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Attendance remains a national priority. The government’s Every Child Achieving and Thriving Schools White Paper sets out a clear ambition: to reduce overall absence from 7.15% in 2023–24 to 5.85% by 2028–29 — the equivalent of 20 million additional days in school each year. Progress will be monitored through school census and daily attendance data, placing continued emphasis on how schools understand, track and respond to absence.
Alongside this national ambition, the new inspection framework brings greater focus to how schools evaluate attendance, support vulnerable pupils and demonstrate impact over time. Inspectors are increasingly interested not just in headline figures, but in leadership approach, early intervention, and how attendance connects to safeguarding, SEND and wellbeing.
The DfE’s new guide for schools on communicating with parents about attendance emphasises the importance of schools communicating with families in ways that are clear, supportive, practical and partnership-focused, recognising that parents are more likely to engage when messages are personalised, non-judgemental and grounded in their child’s real experience of school. The guide also highlights the value of using attendance information to tailor communication, choosing the right channel and tone, and framing absence in terms of days, lessons and opportunities missed rather than relying solely on percentages.
This one-day conference provides practical support for schools navigating these expectations. Bringing together experienced leaders and specialists, the programme explores attendance as a leadership issue, effective communication with parents, the use of attendance information to target intervention, compliance and coding considerations for 2025/26, and approaches to improving attendance for pupils with SEND and those experiencing mental health barriers. Case studies from primary and secondary settings provide grounded examples of what has worked in practice.
Designed for senior leaders, attendance leads, pastoral teams and SEND professionals, the conference offers space to reflect on current provision and consider next steps. Delegates will leave with greater clarity, practical ideas and increased confidence to support sustained attendance improvement within their own setting.
Who should attend?
Headteachers, Assistant Heads, Deputy Heads, Attendance Leads, Heads of Year, Education Welfare Officers, School Business Managers, Pastoral Leads, SENCOs and Designated Safeguarding Leads
This conference will enable you to:
Understand how attendance is evaluated under the new inspection framework and what inspectors expect to see in practice
Strengthen attendance as a whole-school leadership priority, rooted in culture, inclusion and high expectations
Use attendance information more effectively to identify need early and target intervention appropriately
Improve confidence in attendance coding, compliance and risk management for 2025/26
Develop practical strategies to improve attendance for learners with SEND and those facing mental health barriers
Learn from schools that have successfully improved attendance, and identify transferable approaches for your own context
Build a more joined-up approach linking attendance, safeguarding, wellbeing and behaviour
Leave with clear, realistic next steps to strengthen attendance practice across your setting
