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Understanding a pupil’s barriers to attendance

When you're concerned about a pupil's attendance, follow these steps to help you get to the bottom of the issue. Find out how to work with the pupil and their parents/carers, and then use what you’ve found to create a bespoke reintegration plan.

Last reviewed on 7 July 2025
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 46767
Contents
  1. Ideally, use a proactive and preventative approach
  2. Take action as soon as you notice a drop in attendance
  3. Use our template to gather evidence
  4. Assemble a team to support the pupil and their family
  5. Gather information about the pupil
  6. Get information from colleagues
  7. Invite the parents/carers into school to talk
  8. Hear directly from the pupil
  9. Create a plan for reintegration

Ideally, use a proactive and preventative approach

It's best to take a proactive, preventative approach to attendance – looking at your data and targeting your 'at risk' pupil groups before their attendance dips, rather than focussing on individual pupils once their attendance gets off track. We explain how to do this in our article on how to develop an attendance strategy.

As part of a strategic approach, you'll sometimes need to work with individual pupils and their families. Use this guide to identify a pupil’s barriers to attendance, and to help you create a reintegration plan that's tailored to their specific needs.

Take action as soon as