School attendance, advice for parents

Parents/carers must make sure their children receive a full-time education that meets their needs. This can be at school or otherwise (Elective Home Education).

If you're concerned about school attendance

Parents who are concerned about attendance should contact their child’s school to tell them about the difficulties. 

Where possible and appropriate, schools will try to assist parents by offering support or referring them to additional support services.  Schools may also ask for medical evidence if a child’s attendance becomes of concern.

Did you know?

Absence disrupts the education of the individual pupil and the whole class. Are you aware those children who do not attend regularly:

• do not achieve well in exams
• find it difficult to maintain friendships
• are more likely to become involved in crime
• miss out on opportunities in further education and the world of work?

Every minute counts

Frequent absence can add up to a considerable amount of lost learning and can seriously disadvantage your child in adult life.

• 5 minutes late every day means around 3 ½ days of education are missed
• a score of 90% in a test would be a good result but 90% attendance means that a child will have missed around 100 lessons over a school year.