Your basket

Your basket is empty.

To request a quote or invoice, add the items first: the request sends the items in your basket.

Browse planners and resources

The basket shows up to 10 different items. Review your complete basket at checkout; a quote or invoice request includes every item.

Request a quote or invoice

Include your school’s purchase order number if you have one.

Your current basket’s products, selected options, SKUs and quantities will be included. Prices and delivery are confirmed when we issue the quote or invoice.

England

Attendance policy

Official wording, responsibilities and review duties.

Evidence link

Back to School Policy Checker

Requirement and scope

Choose the governance type; academy and maintained duties differ. Choose a phase; confirm age and provision conditions.

Maintained school

Statutory policy [1]

Should publish. Website publication within the stated scope. [1]

Source-established phases
Primary, Secondary, All-through, Special
Source-established school types
Mainstream school, Special school
EYFS condition
No separate EYFS condition stated
Accountable
not stated in the source
Approval
not stated in the source
Operational owner
Senior attendance champion on the school leadership team [1]
Review cycle
Review and update as necessary [1]

Independent schools and pupil referral units are outside this catalogue’s supported governance mapping.

Academy or free school

Statutory policy [1]

Should publish. Website publication within the stated scope. [1]

Source-established phases
Primary, Secondary, All-through, Special
Source-established school types
Mainstream school, Special school
EYFS condition
No separate EYFS condition stated
Accountable
not stated in the source
Approval
not stated in the source
Operational owner
Senior attendance champion on the school leadership team [1]
Review cycle
Review and update as necessary [1]

Independent schools and pupil referral units are outside this catalogue’s supported governance mapping.

The attendance guidance is statutory guidance. It does not establish board-only approval or a universal legal annual review cycle.

Official wording

Chapter 2, paragraph 24

24. An effective whole school culture of high attendance is underpinned by clear expectations, procedures, and responsibilities. To ensure all leaders, staff, pupils, and parents understand these expectations, all schools are expected to have a clear, written school attendance policy based on the expectations set out this guidance. As a minimum it should detail:

Working together to improve school attendance · Reviewed 2026-10-26

Chapter 2, paragraph 27

27. The policy should be easily accessible to leaders, staff, pupils, and parents, including being published on the school’s website. Parents should be sent it with any initial information when pupils join the school and reminded of it at the beginning of each school year and when it is updated.

Working together to improve school attendance · Reviewed 2026-10-26

Chapter 2, paragraph 28

school year and when it is updated. 28. As the barriers to attendance evolve quickly, the policy should be reviewed and updated as necessary. In doing so, schools should seek the views of pupils and parents.

Working together to improve school attendance · Reviewed 2026-10-26

Chapter 2, leadership

welfare and should therefore be seen as everyone’s responsibility in school. That starts with the senior attendance champion on the school’s leadership team, but includes all school staff. 14. The most effective schools consistently promote the benefits of good attendance at

Working together to improve school attendance · Reviewed 2026-10-26

Sources and updates

Official evidence reviewed 2026-10-26. Check the source edition and conditions before acting.

  1. Working together to improve school attendance

    Reviewed edition matches. GOV.UK metadata checked; captured PDF matches the reviewed edition. Live file bytes are unverified.

    Reviewed on
    2026-10-26
    Reviewed version
    2026-07-09T16:00:01+01:00
    Last checked
    2026-10-27T11:00:36.203Z
    Reviewed text digest (SHA-256)
    89278ec326162c940960a2098a6c340e40a5d8da9a4b31ad32f01be65e091626
    Official content identity
    979ad9df-bc2d-482e-8727-5a3a9272d153
    Official content digest (SHA-256)
    570453b8868af6f3735483764e1936e63d4f13c449d7d73ad9d367abb3f1e4b9
    Reviewed PDF digest (SHA-256)
    2a9059dc8e49a7bc7650b5ce7031efd1f64cb6eb8b816b5cf2dfce1657a3f079

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4f9ec6a6586e258d371bd0/Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance_2026.pdf

    Official attachment · https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4f9ec6a6586e258d371bd0/Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance_2026.pdf

    Track updates in the Roundup

Guidance, not legal advice. Local checks are not a compliance judgement; other duties may apply.