Southend-on-Sea City Council Inclusion Team

Part-time timetables, sometimes referred to as modified learning plans (MLPs), are when the school and parents have agreed a revised timetable in which the pupil is expected to attend for fewer hours / days than would be considered normal in full-time education.

In the Department for Education (DfE) guidance “Working Together to Improve School Attendance” the DfE outlines the following relating to part-time timetables:

• all pupils of compulsory school age are entitled to a full-time education. In very exceptional circumstances, where it is in a pupil's best interests, there may be a need for a temporary part-time timetable to meet their individual needs. For example, where a medical condition prevents a pupil from attending full-time education and a part-time timetable is considered as part of a re-integration package
• a part-time timetable should not be used to manage a pupil's behaviour
• part-time timetable must only be in place for the shortest time necessary and not be treated as a long-term solution
• any pastoral support programme or other agreement should have a time limit by which point the pupil is expected to attend full-time, either at school or alternative provision
• there should also be formal arrangements in place for regularly reviewing a part-time timetable with the pupil and their parents
• a part-time timetable must only be used with the consent of parents/carers

The DfE further recommends that part-time timetables should be 6 to 8 weeks. Any pastoral support programme or other agreement must have a time limit by which point the pupil is expected to attend full-time or be provided with alternative provision. In agreeing to a reduced timetable, a school has agreed to a pupil being absent from school for part of the week or day and therefore must record it as an authorised absence.

At Southend City Council, we align with these principals and therefore ask for the following:

• that part-time timetables should only be used in very limited circumstances
• that the Local Authority is informed of every child of compulsory school age, that is not in receipt of full-time education