Welcome back to school this September. We’re working with families and schools to ensure children are present at school, building their bright futures.
For most pupils, the best place to be is in school, surrounded by the support of their friends and teachers. This is important not just for your child’s learning, but also for their overall wellbeing, wider development and their mental health. Research shows that the more days of school children attend, the better their future outcomes.
Some children may need more help to go to school every day, for various reasons. We offer support and resources if you need help.
Support and guidance
We’re also providing schools with more information and new guidance on how best to support families with school attendance.
If you don't know where to begin, go to our Family Information Service page for a summary of how to improve your child's school attendance.
Primary school children
School attendance can start to become challenging at any age. Help is available for younger children, including free courses and support from our Family Hub Service and Family Centres. Click the links below to find out more:
Wellbeing support for primary school aged children
The Family Hub Service delivers a course called ‘Wellbeing Matters’ for 7-11 year olds. You can find out more about the course, upcoming dates, and how to book on the BFIS Wellbeing Matters page.
If your child seems unwell and you’re not sure if they can still go to school, use the NHS 'Is my child too ill for school?' advice to check.
It’s usually safe for parents and carers to send their children to school with mild illnesses, like a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat.
However, children should stay at home if they have a high temperature of 38C or above. The NHS has published guidance to help parents and carers decide whether their child is well enough to attend school, including information on a range of common childhood illnesses and conditions, such as coughs, colds, chickenpox, measles and headlice.
Secondary school children
Moving up to secondary school
For parents and carers
For young people
Further support for young people
Our Family Information Service offers courses and further information about key issues that may contribute to school non-attendance for secondary school aged young people.
- Online courses for young people, including:
- How to Thrive at School
- How to Move up to Secondary School
- How to Build Confidence and Self-Esteem
- How to deal with Stress, Anxiety and Low Mood
- Information about Family Centres and the support they can offer
- Free parenting Courses run by the Family Hub Service
If your child seems unwell and you’re not sure if they can still go to school, use the NHS 'Is my child too ill for school?' advice to check.
Children with SEND
We know some children and families may need a bit of extra help with school attendance due to special educational needs and disabilities. Professionals are already working with many of these families, but you can contact the following services if you think your child could benefit from this support.
For support with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), emotional-based school non-attendance, and Education, Health and Care plans, contact the Bucks SENDIAS service.
SENDIAS provides free, confidential, and impartial information, advice and support on all matters relating to special educational needs and disability for children and young people aged 0 to 25 and their parents or carers.
You can also visit Bucks Family Information Service, call BFIS on 01296 383293, or talk to professionals such as teachers or social workers.
You can find further information and support:
Other support available
- Kooth - Access to judgement-free wellbeing support for young people
- FACT Bucks - A forum for parent carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Other issues
We also understand that the suitability of the school and the availability of places for your child at particular schools can be an issue.
You can contact the County Attendance Team directly if you have concerns by emailing [email protected].
You can also find support for children at risk of being suspended or excluded from school or contact the Exclusions and Reintegration Team.
When can my child be absent from school?
When you register your child at school, you have a legal duty to ensure your child attends that school regularly.
This means that your child must attend every day that the school is open, unless:
- Your child is too ill to attend that day
- You have asked in advance and been given permission by the school for your child to be absent on that day due to exceptional circumstances
- Your child cannot attend school on that day because it is a day you are taking part in religious observance
- Your local authority is responsible for arranging your child’s transport to school and it is not available on that day or has not been provided yet; or
- You are a gypsy/traveller family with no fixed abode, and you are required to travel for work that day meaning your child cannot attend their usual school. In most circumstances, however, your child is required to attend another school temporarily during such absences.
These are the only circumstances where schools can permit your child to be absent. Parents who take their child out of school without permission may face paying a fine.
More information:
- How to improve your child’s school attendance and where to get support
- Back to school week – Everything you need to know about school attendance
School transport
For secondary school aged children, you can check if your child is eligible for transport using our free school transport eligibility checker.
You can view the school transport policy for eligibility information relevant to all ages.
Anxiety and other mental health resources
There is information and resources available about looking after mental health, for children, students, parents, carers and school/college staff. Visit the Education Hub website for information including:
- Mild anxiety in relation to school
- General information about young people’s wellbeing and mental health
- Specialist support