Attendance

School attendance is a vital aspect of a child's education, and there are clear expectations for parents, teachers, and schools. The UK has laws in place to ensure regular and consistent attendance, and these expectations help create a beneficial learning environment for pupils and students.

UK Law:

In the UK, the Education Act 1996 sets the legal framework for school attendance. Key points regarding the law include:

Compulsory Education Age: All children between the ages of 5 and 18 must receive an education. This education can be in the form of school attendance, home education, alternative provision or, if they are 16-18, part of a formal training & apprenticeship scheme.
Regular Attendance: Parents are legally required to ensure their child's regular attendance at school. Persistent unexplained absences or irregular attendance can result in legal action against parents.
Penalties for Non-Attendance: If parents fail to ensure their child's regular attendance without a valid reason, they may face fines or prosecution. Schools can refer cases of persistent absenteeism to local authorities, who have the power to issue fines and take legal action.
Exceptional Circumstances: While regular attendance is crucial, there are provisions for exceptional circumstances, such as illness, medical appointments, or religious observance. Parents are expected to communicate these reasons to the school. Please check with your child’s school regarding reporting , as they may have additional requirements.
Support for Vulnerable Students: Schools and local authorities have a responsibility to identify and support vulnerable students who may be at risk of poor attendance due to various factors, including safeguarding concerns.

In addition to the UK Law as stated above, we have outlined below the different obligations placed upon parents, teachers and schools. For further information on how you can support your child with attendance, please click here to go to the relevant page in the Supporting Your Child section.

Parents:

Parents in England are legally obligated to ensure their child's regular attendance at school. They must send their child to school on time and ensure they attend school on all school days unless there is a valid reason for absence. Valid reasons include illness, medical appointments, and religious observance. Parents should notify the school promptly if their child is unable to attend due to any of these reasons. Religious observance and medical appointments should be communicated to the school in advance, where possible. If a child is experiencing difficulties attending school due to issues like bullying or health concerns, please do contact school so that both you and the school can work together to support your child through this.

Please do look at the Engaging Schools section for guidance about how best to contact the school.

Teachers:

Teachers play a critical role in monitoring and encouraging school attendance. They are expected to maintain accurate attendance records for each student and report any unexplained absences to the school leadership team. In cases where a student's attendance becomes a concern, teachers should work collaboratively with the school's pastoral team and parents to address the issue.

Furthermore, teachers are expected to provide a safe and supportive learning environment that motivates students to attend school regularly.

Schools:

Schools are responsible for upholding the legal requirements surrounding attendance and ensuring that they are met. They must have a clear attendance policy in place, which should be communicated to parents and students. This policy outlines expectations, procedures for reporting absences, and the consequences for non-compliance. This attendance policy is usually available on the school website.

Schools also have a duty to monitor attendance closely and identify patterns of poor attendance or persistent absenteeism. When a student's attendance becomes a concern, schools are expected to work closely with parents to understand the underlying issues and provide support as needed. This may include involving external agencies or support services, such as educational welfare officers.