Parental responsibilities
Under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, parents and carers must make sure their child (aged 5–16) gets full-time education, either at school or in another way. This means making sure they attend school regularly.
Working Together
We encourage parents and schools to work together to create an attendance plan that meets the child’s needs. Understanding barriers and making reasonable adjustments can help reduce anxiety and build confidence.
Parents should:
- Engage with support offered by the school
- Understand the benefits of regular attendance for learning and wellbeing
- Feel reassured that the school has a plan for their child
Schools should make sure any support or adjustments help the child spend as much time in school as possible.
If Support Isn’t Used
If parents do not engage with support, or all options have been tried, schools will work with Education Welfare Officers (EWO). EWOs can formalise support or enforce attendance through legal action.
Alternative Provision
If a child attends alternative provision, parents must make sure they attend on the agreed days and times. Failure to do this may lead to legal action.
Parents should also provide updated medical advice and evidence when possible. If more medical input is needed, we will give parents time to contact their doctor.
