The Truancy Workshop:

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This workshop isn’t just another talk about attendance—it’s about helping students see the real value of their choices and reframe their perspective on school. Through hands-on activities, we’ll explore the realities of daily life, like the cost of living and everyday expenses. We’ll compare it to crossing a river: without qualifications, it’s like wading through deep water, struggling to move forward. But with an education, it’s like having a sturdy bridge—making it easier to reach their goals and create the future they want. Our aim is to shift the mindset from attending school because they have to, to attending because they want to, by helping them understand how education empowers them to build a better life.

What to expect:

• Understanding and Addressing Barriers
  We will:

• Explore the direct link between attendance, grades, and future opportunities
• Address real concerns like personal issues, feeling unsupported, or struggling with lessons
• Create a safe space for students to voice their concerns
• Work together to find practical solutions to overcome barriers

• Setting and Achieving Personalised Attendance Goals
   
  • Students will create their own contract, setting a realistic goal they’re genuinely willing to commit to
  • While we aim for 100% attendance, students will start with a goal based on their current situation
  • Students will focus on gradual improvement, with an emphasis on continuous progress

By guiding students through these activities, our goal is to help them develop a deeper connection to their education, increasing both their engagement and motivation to attend school regularly.

For this intervention to succeed, collaboration between key staff and The RAILS Project facilitator is crucial. There may be underlying reasons for low attendance that can only be effectively addressed within the school setting, and working together ensures these issues are properly understood and resolved

• 3-Day Intensive Course: Designed to disrupt persistent truancy and show that full attendance is achievable.
• Practical Example: Students experience hands-on activities that demonstrate how commitment to attendance can lead to greater opportunities.
• Personalised Support: Delivered in small groups to ensure focused attention and tailored solutions for each student.
• Motivation & Encouragement: Ongoing support throughout the intervention with reminder calls, motivational texts, and positive reinforcement.
• Goal-Oriented: Helps students identify barriers to attendance and provides actionable steps to overcome them.