Cumbria Adult Learning Attendance Guidance and Policy 2025 to 2026

Change Log

Introduction

The responsibility group for this guidance and policy is the Cumbria Adult Learning Senior Management Team. The intended audience includes:

• All Managers
• ALS Department
• Learners
• MIS Department
• Other Service Users
• Quality Department
• External Subcontractors (Where applicable)
• Tutors
• Volunteers

Changes for 2025 to 2026

This section sets out the main changes to this guidance and policy since academic year 2024 to 2025:

• Clarified that non-attendance is relating to a session(s) delivered on a weekly basis or a session(s) delivered multiple times in a week.
• Updated the learner expectations section to include reference to the minimum level of punctuality.
• Updated the key performance indicators in line with the ‘Cumbria Adult Learning Funding, Fees and Performance Guidance 2025 to 2026’.

Please note that additional minor updates have also been made throughout this guidance and policy. For this reason, it is recommended that the entire guidance be read carefully.

Policy Aims and Intentions

To monitor and improve levels of attendance on all Cumbria Adult Learning courses and programmes, including work-based, centre based, and online or flexible learning.

We aim to give learners the level of support needed to select and complete their course or programme, ultimately leading to successful completion of their learning aims. It is important that the service aims to be proactive in monitoring performance in this area.

It is the policy of the Service that learner attendance is monitored, reviewed and appropriate strategies are implemented to support learner attendance and retention/achievement and success.

The Service is committed to equal access to the curriculum for all its learners irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, gender and sexual orientation or social and economic circumstances.

Method of Implementation

Attendance is monitored through:

• Attendance and retention data for all provision
• Completion and achievement data for all provision
• Course reviews
• Electronic registers
• IPRs (Individual Progress Record)
• Learner feedback
• Observation of Teaching and Learning
• Services learner withdrawal process
• Staff reviews
• Tutor records

Recording of attendance, for all types of provision, is to be kept digitally using the ProSolution MIS system. To ensure accurate and timely recording of all attendance data for legality reasons, register session marks must reflect the actual date and duration of attendance. All register sessions should be marked within 5 working days of the delivered session. The following marks are available to assist with the accurate completion of the register:

To allow for the amendment of registers, marks for a session can be amended for 8 calendar days from the start date of the timetabled session.

Different Forms of Managing Attendance

First non-attendance: 

• Follow up with learner regarding absence after the first non-attendance (if learner has not notified the tutor and centre).
• If there is a safeguarding concern this should be reported to the Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
• The tutor and centre manager must meet to discuss impact on learning of missed classes and what intervention / action is being put in place to support the learner in catching up on their studies.
• If a learner is withdrawn at this stage, appropriate signposting and Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) to be given by centre via phone call / email or face to face where possible.

Second consecutive non-attendance:

• Learners who fail to attend on two consecutive sessions or weeks will be reviewed with the potential to be withdrawn.
• The tutor and centre manager must meet to discuss impact on learning of missed classes and what intervention / action is being put in place to support the learner in catching up on their studies.
• If a learner is withdrawn at this stage, appropriate signposting and IAG to be given by centre via phone call or email, or face to face where possible.

Third consecutive non-attendance:

• Learners who fail to attend on three consecutive sessions or weeks, will be withdrawn from programme by the appropriate centre.
• It is the tutor’s responsibility to ensure they have appropriate supporting evidence (tutor assessment tracker, adjusted targets in learners IPR’s, etc) to allow learners to continue, but attendance and performance will be monitored by centres.
• When a learner is withdrawn at this stage, appropriate signposting and IAG to be given by centre via phone call or email, or face to face where possible.

Attendance below 92.0%:

• Where Learners attendance drops below 92%, due to non-consecutive missed classes or weeks, appropriate supporting evidence (tutor assessment tracker, adjusted targets in learners IPR’s, etc) to allow learners to continue, but attendance and performance will be monitored by centres.
• If a learner is withdrawn at this stage, appropriate signposting and IAG to be given by centre via phone call or email, or face to face where possible.

In relation to the various forms of non-attendance as aforementioned, please note that an Advanced Practitioner and Area and Curriculum Manager can also be consulted.

Learner Expectations

Learners are expected to:

• attend a minimum of 92% of learning
• achieve punctuality of 93% or higher
• attend all sessions punctually, arriving prepared and ready for a prompt start
• inform centre staff or tutor in advance of non-attendance and reasons for this
• demonstrate consistently high positive attitudes and commitment to their learning
• set a positive example by treating others with respect and dignity
• feedback to their tutor or other appropriate member of staff if they feel they are not progressing

Monitoring and Evaluating

All attendance and punctuality data is reported using the following methodology and are available for reporting purposes.

The following Key Performance Indicators (KPI) will be monitored against throughout the 2025 to 2026 academic year, as stated within the ‘Funding, Fees and Performance Guidance 2025 to 2026’:

To assist with the monitoring of attendance and punctuality, the following ProSolution reports have been available:

• Register Excessive 'N' Mark Report
• Register Excessive 'P' Mark Report
• Register Mark Policy Analysis Report
• Register Punctuality Analysis Report

Tutors and centres are expected to:

• monitor attendance at weekly intervals, as required, using the reporting mechanisms available.
• follow up learner absence after the first non-attendance if learner has not notified the tutor and centre. If there is a safeguarding concern this should be reported to the Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
• Tutor to establish a timely intervention to support learner to address the first non-attendance.
• Centres to keep regular contact with learners when absent (especially when no reason given by learner).
• make necessary arrangements for learners with additional needs to receive appropriate, and timely support such as Learning Support Assistant or Senior Teaching Assistant support, access arrangements, etc.
• provide learning resources and/or support (where applicable) so that learners are not disadvantaged when exceptional circumstances prevent attendance, however, supporting learner performance evidence must be presented to the appropriate Area and Curriculum Manager, before being agreed.
• liaise with key partners such as the job centre or the resettlement team (if learners have been referred by these) to inform if a learner is not attending and put action plans in place for attendance to resume
• deliver high quality teaching, learning and assessment that motivates and inspires learners to attend

Related Policies

• Cumbria Adult Learning Equality and Diversity Policy
• Cumbria Adult Learning Safeguarding and Prevent Policy

Updated: 30 July 2025

Download a copy of the Attendance Guidance and Policy below: