Introduction
Improving attendance is everyone’s business. The barriers to accessing education are wide and complex, both within and beyond the school gates, and are often specific to individual pupils and families. Good attendance begins with school being somewhere pupils want to be and therefore the foundation of securing good attendance is that school is a calm, orderly, safe, and supportive environment where all pupils are keen and ready to learn.
For some children, attending school every day will be harder than for others. Many factors can impact on school attendance including minor ailments, more serious medical conditions, SEND needs, undiagnosed needs, mental health, bullying, cost of living pressures, etc.
These factors can all add to additional challenges to attending school and require a supportive approach. This is why schools, and Warwickshire County Council are committed to working together with families to remove barriers and support your child’s attendance.
The statutory DfE guidance Working together to improve school attendance (GOV.UK) sets out positive expectations for maintained schools, academies, independent schools, and local authorities to support you.
Warwickshire Attendance Service Approach to School Attendance
Warwickshire County Council is committed to supporting schools, families and partners to ensure that every child of compulsory school age receives an efficient, full‑time education that is suitable to their age, aptitude and any special educational needs. Our approach recognises that regular attendance is essential for children to achieve well academically, develop positive wellbeing and secure the best possible life chances.
Improving attendance is everyone’s business and requires a whole‑system, supportive approach, recognising that the barriers to school attendance are often complex and individual to each child and family. Warwickshire works collaboratively with schools and families to identify and remove these barriers, promoting calm, safe and inclusive school environments where children want to attend and are ready to learn. This approach is underpinned by statutory expectations set out in the Department for Education’s Working together to improve school attendance guidance. Here is our our full Warwickshire Attendance Service Approach to Supporting School Attendance September 2025 (PDF, 3.95 MB).