Strategies for attendance excellence

Improving attendance is a challenge every school faces—but the national concern around declining pupil attendance affects us all.

In a recent webinar, Lindsey Ebsworth, Headteacher at St Albans Catholic Primary School, shared how her school achieved a 2.5% increase in attendance, significantly surpassing the national average.

Here, we’ve summarised the strategies that made the biggest impact—practical, people-first approaches that helped engage pupils and families in meaningful ways. Because improving attendance isn’t just about getting pupils through the door—it’s about creating a school environment where they want to be, every day.

Celebrate attendance 

One of the most effective strategies was celebrating attendance in ways that genuinely excite students.

• Stickers, certificates, and house points offer clear goals
• 100% attenders access special activities via a local authority partnership
• Celebrations moved to Fridays—the day with lowest attendance—to boost turnout

This simple shift helped close the gap and made Fridays something to look forward to.

Strengthen communication with parents 

Good communication with parents is at the heart of St Albans’ attendance strategy. Lindsey highlighted the importance of ensuring parents fully understand the national push for improved attendance. By discussing this in introductory meetings or simply chatting at the school gates, parents are more informed and on board with the school’s goals.

Moreover, the school has made it easier than ever for parents to get in touch. Instead of just relying on phone calls, they’ve opened up communication via the school app and even WhatsApp. This flexibility means parents can engage in a way that feels most comfortable for them, creating a more open and supportive dialogue.

Set up an attendance team 

A dedicated team with clearly defined roles has been pivotal.

• Students falling below the 96% national target are flagged early
• Tailored strategies are developed to re-engage each pupil
• No student falls through the cracks

This proactive, focused approach ensures every child gets the attention they need.

Lead by example

Children mirror what they see. At St Albans, staff lead from the front—literally.

• Teachers and support staff greet students and parents at the gates each morning
• This models punctuality, commitment, and care
• It also creates space for quick conversations and real-time support

The result is a stronger sense of community and a more welcoming start to the day.

Provide extra support for where needed

Some students need more than encouragement—they need tailored support.

• At St Albans, a dedicated team surrounds these pupils with personalised plans
• Support addresses family circumstances, health issues, or anxiety
• The approach is individualised, not one-size-fits-all

This helps make school feel manageable—and builds trust with families.

Catch up on missed learning 

For those who have missed school, catching up on lost learning is essential. St Albans has introduced:

• Dedicated sessions with the headteacher help pupils close learning gaps
• Students are made aware of what they’ve missed—and now ask to attend
• Catch-up becomes a positive, proactive experience, not a punishment

Final thought

Attendance improvement isn’t just about data—it’s about relationships, routines, and responsiveness.

By celebrating success, strengthening communication, and offering tailored support, schools like St Albans are showing that change is possible—and that every day in school counts.

To hear more about how St Albans Catholic Primary School managed to exceed the national attendance average, and to dive deeper into their successful strategies, you can listen to the full webinar on demand.