The Department for Education (DfE) has sent fresh guidance to schools across England on how to communicate attendance expectations to parents ahead of the new school year starting September 1. The update, published on August 19, 2026, was developed in consultation with parents whose children had absence rates between 5 and 15 per cent — equating to 9 to 28 missed school days in a typical 190-day academic year.
New guidance complements existing attendance policies
The Labour Party government update states: "Schools are already doing a huge amount to improve attendance. This guide does not try to replace any of that." Instead, the DfE says the guide is designed to enhance what schools already do, complementing existing attendance systems and policies by providing practical, evidence-based communication approaches.
The guidance includes ready-to-use templates and resources that help schools tailor messages to different families and situations. DfE data tools are also available to assist schools in identifying pupils, families and cohorts that need support to attend. The insights provided are intended to help schools target communications most effectively and monitor the impact of their efforts.
Legal action and formal attendance plans
Schools are expected to regularly communicate with families about attendance to "advise parents when attendance worsens to support improvement, including when legal action may be taken," the DfE says. The department adds: "You'll need to be clear with parents and carers through your school policy about what might happen if absence worsens, including the drawing-up of a formal attendance plan or contract, and when legal action might be taken. If these steps are reached, the guidance that follows can help these messages land better."
The DfE emphasised that research consistently shows parents expect to hear about attendance from their school first, calling schools "the trusted messenger." The guide aims to help schools make the most of that trust by supporting them with messages that make the most difference.
Research and co-creation with stakeholders
The advice is the product of research and co-creation with those who will deliver it, the DfE said. To develop the messaging around attendance, the department ran in-depth stakeholder workshops and focus groups with teachers, school leaders, and parents and carers from a range of backgrounds and parts of the country. The government body also met specifically with parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The DfE hopes the guide will influence how schools communicate attendance expectations, using ready-to-use templates and evidence-based approaches to support families and improve pupil attendance from September 2026 onwards.
