School attendance advice for schools and professionals

Attendance procedures for schools

School attendance update - September 2024

Download school attendance update letter to parents and carers

Download the "good attendance matters" parent and carer leaflet

‘Support First’ guidance and templates

Guidance and template downloads:

Leave of absence (legal) process

Guidance and template downloads:

  • authorised leave of absence - home school contract
  • leave of absence (legal) process
  • the LoAA leave of absence agreed letter is to be used when the parents/carers have applied for leave either in writing or verbally, either before the leave or as the leave commences, and the leave or part of the leave has been authorised as an exceptional circumstance
  • the LD1 request for leave denied letter is to be used for the leave of absence (legal) process where parents or carers have applied for leave either in writing or verbally, either before the leave or as the leave begins, but the leave has not been authorised
  • the LD2 leave taken letter is to be used for the leave of absence (legal) process where the school has not heard directly from the parents or carers prior to or as the leave begins (a friend or relative might have contacted you instead); the child has not returned from authorised leave on the dates agreed, or the child has returned from a period of absence where you suspect the child has taken an unauthorised leave of absence
  • leave of absence request form

Online referral forms

Leave of absence referral form

Support first referral form

The deadline for submitting Support First referrals was 30 June 2025. The referral form is no longer available.

Page last updated: 1 July 2025

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