Information on 10-day Plus Absences

Update coming soon

The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 state that schools must:

"... make to the local education authority ... a return giving the full name and address of every registered pupil of compulsory school age who ...

... (b) has been absent from school, where the absence has not been treated as authorised in accordance with regulation 6(2) for a continuous period of not less than ten school days, and specifying the cause of absence if known to the proprietor ...“

What will we do with this information?

It is important as a local authority that we continue to have a central record of all children who have been absent for ten days continuously (and the absence is unauthorised). The importance of this reporting arrangement has also been underlined during very recent school inspections in our area where inspectors have contacted the LA to understand how the school fulfils its responsibilities in this regard.

It is vital that schools put in place appropriate safeguarding responses for children who are absent without authorisation, including for significant periods of time, and for children who go missing from school, particularly on repeat occasions. There are many circumstances where children may become ‘missing’ or may be absent; through these, children can be at significant risk, including risk of harm, neglect, abuse, exploitation and radicalisation, for example, as well as the risks of underachieving, poor outcomes, and becoming NEET. As per Working Together to safeguard children 2018, ‘Early intervention is necessary to identify the existence of any underlying safeguarding risk and to help prevent the risks of a child going missing in future.’ Schools must take every step to ensure that all children are safeguarded, and as part of their safeguarding duties should investigate any unexplained absences as per KCSIE statutory guidance.

As per the CME guidance 2016:

‘Schools must monitor pupils’ attendance through their daily register. Schools should agree with their local authority the intervals at which they will inform local authorities of the details of pupils who fail to attend regularly, or have missed ten school days or more without permission. Schools should monitor attendance closely and address poor or irregular attendance. It is important that pupils’ poor attendance is referred to the local authority.'