School attendance and exclusions

We understand that difficulties with attendance or facing an exclusion from school can be difficult to manage on your own. We can help you to understand the process, navigate the law and find support.

Issues with school attendance

There are lots of reasons that a child or young person might struggle to attend school. Some children or young people may struggle because of anxieties or difficulties that may be associated with their special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). When reduced attendance relates to mental health and well-being, this may sometimes be referred to as emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA).

Understanding your rights

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance to help schools, local authorities, and families understand their rights and responsibilities.

The guidance recognises that:

Some pupils face greater barriers to attendance than their peers, including due to long term medical conditions or SEND.
All pupils have a right to an education, regardless of illness or SEND and therefore ambitions for their attendance should be the same.
Schools should be mindful of the barriers these pupils face and put additional support in place where necessary to help them access their full-time education.

Resolving attendance issues

Schools have a legal duty under the Children’s and Families Act 2014 to work with children, young people and their families to identify and support any special needs that a child or young person may have.

If your child or a young person is refusing to attend school, or if school are concerned about their attendance, then the school and local authority should work with you to try and solve the problem.

You should raise your concerns directly with the school and ask for a meeting to be arranged to discuss the child or young person's attendance and what can be done to address it.

The school or educational setting may offer the following support:

Making reasonable adjustments where a pupil has a disability, or putting in place an individual healthcare plan where needed.
Considering whether additional support from external partners (including the local authority or health services) would be appropriate
Making referrals in a timely manner and working together with those services to deliver any subsequent support.
Working with families to develop specific support approaches for attendance for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, including (where applicable) ensuring the provision outlined in the pupil’s education, health and care plan is accessed.
Working with families to help support routines where school transport is regularly being missed and work with other partners to encourage the scheduling of additional support interventions.

How we can help with school attendance issues

We can provide further information and advice, or help you and/or a child or young person to prepare for a meeting with the school to discuss attendance.

For help and advice on school attendance issues, please contact us.

Access more information and support about school attendance issues

You can also find more information and support using the following resources:

Exclusion

We can help if a child or young person:

is at risk of suspension or exclusion
has received a suspension or fixed term exclusion
has received a permanent exclusion

How we can help with exclusions

We can discuss your individual circumstances with you. We can work directly with children and young people to ensure their voice is heard and provide information, advice, and support to parents and carers.

Please contact us to discuss any issues about a child or young person facing exclusion.

Access more information and support about exclusions