Putting children and young people's views at the centre

In order to support the attendance and/or engagement of any child or young person, we must ensure that their views are at the centre. 

In assessing reasons for absence, consideration should be given to what is pushing the child or young person away from school and pulling them towards home, or the community (Kearney, 2002). Assessment should also take place to determine what would support improvements in attendance (Milton Keynes Council, 2023). Risk and resilience factors should also be discussed with individual children and young people and families. 

This assessment tool will support establishments to develop a plan, co-constructed with the child or young person, that takes account of the barriers to attendance and/or engagement. 

This tool should be used in conjunction with advice on ‘staged intervention'.