Attendance interventions are broken down into three categories: voluntary, formal and statutory involvement.
The Attendance Support Team works with schools to support appropriate consideration of the level of intervention required. Where voluntary support is not resulting in attendance improvement, schools may wish to consider more formal interventions.
Voluntary Support
Voluntary support aims to identify and address barriers to attendance at the earliest opportunity.
This may include:
- Meetings with parents/carers
- School-based support
- Pastoral intervention
- Early Help support
- Referrals to specialist services
- Attendance support through Sutton’s Graduated Response
The focus at this stage is on understanding barriers and working collaboratively with families to improve attendance.
Related resource: Attendance Graduated Response
Formal Support
Where attendance concerns continue despite voluntary support, schools may consider more formal intervention.
This may include:
- Attendance Improvement Plans
- Attendance Contracts
- Multi-agency meetings
- Targeted support from the Attendance Support Team
- Consideration through the Complex Attendance Panel
Formal interventions provide a structured framework for agreeing actions, monitoring progress and supporting attendance improvement.
Related documents:
- Attendance Improvement Plan (Template)
- Complex Attendance Panel Guidance
Statutory Attendance Support
Where voluntary and formal interventions have not resulted in sufficient improvement, statutory attendance interventions may be considered.
The Attendance Support Team supports schools with:
- Fixed Penalty Notices
- Education Supervision Orders
Further information can be found on the Legal Intervention page.
Statutory Children’s Social Care Involvement
Attendance concerns can sometimes form part of wider safeguarding concerns.
Where there are concerns that a child may be suffering significant harm, or where a child’s needs cannot be met through universal and targeted services alone, schools should consider whether a referral to Children’s Social Care is appropriate.
This may include circumstances where:
- Persistent absence is linked to wider welfare concerns
- Concerns exist regarding neglect
- There are concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing
- Multiple interventions have failed to secure engagement and support is still required
Schools should follow their safeguarding procedures and seek advice from their Designated Safeguarding Lead where appropriate.
Related guidance:
Attendance Prosecution
Attendance prosecution should be considered where all other appropriate interventions have been exhausted or are not considered appropriate.
Before prosecution is considered, schools should be able to demonstrate that:
- Attendance concerns have been identified and addressed
- Support has been offered
- Appropriate interventions have been implemented
- The family has been informed of their legal responsibilities
Attendance prosecutions are progressed through the Magistrates’ Court and are considered on a case-by-case basis following consultation with the Attendance Support Team.
Schools should discuss potential prosecution cases with their allocated Education Welfare Officer before submitting a referral.
Related resources:
- Legal Intervention
- Penalty Notice Code of Conduct 2024
Need Advice?
If you are unsure which level of intervention is appropriate, please contact your allocated Education Welfare Officer or contact the Attendance Support Team via: attendance@cognus.org.uk
The Attendance Support Team can provide advice on attendance concerns, intervention planning, escalation pathways and available support services.