Absence and attendance
Contents
Absence data and expectations
4 articles- Attendance: national, LA and school dataCompare your school's attendance data to others locally and nationally, using our summary of the data and templates. Learn how the data is collected and how to make your own data tables using the DfE website.
- Attendance: the legal requirementsParents and carers have a legal responsibility to send their child to school. Read on for guidance on authorised absence and learn what to do if a pupil isn't attending.
- Study leave for pupils: requirements and guidanceFind out if you can grant study leave and what you need to consider when granting it. Plus, learn which absence codes to use, and whether study leave counts towards attendance figures.
Authorised and unauthorised absence
4 articles- Absence and attendance in the sixth formFind out what you need to record in your register for sixth-form students. Learn about setting sanctions and whether you have to inform parents about students' absence.
- Absence requests for religious observanceMake sure you know how to handle requests for absence from both pupils and staff due to religious events. Find links to calendars including religious celebrations, so you can keep on top of dates when you might see absence requests.
- Pupil term-time absence: what you need to knowTerm-time absences can only be granted in 'exceptional circumstances'. Understand what you need to consider when deciding whether a circumstance is 'exceptional' and making a judgement on how long the pupil needs to be away from school.
Recording attendance
1 articles- Attendance register: requirements and guidanceBe clear on the rules for registering pupil attendance and absence, so you can make sure your school is compliant. Find guidance on when to close the register, and see what approaches other schools take.
Strategies for managing attendance
11 articles- Attendance and mental wellbeing: supporting pupilsUnderstand how to support pupils struggling with their mental health to attend school, and what to do when they feel like they can’t. Read about your next steps on a whole-school level, how to work with parents and carers and find helpful tips for supporting individual pupils.
- Attendance reintegration plansSupport pupils to improve their attendance with our template reintegration plan. Get guidance on how to work with the pupil and their family to create an effective plan that's tailored to the individual's barriers to attendance.
- Case study: how 1 school improved attendance with a culture of belongingLearn how 1 school has managed to improve its attendance by up to 10%, and see if any of the strategies it uses could also work for you.