Improving school attendance
Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, thrive and succeed
Regular school attendance helps children and young people learn, build friendships, develop confidence and achieve their potential. It is also an important part of safeguarding and supporting children's wellbeing.
Multi-Agency School Attendance Strategy 2026–2029
Gloucestershire County Council and partners have launched a new Multi-Agency School Attendance Strategy 2026–2029 to help improve attendance across the county. The strategy brings together schools, health services, children's services, voluntary organisations and other partners to ensure families get the right support at the right time. The strategy recognises that improving attendance is not something schools can always do alone.
The Department for Education's attendance guidance highlights the importance of schools, families, local authorities, health services and other partners working together to understand and address the root causes of absence.
Support comes first
We know there are many reasons why children and young people may struggle to attend school. These can include anxiety, health needs, friendship issues, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), family circumstances, or other barriers outside the school environment.
That's why our approach focuses on support first.
We want to work with families to understand what is making attendance difficult and find solutions together. The earlier support is provided, the more likely we are to prevent problems from escalating.
Every school in Gloucestershire has an attendance champion who can work with children, young people and families to:
- Understand barriers to attendance
- Offer practical advice and support
- Help develop plans to improve attendance
- Connect families with wider services where needed
- Ensure concerns are identified and addressed early
Why attendance matters
Every child is entitled to a full-time education. Being in school regularly helps children to:
- Achieve their best academically
- Build positive relationships with friends and trusted adults
- Develop social and emotional skills
- Feel safe, included and supported
- Access opportunities that can improve their future life chances
Children who miss significant amounts of education can find it harder to keep up with learning, maintain friendships and access the support available in school. Regular attendance is also recognised as an important protective factor for safeguarding children.
What should I do if my child is struggling with attendance?
If your child is finding it difficult to attend school, the most important thing is to seek help early. Your child's school is usually the best place to start. Speak to your child's attendance champion, class teacher, tutor, pastoral lead or another trusted member of staff. The school can work with you to understand what's causing the difficulty and discuss what support may help.
Support available
Depending on your circumstances, support may include:
- Help establishing routines
- Emotional wellbeing support
- Support with transitions between schools or year groups
- SEND-related support
- Early help services
- Health-related support and advice
- Signposting to community organisations and family services