Getting Attendance Right

Improving attendance has become one of the most urgent priorities for schools in the post-pandemic landscape. Shifting attitudes, rising anxiety and the appeal of digital alternatives mean that regular attendance can no longer be assumed. This a challenge that demands clarity, realism and practical action. Getting Attendance Right offers a concise, practitioner-focused toolkit to help both primary and secondary schools understand this changing context and respond effectively. It explores the pressures created by shrinking resources, the misconceptions that surround attendance work and the day-to-day realities that shape students’ engagement. To support this, the book provides: - Clear principles behind effective attendance intervention. - Practical strategies for tackling poor attendance. - A structured framework for sustainable whole-school change. Grounded, accessible and solutions-driven, this book equips educators to rebuild routines, strengthen relationships and bring students firmly back into the heart of school life.