8th April 2026
The Scottish Government has updated its school attendance guidance which is called Included, Engaged and Involved Part 1: Improving Attendance in Scotland's Schools. It sets out what schools and local authorities should do and consider in order to support children’s attendance in schools. Last year Connect took part in the School Attendance Guidance Working Group.
We are pleased that the guidance reflects some of the recommendations from our survey and acknowledges the experiences of parents and carers:
- Schools should work with parents and carers to understand any local barriers to attendance. Engagement should include families from a range of backgrounds to ensure all voices are heard, with genuine opportunities for dialogue and parental influence on school policy
- Parent Councils could play a role in engaging with parents and carers (the Parent Forum) at their schools and contribute to initiatives that encourage attendance
- Support-based approaches to attendance should be tailored to individual children’s needs and circumstances – different children will require different interventions
- Positive relationships and clear communication between school staff, children and families must be prioritised. The guidance emphasises the importance of developing this informally to build mutual trust and respect, and providing clear information on attendance policies and procedures in the school handbook or via newsletters and the website
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Recommended professional development for school staff on understanding underlying causes of absence including issues related to equality, inclusion and poverty.
However, while we welcome this guidance, we continue to call for the Scottish Government and local authorities to:
- Support children more effectively who are returning from long term absence, especially during the process of readjusting to full-time timetabling, and social integration with peers
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Act to resolve underlying causes of absence, including challenging bullying behaviour and supporting mental health amongst children and young people. Improved attendance and engagement in schools can only be achieved when these issues are dealt with compassionately.
Gavin Yates, Connect's Executive Director, said:
'We were pleased to be part of the School Attendance Working Group. Therefore, we welcome this guidance and the emphasis it places on positive relationships between schools and families as the starting point for approaches to school attendance. With Scottish Government and education partner support, we'd now like to see full implementation of the guidance at local level, with particular care and attention paid to children, young people and their families as they transition back into school after longer periods of absence or part time timetables. Compassionate approaches are key'.