Attendance - a priority for schools

The DfE and Ofsted stress the importance of good attendance for pupils' learning and the potential safeguarding risks of absences. School leaders should consider what actions and evidence is needed to demonstrate the priority placed on these issues. Information is provided about national absence rates for comparison and Ofsted’s findings from interim school visits. Sections from the inspection handbook about attendance are covered. Finally, there are a number of important questions for school leaders to consider as they plan for 2021/22.