Attendance
Working together to improve school attendance is statutory guidance for schools, academy trusts, governing bodies and local authorities in England, last updated in July 2026. It sets out the expected attendance policy, the attendance and absence codes for registers, and the national framework for penalty notices. This topic covers those duties and the practical side: early support for families, analysing absence data and leading attendance across the school.

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Guidance for Improving School Attendance
The July 2026 DfE guidance on school attendance sets expectations for Senior Attendance Champions, attendance policies, and penalty notices.