Legal Intervention: Referral Form: Pilot

Before You Submit a Legal Intervention Referral

Legal intervention referrals should only be submitted where attendance concerns meet the required threshold and appropriate school-based support and interventions have already been completed.

In most cases, referrals should relate to a period where there have been at least 10 sessions of unauthorised absence (codes O and/or U) within a rolling 10-school-week period. Schools should ensure registers are accurate and that all unauthorised sessions included within the referral are supported by appropriate attendance records.

Before making a referral, schools should have:

Identified and explored any barriers to attendance.
Implemented and recorded appropriate attendance support and interventions.
Engaged with parents/carers and, where appropriate, the child.
Considered Early Help and other support services where needed.
Discussed the case with their Local Authority Education Welfare Officer.

Submitting a referral does not automatically result in legal action. Each case will be reviewed individually, taking into account the attendance history, support offered, engagement with the family, and any mitigating circumstances, to determine the most appropriate next steps.

Before you start

Before completing the Legal Intervention Referral Form, please ensure you have gathered all relevant information and supporting evidence.

📄 Download the Legal Intervention Referral Form template

The editable template can be used to gather information, obtain contributions from colleagues, and prepare your referral before submitting it online. It also provides an overview of the information and supporting documentation that may be required as part of the referral process.

Save and Continue

If you prefer to complete the online form directly, you can use the Save and Continue feature to save your progress and return at a later date.

When you select Save and Continue, a unique link will be generated which will allow you to access your partially completed referral. Please keep this link safe, as it will be required to return to and complete your saved submission.

Legal Intervention Referral Form

Use this form to refer attendance cases where school-based support, early intervention and voluntary engagement have not resulted in sustained improvements in attendance, and statutory attendance intervention may need to be considered. Schools should ensure that appropriate attendance support has been offered, interventions have been documented, and all relevant evidence is included with the referral. The Attendance Support Team will review the information provided and determine the most appropriate course of action in line with statutory guidance, local authority procedures and the individual circumstances of the child and family.

Step 1 of 7

School Details

Name of Referrer(Required)

Job title of Referrer(Required)

School Name(Required)

Email Address(Required)

Who is my schools LA Education Welfare Officer(Required)

Please select from the list below of allocated EWO’s

Confirmation of Consultation with the Local Authority Education Welfare Officer(Required)

Please note that all legal intervention cases and referrals should be discussed with your schools allocated officer prior to submission.

I confirm that this case has been discussed with my Local Authority Education Welfare Officer prior to submitting this referral.

I have NOT discussed this case with our Local Authority Education Welfare Officer.

Prior consultation with the school’s allocated Education Welfare Officer is required before submitting this referral. Cases that have not been discussed with the Attendance Support Team in advance will not be accepted for consideration.

Please read the following statement(Required)

I agree to support the full Legal Intervention process, including providing witness statements and headteachers certificates (S566s) when asked for cases proceeding to prosecution. – The Headteacher agrees that where a referral is completed by a member of staff other than the Headteacher this will still be the case. – I can confirm that our school attendance policy clearly lays out the expectations for pupil attendance and what regular attendance means.

I confirm

Pupil Details

UPN(Required)

Please input the unique pupil number

Name(Required)

First Last

Year Group(Required)

Please note for Reception children statutory school age starts the term after the child turns 5. Please note for year 11 pupils, we will not be accepting any new referrals past the end of the Spring Term.

Date of birth(Required)

Address (including postcode)(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

Full name of main parent (or carer)(Required)

Title First Last

Full name of other parent (or carer)

Title First Last

If parents do not live in the same property please provide other address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

Address Verification

To support consideration of statutory attendance intervention, please provide details of any address verification activity undertaken.

Has the family's address been verified?(Required)

Yes

Address verification attempted but unable to confirm

Date of address verification(Required)

Outcome of address verification(Required)

Please provide a brief summary of the findings, including any concerns regarding residency, occupancy or contact with the family.

Referral Request

Referrals should relate to a period where there have been at least 10 sessions of unauthorised absence (codes O and/or U) within a rolling 10-school-week period. Schools should ensure registers are accurate and that all unauthorised sessions included within the referral are supported by appropriate attendance records.

Offence Start Date(Required)

Please provide the date on which the attendance concern reached the threshold for the offence being referred.

Offence End Date(Required)

Please provide the final date of the offence period being referred.

Number of school sessions available(Required)

i.e. 10 sessions in a full school week – please make sure this covers the whole offence period stated above

Number of unauthorised sessions(Required)

Recorded as either O or U codes

Why are you referring this case for legal intervention?(Required)

Please provide a summary of the attendance concerns, interventions already undertaken, parental engagement to date, and the reasons why you believe statutory attendance intervention should now be considered.

What outcome or support are you seeking from this referral?(Required)

Please outline the action, guidance, or statutory intervention you feel may be appropriate, and any specific support you would like the Attendance Support Team to consider as part of this case.

Is there any additional information you would like the Attendance Support Team to consider?(Required)

Please upload the following documents where available:(Required)

Registration Certificate – Attendance report – Attendance contract – Meeting records and correspondence – Early Help documentation – Medical evidence (where relevant) – Other supporting evidence

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 120 MB, Max. files: 10.

Please provide any further information you think may be relevant(Required)

Legal Intervention: Referral Form: Pilot

Before You Submit a Legal Intervention Referral

Before you start

Save and Continue

Legal Intervention Referral Form

School Details

Pupil Details

Address Verification

Attendance Information

Barriers to Attendance

School Support and Intervention

Parent/Carer Engagement

Child's Voice

Previous Formal Action

Referral Request