This is only a v small part of a larger strategy to prioritise attendance because we know the impact it has on belonging, friendships, confidence and ultimately helps our students open doors in the future.

And there’s lots of regular reminders of support on offer:

We know that the first 2 weeks are so important to build strong habits so we have worked on opening a window to parents explaining why school is too good to miss - (especially on Fridays)

Using the advice and guidance from the fab Jayne Lowe @jloweatBGL we at @WinAcadTrust have been focusing on regular, positive and supportive messaging around attendance, particularly at secondary where we have seen more of a shift nationally post-pandemic:

Reinforcement and celebration is so important and attendance is part of our daily conversation at all levels in school.

We know that the first 2 weeks are important in building strong habits of attendance and we have focused heavily on opening a window into our schools for parents, explaining why school is too good to miss (esp on Fridays!)

Using advice and guidance from the fab Jayne Lowe @jloweatBGL, we at @WindsorTrust have been keeping the messaging around attendance regular, supportive and personalised: a 🧵

Is there better tv than #FieldOfDreams - I think not. Bravo @flintoff11

Schools alone can’t bear the culture of children lost in pointless phone surfing. But for 8 hours a day, 200 days a year they can provide a healthy environment where children can learn and socialise without that impediment.

‘Making sure that teachers have expert knowledge’ 👏🏻 Curriculum and teaching are S-Y-M-B-I-O-T-I-C

Super 🧵!

@educurious2015 @PhoneFreeSchool @educationgovuk Really helpful evaluative tool to review mobile phone policy here from @JonHaidt’s blog

So proud of all you are doing @WinAcadTrust Kat

I would also like to add @PhoneFreeSchool as a very useful network, and @educationgovuk have excellent resources available:

If you have done this in your school and you don't mind sharing your experience or your resources, please add to the chain so that we don't have to reinvent the wheel. @damianmcbeath is always very generous with his time and won't mind me adding him, lets build a chain!

But my most important piece of advice is to build the mandate, then share with all of your community. Parents might surprise you with their support for this, take your time to bring everyone on board as best you can - listening events, FAQs, a decent lead in.

IF you decide that this is the right thing to do, there is loads of help out there. First step is to decide the strategy you will use, boxes which collect phones in or pouches which block signals and children keep with them:

So, if you can build a mandate, if any of these issues are a problem for you in your school, maybe this is your mandate?

So we have made some recommendations which the Commission are continuing to work on alongside key partners.

But this comes with issues... parents want (and sometimes expect) us to have a role but staff are worried...