FOI Request - Social Work with Absent Children

Request 101003092710

I would like to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 (FOISA):

Social Work with absent children
1) How many children have been referred to social work due to missing school attendance, broken down by a) primary/secondary/special school and b) academic year from 2015/16 to present
2) How many children already known to social work, have seen their school absences rise, and by what percentage broken down by a) primary/secondary/special school and b) academic year from 2018/19 to present
3) How many social work FTE there are in the local authority per academic year 2015/16 to present

Non-attendance at school
1. What is the definition of “non-attender” at a school in the local authority
2. How many pupils are there deemed a non-attender during a) September 2019 b) October 2019 c) November 2019 d) December 2019 e) January 2020 f) February 2020 g) March 2020 and h) September 2021 i) October 2021 j) November 2021 k) December 2021 l) January 2022 m) February 2022 n) March 2022
3. How many children are there, broken down by year group, at less than i) 90%, ii) 50% and iii) 20% attendance during a) September 2019 b) October 2019 c) November 2019 d) December 2019 e) January 2020 f) February 2020 g) March 2020 and h) September 2021 i) October 2021 j) November 2021 k) December 2021 l) January 2022 m) February 2022 n) March 2022

Response 06-07-2022

1. Schools would  have to look through every pupil file to get this information. There are 6903 primary and 5048 secondary pupils, which would equate to 230 hours and 168 hours. This would cost the Council in excess of £600. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, excessive cost, we are therefore unable to comply with your request.

2. 

2021-22
Primary – 247 pupils / 88.5% attendance rate
Secondary – 225 pupils / 76.6% attendance rate

2020-21
Primary – 236 pupils / 91.5% attendance rate
Secondary – 228 pupils / 82.4% attendance rate

2019-20
Primary – 211 pupils / 89.6% attendance rate
Secondary – 189 pupils / 83.0% attendance rate

2018-19
Primary – 223 pupils / 90.6% attendance rate
Secondary – 176 pupils / 85.3% attendance rate

3. As of 31st March      Social Workers FTE
2022                          113.95
2021                          110.6
2020                          102.93
2019                           98.88
2018                           97.52
2017                           89
2016                          No Data - Information not held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.  
2015                          No Data - Information not held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.