main content Spike - Every Schoolday Counts Project

The Every Schoolday Counts Project is committed to promoting the positive aspects of school attendance to children, their families and the wider community.

The Project offers a service to support Primary Schools in the pilot project to improve attendance levels in line with the Government’s targets of 94%. It aims to initiate a shift in parental perception and values to education in order that children inherit a positive attitude towards school.

Background

The Every Schoolday Counts (ESC) Project is a proactive and upbeat initiative that promotes the benefits of Primary School attendance to children and families. The Project aims to increase and promote the benefits of school attendance by working with schools, children, families and partner organisations.

Early intervention by ESC will:

• increase attendance
• raise achievement
• reduce school exclusion
• improve transition between key stages
• reduce youth crime and the potential for social exclusion.

About Spike

Spike, the Project’s friendly attendance mascot, plays a huge role in the identity. He is a regular visitor and a very welcome character in and around schools.

Why?

Here are just a few of the reasons why such a project is worthwhile:

• There is a direct link between school absence and future unemployment.
• 50,000 children skip school each day in England and most of this absence is parentally condoned.
• Children who miss a lot of primary schooling with their parents' permission are more likely to be absent or truant during their Secondary School education.
• The effects of regular absence can be detrimental to a child’s educational achievement.
• Regular and punctual attendance helps a child to increase their academic levels of achievement, make new friends and feel good about themselves!

How?

The Every Schoolday Counts Team works in many different positive ways to encourage excellent attendance and punctuality. The team of staff offer innovative and positive approaches to working, such as:

• Using rewards and incentives to promote attendance
• Rewarding good and improved attendance
• Hosting an Annual Celebration Event for 100% attendance
• Using credit, merit and distinction certificates to increase and acknowledge good attendance patterns
• Using creative ideas to help improve attendance
• Offering a half day targeted support to schools
• Communicating the need for good attendance through school newsletters, websites, letters to parents etc.
• Negotiating discounts on behalf of families, to encourage better attendance during term time
• Using school notice boards to display Project literature, news and school attendance achievements
• Re-launching an interactive website for kids, parents and professionals, to share good practice, and downloadable materials/tools.

Coming soon:

• Producing a “Spike Attendance Newsletter” to share all the Project’s news and success stories.

Contact Details

Telephone: 020 8313 4151
Fax: 020 8313 4145
e-mail: education.welfare@bromley.gov.uk

Address:
Education Welfare Service, Children and Young People Department, London Borough of Bromley, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley BR1 3UH