Supporting school attendance

School attendance action plan template

You can download the School attendance action plan template or view the information below:

Suggested time scale Attendance profile What needs to be done By who/ who with
Day 1 Any absence without reason First-day-of-absence contact School Administrative Officer/ Attendance Officer
Day 3 No response or concern about explanations Letter from school to parent/carers Any of the above and HOY, Head
Day 6 or further 3 days

No response or concern about explanations

Parents/carers to be invited to school meeting. Formal action plan to support attendance to be agreed, individual attendance targets to be included. Date set for further meeting to review plan. Any of the above as well as any other relevant school staff, e.g. Learning Mentor, Attendance Officer, SENCO
Approx 6 weeks (NB: sooner if child completely absent)

Further unauthorised absence

Attendance below 90%

Meeting to review plan and agree a request for support from Early Help Services or referral to the LA Attendance Officer consideration of a Penalty Notice to be issued (if 85% or below)

As above

Legal Action Further unauthorised absence Early Help services to consider initiating legal action or school staff to refer to the LA Attendance Officer for school- initiated prosecution (if attendance below 85%, referral has not been made to Early Help Services or to Attendance Officer team for a Penalty Notice).

Early Help services/School staff/Attendance Officer

Last updated: 29 May 2026