School Unreturned or Continuously Absent Pupil Enquiries Procedure

This procedure applies to [school name], a maintained or academy primary or secondary school in England, where a pupil has not returned from a period of leave or has had a continuous period of absence and reasonable enquiries may be needed.

1. Identify whether the procedure applies

Review the attendance and registration records for the pupil. Confirm whether the pupil has not returned from a period of leave or has had a continuous period of absence.

Where either circumstance applies, consider whether reasonable enquiries may be needed to try to establish where the pupil is. If the circumstances are unclear, record the matter as under review and obtain further information before deciding the next action.

2. Coordinate with the School Local Authority

Where reasonable enquiries may be needed, contact the School Local Authority through [school la contact route] and coordinate the enquiries with it.

The school and the School Local Authority may need to carry out joint reasonable enquiries under regulation 9(1)(h) or (i) of the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 to try to find out where the pupil is.

3. Make and record enquiries

Carry out the reasonable enquiries agreed with the School Local Authority. Record each contact attempt and enquiry in [attendance record system], including the date, the person or organisation contacted, the method used, the information sought, any response received and the name of the person making the record.

Keep the relevant attendance and registration records, details of the leave or continuous absence, coordination records with the School Local Authority and records of the enquiries together in accordance with [school record location].

4. Escalate concerns

If the enquiries raise concerns or do not establish where the pupil is, notify [designated school role] and the School Local Authority through [school la escalation route]. Record the concern, the information available, the action agreed and the person responsible for the next action.

Do not close the enquiry record until the school has documented the outcome or the next agreed action with the School Local Authority.

5. Document the outcome

Record the outcome of the enquiries, including whether the pupil’s whereabouts were established, any further action agreed with the School Local Authority and the date of the outcome record.

Where the matter remains unresolved, record the status as [enquiry status] and the next review or action date as [next action date].