Working with partners

There are strong examples of staff collaboration with external partners and agencies to support improvements in children and young people’s attendance. Staff and partners plan interventions that increase engagement and motivation. Effective partnership working includes carefully planned support for identified pupils, such as alternative learning spaces, outdoor learning, careers education and physical or skills-based activities. School staff and partners work well together when they identify the factors affecting attendance and measure improvement for individuals and groups using clear outcome measures.

However, the extent and impact of multi-agency working remain too variable across Scotland. The support that schools receive often depends on how well they understand available services and on the capacity of agencies to engage. Schools and partner agencies should work together to reduce this variability by improving awareness of available services, strengthening communication and referral processes, and making best use of available resources to meet the needs of schools and learners consistently.