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Being surrounded by teachers and friends in school helps to keep children safe and supports them to reach their potential. We’re committed to tackling the factors causing children to miss school, in particular issues surrounding mild illness, anxiety and term-time holidays.
This bulletin brings together the latest advice on how to support pupils and improve attendance with a range of tips, resources and materials you might find useful.
What a difference starting and ending term well makes
There is strong evidence of a pattern of higher absence on Fridays and in the final week of term. But this Christmas there may be particular risk because a number of schools are breaking up later in December than usual. In this blog, we hear from Richard Prime, the headteacher of Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School. He shares 6 actionable steps that schools can take to help push strong pupil attendance on Fridays and in final weeks.
Willow’s Primary Academy has been recognised for its excellent work on improving pupil attendance and has since been selected to be an Attendance Hub. In this blog, Sarah Cox, headteacher explains the school’s attendance initiatives – which are very popular with their pupils! From attendance cards and stamps to a full year attendance calendar – there are some great ideas for initiatives schools can carry out at the start of term, or in the final weeks of term.
Speaking to parents about attendance
Different factors are now influencing decision making for some parents, carers and pupils around whether a child or young person attends school. Starting to influence pupil, parent and carer behaviours is one part of tackling this issue. We’ve produced a toolkit which provides examples to help you communicate with parents and carers about school attendance and ensure high standards.
Mild illness guidance
We know that winter is one of the peak times for adults and children to come down with mild illnesses such as colds, coughs and sore throats. This is the perfect time to share resources with parents on key attendance practices, which aid in making judgements about mild illness, as well as wider guidance:
GPs and attendance
Many schools work in partnership with local GPs to tackle health challenges. Earlier this year, The Royal College of GPs adopted five principles supporting attendance. The Royal College is part of the Attendance Action Alliance and has been raising awareness of the attendance issue and the important role GPs play.
Mild anxiety guidance
Being in school and having the best attendance possible underpins all the many benefits of school - not just children’s learning but their wellbeing and wider development. But, for some children, attending school every day will be harder than for others.
This helpful guide encourages parents to actively work with their child’s school if a pupil is worried about attending due to issues at home, in the classroom or playground.
Ofsted has recently published a useful blog and webinar on attendance. The webinar discussion is chaired by Lee Owston, HMI and Deputy Director, Schools and Early Education, with inspectors and DfE experts contributing. It looks in detail at the attendance landscape and Ofsted’s approach.
It's never too late: improving attendance for persistent absentees even in year 11 makes a difference to results
On 2 November 2023 the Children’s Commissioner reported new data suggesting that persistent absentees in year 10 whose attendance improved in year 11 were much more likely to get 5 good GCSEs than those whose attendance didn’t. 54% of pupils who were persistently absent in year 10 and then rarely absent in year 11 passed at least 5 GCSEs including English and maths, compared to 36% of pupils who were persistently absent in both years.
Pupils missing school to engage in protests
While we understand students may have strong feelings related to world events, the Department is clear that missing school to engage in protests is unacceptable. Find DfE guidance and a letter written by the Secretary of State on the topic here.
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