It outlines how schools, academy trusts, governing bodies and local authorities should maintain high levels of school attendance.

This guidance should be read alongside the statutory guidance documents on children missing education, supporting pupils at school with medical conditions, education for children with health needs who cannot attend school, suspensions and exclusions, alternative provision, and Keeping Children Safe in Education.

This statutory guidance is for:

– local-authority-maintained schools

– academies

– independent schools

– local authorities

It also summarises:

– the roles and responsibilities of parents and carers, schools, trusts, governing bodies and local authorities

– how you can support families and pupils who are persistently or severely absent, or at risk of becoming so

– the legal interventions schools and local authorities can use when attendance support does not work, is not engaged with or is not appropriate

– what schools must record in their attendance and admission register