This training programme equips newly appointed Attendance Leads or staff with the knowledge, skills and confidence to establish a robust and impactful attendance culture.
It reflects the principles set out in the Working Together to Improve School Attendance (DfE, 2024) and integrates current research on pupil engagement, inclusion, and belonging.
Participants will develop practical expertise in applying national guidance, interpreting data, building whole-school strategies and leading early intervention to improve attendance outcomes for all pupils.
"This programme has had a truly transformative impact on our school’s culture.
Expertly grounded with the latest evidence and trends, it provided invaluable opportunities for careful reflection and analysis.
It directly empowered us to reshape our approach, embedding highly effective, preventative systems and processes driven by impactful daily action and a shared sense of collective responsibility across all staff.
The ultimate validation of this work came during our recent OfSTED inspection under the new framework, where we achieved 'Strong' for Attendance and Behaviour.
The HMI explicitly commented that leaders' actions were ‘exemplary and extraordinary’ - a phenomenal outcome that this training directly and greatly contributed to."
Mr Joe Perree
Headteacher, St. Gregory's Catholic Primary School
Why Attend?
By the end of this course, participants will:
- Understand legal and statutory expectations around attendance
- Be familiar with DfE guidance and compliance checks
- Learn how to use key data tools (e.g. View Your Attendance reports)
- Identify strategic cohorts (PA, SA, margin data bands)
- Design and implement a graduated whole-school attendance response
- Communicate confidently with parents and staff about attendance
- Use absence data to inform support and challenge
- Have effective day-to-day processes in place which build to a school-wide approach to improving attendance and punctuality.
- Develop a cycle of impactful actions each term.
- Prepare attendance narratives for governors, Ofsted and wider stakeholders
What will it cover?
- Policy & Legislation: Statutory registers, coding, DfE expectations, safeguarding link
- Culture & Ethos: Building attendance into school identity, pupil belonging, and staff modelling
- The Graduated Response: Identify barriers/Support–Challenge model, from first response to NTIs
- Attendance Data Deep Dive: View Your Data reports, registration certificates, margin bands, forensic tools
- Strategic Leadership & Team Building: Roles and responsibilities, staff CPD, accountability structures
- Parent Communication & Escalation: Letters, texts, scripts, partnership working
- Evaluating Impact: Evidence tracking, governor reporting, and preparation for inspection
Who should attend?
Newly appointed Attendance Leads/ Pastoral Leads/Senior Leaders with Attendance Oversight /Attendance Officers/Attendance admin
Staff should attend all three sessions.
Cost
£ 300
All costs are subject to VAT. Failure to cancel or non-attendance will incur costs. All cancellations must be completed online at My Account at least 48 hours in advance.
