Cradle to Career: Boosting school attendance in North Birkenhead
An attendance boosting programme is helping children and young people in one of Wirral's most disadvantaged areas to stay in school and succeed.
The Attendance Pilot by Cradle to Career was created in 2021 to tackle the root causes of the all-time highest levels of absenteeism in schools and growing mental health concerns amongst students in North Birkenhead.
Cradle to Career was established in 2019 to improve outcomes for children and young people in North Birkenhead, one of the most deprived areas in the Liverpool City Region. Cradle to Career, in partnership with Wirral Council, aims to brings together local services, organisations, professionals, residents and community leaders together to support the children and young people.
Cradle to Career investing in programmes that address challenges early on is helping young people succeed academically but also build on their confidence and resilience so they can thrive both in school and beyond.
The pilot has successfully implemented changes such as:
- Redesigning the referrals process: consultations with head teachers showed that the formal paperwork and strict criteria for referrals needed simplifying as they often did not suit every child. A new school-based panel system was introduced to allow quicker referrals and earlier intervention, with each child’s needs assessed on an individual basis.
- Creating the Inspiring Futures Programme: a 6-9 week course that helps students at risk of disengaging with the school reconnect with learning. The programme has improved attendance by an average of 16%, with some students seeing gains of over 45%.
- Introducing Family Connectors: this role helps parents access resources, like autism support and community services. Family Connectors bridge the gap between home and school, making it easier for parents and teachers to work together.
Due to the success at one high school, the Attendance Pilot was expanded to an additional high school and two primary schools in North Birkenhead. The Inspiring Futures Programme was also tailored to support primary school students, focusing on a group of 10-year-olds identified as at risk of future attendance issues. This early intervention aims to build good attendance habits, helping to prevent challenges as they transition into high school.
Recently, the initiative’s success has been celebrated in a report from Child of the North and the Centre for Young Lives. The report praised the programme as an inspiration for new approaches to tackling the country-wide attendance crisis.
Showcasing promising results and expanding the offer to more children is a testament to the great work carried out by the Cradle to Career team. The pilot is fulfilling its vision to lower school absences and ensure that every child in North Birkenhead has a chance to succeed.
By engaging schools, families and local organisations, the pilot has fostered a collaborative network focused on supporting children and young people. The initiative has not only improved individual attendance rates but has also strengthened connections across the community and paved the way for future positive changes in the North Birkenhead community.
