All Milton Keynes schools publish their own attendance policy.

Please check your child’s school website or handbook for specific details.

Missing school adds up fast. An 80% attendance rate equals missing one day every week. 

Students who attend regularly:

• Keep up with lessons
• Build confidence
• Improve GCSE results

By law, children must be in full-time education from the term after their fifth birthday until the end of Year 11. If they do not attend regularly, you could face prosecution.

• Review your child’s school attendance policy.
• Decide if your child is too unwell for school (see NHS guidance).

Read the NHS guidance on is your child too ill for school

• Note new laws effective from 19 August 2024.

If your child accrues 10 unauthorised sessions within any 10 school weeks:

1. The school issues a Notice to Improve.
2. After 6 weeks without sufficient progress (or 3 weeks if improvement is minimal), a Penalty Notice may follow.

During this process, schools will:

• Meet you to agree an Attendance Contract
• Offer support (Early Help, multi-agency referrals)
• Tailor decisions to each family’s situation

Students with 50% attendance or below are classed as “Severely Absent.” In these cases, schools will:

• Hold multi-agency meetings
• Send a warning letter instead of a Notice to Improve
• Refer to the Local Authority for a PACE interview if there’s no progress

Historic poor attendance, sibling patterns, or previous prosecutions may also trigger this pathway.

Headteachers can only authorise leave for exceptional circumstances—not leisure or extended family visits.

If leave is unapproved and amounts to 10 unauthorised sessions in any 10-week span, the school can request a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).

Registers close 30 minutes after the school day starts (check your school’s exact closing time). Arrivals after that point are marked as unauthorised (code “U”). Ten unauthorised marks over 10 weeks can trigger the same process as absences.

Some children experience anxiety or emotional distress that makes attending school difficult.

Signs may include:

• Frequent worries about attending school
• Reluctance or refusal to leave home
• Physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches without a clear medical cause
• Increased anxiety before school

If you have concerns, contact your child's school as early as possible. Schools can work with families and support services to explore appropriate support and develop an attendance support plan.

Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Some children with SEND may experience difficulties attending school because of their additional needs.

Attendance difficulties should always be considered in the context of a child's individual circumstances and any identified or emerging special educational needs.

Schools may:

• Review existing support arrangements
• Consider reasonable adjustments
• Meet with parents and carers
• Involve relevant professionals where appropriate
• Review support plans or EHCP provision

The focus should be on understanding barriers to attendance and finding solutions that help children access education successfully.

If your child has an EHCP or receives SEN Support, speak to your school's SEND Coordinator (SENCO).

Independent Advice and Support (SENDIAS)

If your child has SEND and you would like independent information, advice or support, you can contact MK SENDIAS.

SENDIAS provides free, impartial and confidential advice to children, young people and parents about special educational needs and disabilities.

Website: www.mksendias.org.uk 
Email: contact@mksendias.org.uk 
Telephone: 01908 254518 mksendias.org.uk

Children who have a social worker

Children who have a social worker may sometimes face challenges affecting their attendance.

Schools, social workers and families should work together to understand barriers to attendance and identify the support needed.

This may include:

• Multi-agency meetings
• Attendance support plans
• Coordinated family support
• Consideration of wider welfare or safeguarding factors

The aim is to help children access education regularly and achieve the best possible outcomes.

Whenever possible, book appointments outside school hours. If this isn’t feasible:

•          Give as much advance notice as you can

•          Bring the appointment confirmation into school

Request time off in advance for the actual day of a religious festival or collective family worship. Only that single day is authorised.

Penalty Notices apply per parent and per child:

Unpaid fines lead to magistrates’ court prosecution (up to £1,000 per parent). Repeat offences within three years start at £160 and may go straight to court.

You can pay online on our “Pay for it” page using the FPN serial number (starts with “SA”).

Read our Code of Conduct on FPNs and Enforcement Policy, or general attendance queries, email school.attendance@milton-keynes.gov.uk