School Persistent and Severe Absence Monitoring Checklist
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Who this checklist is for
- Attendance leaders, senior leaders, governing bodies and academy trust or federation leaders in maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England.
- Jurisdiction
- england
14 checklist steps
Blank response areas · preview only
Set the monitoring period
Response required
Record the attendance monitoring period and the date on which the current attendance records were reviewed.
Monitoring period and review date
Review both absence patterns
Review current attendance records for patterns of both persistent absence and severe absence as part of regular attendance data monitoring.
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
Notes
Record the evidence reviewed
Response required
Identify the attendance reports, pupil-level records, cohort information and other current attendance data used for this review.
Reports and records reviewed
Identify pupils needing targeted support
Use the current attendance records and the school's applicable current criteria to identify individual pupils who need targeted attendance support.
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
Notes
Identify cohorts needing targeted support
Use the current attendance records and the school's applicable current criteria to identify cohorts that need targeted attendance support.
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
Notes
Record identified pupils and cohorts
Response required
Record the pupils and cohorts identified for further attendance review, using the school's approved secure recording arrangements.
Pupils or cohorts requiring further review
Review common barriers
Analyse the available attendance information to identify common issues and barriers affecting the pupils or cohorts identified.
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
Notes
Record common issues and barriers
Response required
Record the common issues and barriers identified and note the attendance evidence supporting each observation.
Common issues, barriers and supporting attendance evidence
Decide targeted support
Response required
For each identified pupil or cohort, record whether targeted attendance support is required and document the support decision using the school's approved process.
Pupil or cohort, support decision and rationale
Check strategic coverage
Check that patterns of both persistent and severe absence are addressed in the applicable school attendance improvement strategy.
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
Notes
Record emerging concerns and escalation
Response required
Record emerging attendance concerns, the evidence supporting them, the person or body to whom they were escalated, and any next review date or action recorded under the school's arrangements.
Concern, evidence, escalation route, owner and next review
Apply trust or federation comparison where relevant
If the school belongs to a multi-academy trust or federation, compare attendance patterns across the relevant schools to identify common issues and barriers and to support sharing of effective practice.
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
Notes
Record trust or federation findings where relevant
Where a trust or federation comparison has been undertaken, record the schools or groups compared, the patterns or barriers identified, and any effective practice or resources considered for sharing.
Comparison scope, findings and sharing arrangements
Define follow-up monitoring
Response required
Record the next monitoring activity, the attendance records it will use, and the responsible role. Ensure the arrangement continues to focus on persistent and severe absence patterns and on pupils and cohorts needing targeted support.
Next monitoring activity, records, responsible role and timing