Promoting School Attendance
Our Education Welfare Service (EWS) works with schools, families, and young people to improve school attendance. We understand that some children face challenges that make attending school difficult, and we’re here to help remove those barriers.
What We Do
We support schools and families by -
- identifying reasons why a child may not be attending regularly
- working together to find solutions that help the child return to school
- offering advice, support, and referrals to other services when needed
- promoting the importance of good attendance for every child
We believe that improving attendance is a shared responsibility. Schools, families, and local services must work together to support children and make school a place they want to be.
Why Attendance Matters
Children who attend school regularly -
- learn more and achieve better results
- build friendships and social skills
- feel more confident and secure
- are better prepared for future education and work
Poor attendance can lead to gaps in learning and affect a child’s well-being and future opportunities.
How We Work
Our team works in partnership with Schools to -
- monitor attendance, identify concerns early, and offer support and guidance
- bridge the communication between families and school, and identify the support required to signpost to services
and other services such as Early Help, SEND teams, and health professionals, when wider support is needed.
We follow a support-first approach, meaning we focus on helping families before considering formal action
What Parents Can Do
You can support your child’s attendance by -
- supporting your child to attend school daily
- letting the school know quickly if your child is absent
- booking appointments outside school hours when possible
- talking to the school about concerns regarding your child’s attendance
- contact the EWS if you’re struggling to get support from the school or other services
Managing seasonal illnesses
As we move further into the term, we want to remind all settings of the key guidance available to help manage seasonal illnesses and keep pupils and staff well. By following and sharing these resources, settings can support healthier school environments and help maintain high attendance as far as possible throughout the winter months.
- Education Hub Blog - Reducing the spread of illness this winter: Seven steps to healthier schools and higher school attendance – a helpful blog for parents and staff.
- NHS Guidance for Parents - Is my child too ill for school? – a useful resource to help parents decide when children should stay at home.
- Preventing and Controlling Infections Guidance - Includes advice on vaccination, ventilation, and good respiratory hygiene.
- A–Z of managing Infectious Diseases - Practical guidance on managing specific illnesses.