Alongside our core attendance support and intervention services, schools can access a range of additional guidance and specialist services to help remove barriers to education and support good attendance.
Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs
Where a child is unable to access education due to physical health, mental health or emotional wellbeing needs, schools should refer to the London Borough of Sutton’s policy for children who cannot attend school because of health-related needs.
Attendance and Absence Codes
Accurate use of attendance and absence codes is essential for maintaining compliant attendance registers and ensuring attendance data reflects a pupil’s circumstances correctly.
Sutton Attendance Graduated Response
The Sutton Attendance Graduated Response provides a multi-agency framework to support schools, families and professionals in identifying and addressing barriers to attendance at the earliest opportunity.
The framework promotes a coordinated approach to improving attendance and reducing persistent absence.
Penalty Notices
Schools can request consideration of a Fixed Penalty Notice for unauthorised absence by emailing attendance@cognus.org.uk.
Before submitting a request, schools should ensure they have:
- Read the Sutton Penalty Notice Code of Conduct.
- Completed the required referral documentation.
- Gathered evidence of communication with parents and agreed actions.
- Provided attendance registers covering the previous two academic years where appropriate.
Related resources:
- Penalty Notice Code of Conduct
- Online Penalty Notice Request Form
- Parent Information Leaflet
Child Employment and Performance Licensing
Schools may occasionally need to consider requests for absence relating to licensed performances, modelling, sporting activities or child employment.
Our Child Employment Team can provide guidance regarding:
- Child performance licences.
- Body of Persons Approvals (BOPAs).
- Child employment permits.
- Requests for authorised absence relating to performances.
For enquiries, contact: childemployment@cognus.org.uk
Traveller Education Service
The Traveller Education Service supports Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children, young people and families to access education and engage successfully with their school community.
The service works collaboratively with schools and partner agencies to promote inclusion and improve educational outcomes.
Additional guidance
- Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school (statutory DfE guidance)
- Sutton LSCP Protocols – key ones being the Sutton Missing Children Protocol and the Sutton Children Missing Education Protocol. The LSCP site also has a range of advice for parents/carers, for children & young people, and for people working with children, as well as a range of training – some of which may be relevant.