School Attendance

Consultation on the draft "Attendance Matters" strategy

The Department is currently consulting on a draft attendance strategy.

The draft strategy along with questionnaires are available below:

• www.education-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-pupil-attendance-strategy-attendance-matters

• Consultation questions for adults

• Consultation questions for young people

A series of public consultation events are being held across Northern Ireland to hear your views on our new draft 'Attendance Matters' strategy.

These events are your opportunity to:

• share your thoughts and experiences;
• ask questions; and
• help shape future attendance policies.

All public events are free to attend and are being held in buildings with disabled access. 

Register using the links below.

Date	Venue	Public Event Time	Register for Tickets
3 Feb	Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry	6.00pm to 8.30pm	Register for tickets
5  Feb	Marketplace Theatre,    Armagh	6.30pm to 8.00pm	Register for tickets
16 Feb	Ballymoney Town Hall	6.00pm to 7.45pm	Register for tickets
17 Feb	Lisburn Library	6.00pm to 7.45pm	Register for tickets
18 Feb	Shantallow Community Residents Association	2.00pm to 3.30pm	Register for tickets
18 Feb	Ebrington Hotel	6.30pm to 8.00pm	Register for tickets
24 Feb	Omagh Library	6.00pm to 7.45pm	Register for tickets
25 Feb	Ards Leisure Centre	6.30pm to 8.00pm	Register for tickets
26 Feb	Fermanagh House	6.30pm to 8.00pm	Register for tickets
03 Mar	Belfast Boys Model School	6.30pm to 8.00pm	Register for tickets

**Please note that all events are subject to change.**

Parental Responsibility

It is important that everyone works together to help children obtain the best possible start in life with a good education. Parents should work in partnership with the school, notifying the school of the reason for any of their child’s absences and highlighting any areas of concern they may have so they can be addressed promptly.

Support for Parents

The Department in conjunction with EWS have produced a leaflet called - Attendance Matters - A Parent's Guide. This leaflet has been issued to all Primary and Post-Primary Schools to be distributed to all Pupils. Schools can print additional copies as required.

Attendance Information

• Attendance Matters - Practical guidance to improve attendance together
• Improving Pupil Attendance – HERO Initiative
• Pupil Absence Data by Free School Meal Entitlement (FSME) Bands
• The Challenge of Improving Pupil Attendance at School - Case Studies paper - November 2018
• Improving Pupil Attendance Strategy and Miss School = Miss Out Leaflet
• Equality Screening – Educational Underachievement Suite / Play Matters Advertising campaigns
• Presentations From Attendance Summit - October 2023

School Management of Pupil Attendance

The recording of pupil attendance/absence should be at the beginning of the morning and afternoon registration sessions using the codes on the C2k system. This enables schools to record pupils' attendances or absences, the reasons for the absence and whether the absence was authorised or unauthorised.

Circular 2025/09 – Attendance Guidance and Absence Recording by Schools provides guidance to schools on managing pupil attendance and on the use of the C2k codes.

A sample template form that schools may wish to consider using as a notification form for completion by parents or carers when their child returns to school following an absence can be found on the Department's website at Absence Notification Form

The Form SA1 should be used by schools to remove a pupil from the general register of a school.

Education Welfare Service

Every school has a link Education and Welfare Officer (EWO). Their aim is to reduce unnecessary absences from school by offering support and help to pupils, parents and schools. A school must make a referral to Education Welfare Service when a pupils' attendance is a cause for concern or when attendance drops below 85%.

The EWO can suggest things that parents can do to help improve matters, can offer to go to the school with parents to talk to the staff about any problems and what needs done or can attend the school on their behalf to try and find answers to their child's problems. The EWO can put parents in touch with other agencies that may be able to offer further advice and help. If the problem is of a practical nature, the EWO can also offer advice about free school meals, uniform grants and transport to school.