary and secondary school children of compulsory school age as at the January census in each requested academic year:

​2. CYPES does not have an equivalent to the UK DfE document. Arranging education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs​.  

Schools should make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions. Individual health care plans will normally specify the type and level of support required to meet the medical needs of such pupils.  Individual health care plans are part of what is ordinarily available in all mainstream Government of Jersey Schools as part of the setting-based stages of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice (SEND COP) section 4.10 Medical Conditions: https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Education/P%20SEN%20Code%20of%20practice%20%28Under%20Review%29%2020240214GW.pdf ​

If over a period of time the school feels that a pupil meets the criteria for an Exceptional Action Assessment, the school can submit a request to CYPES.

3. Yes, CYPES has a responsibility to provide suitable education for children and young people who are not able to attend their school due to physical or mental health reasons. However, this provision may not be for full-time attendance.

If a child is unable to attend school for medical reasons, then access to education is determined on a case-by-case basis. It is important for the Education and Health professionals work together with the parents and the child/young person to determine what curriculum offer is appropriate taking their needs at that time into account.

Examples may include:

• Education delivered as part of the package in a clinical environment 

• Work provided and reviewed by their school to access 

• Online programmes

• Online tuition

• Social inclusion opportunities

The department do not hold the information in the format requested. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 is applicable. The table attached represents absence data as the number and percentage of pupils whose attendance is less than 90%, 50% and 30%, in all ​mainstream Government of Jersey Schools.

Freedom of Information response 730851451 - Attachment.pdf​

Where numbers are fewer than five, disclosure control is applied to avoid identification of individuals. Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Please Note:

Pupils counted in attendance figures span the entire academic year and therefore do not match to our school census figures which are a snapshot on a particular day of each term. 

Pupils with below 30% attendance are also included in the below 50% and below 90% figures. Pupils with below 50% attendance are also included in the below 90% figures.

Articles applied 

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.

Article 25 - Personal information

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018; and

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.​