School attendance working group minutes: October 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Scottish Government (Chair)
• Education Scotland
• Connect
• NASUWT
• ASPEP
• Scottish Council of Independent Schools
• EIS
• Enquire
• AHDS
• COSLA
• ADES
• Quarriers
• SLS

Apologies

• Spartans Community Foundation

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions 

The chair welcomed members and noted apologies. 

Minutes and actions from previous meeting   

Minutes from the previous meeting of the group on 18 September were circulated in advance and members confirmed that they were content to agree the minutes.

Action: SG to publish minutes on the Scottish Government website.

Update on attendance campaign, guidance on children unable to attend due to ill health and engagement work

The Scottish Government provided a brief update on the national attendance marketing campaign which will launch on 30 October. The Scottish Government also provided a brief overview of ongoing work to update guidance on education of children and young people who are unable to attend due to ill health. 

Quarriers provided an update on engagement work with children and young people including feedback on factors which can influence school attendance. It was highlighted that Education Scotland have also gathered data on factors which encourage attendance in schools.

Discussion on draft guidance

A copy of updated draft guidance was circulated in advance of the meeting for consideration by members. Some key points raised included:

• a member had shared draft guidance on part-time timetables with social work contacts who had provided positive feedback - it was suggested that the updated guidance supports vulnerable pupils and that further engagement with social work could be considered
• guidance on pupils who are in school but not attending classes was discussed - it was suggested that this is a significant issue and can often be due to peer pressure rather than pupils feeling overwhelmed or anxious. 
• it was suggested that the guidance in the draft are appropriate for mental wellbeing or additional support barriers but that there may be other strategies needed for pupils who do not attend class due to lack of motivation or peer pressure – for example, relationships and behaviour approaches 
• it was suggested that differentiation should be made between pupils who are not attending due to additional support needs, and pupils who are not attending due to peer pressure or lack of motivation
• it was suggested that planned group absences can occur frequently due to pupils making arrangements on mobile phones and meeting in locations such as toilets
• it was highlighted that challenges with in-school non-attendance may be different across primary and secondary schools and that social factors can influence this behaviour in primary settings
• it was suggested that time, space and resources are required for some of the actions to tackle in school non-attendance and this should be considered in the guidance
• on school attendance incentives, it was suggested that consideration of disincentives should also be made – for example, pupils being unable to attend events due to poor attendance
• it was suggested that some quotes from engagement with children and young people via Quarriers and parents and carers via Connect could be included in the guidance document

The chair noted that the draft guidance on flexible arrangements has been shared with the Cabinet Secretary to provide her with an opportunity to feedback. Other stakeholders, including STEP and The National Autistic Society will also be approached for feedback on the draft guidance. The guidance will also be discussed at SAGRABIS at their next meeting on 6 November. 

Next steps 

Action: Further comments from members on draft guidance to be made via correspondence by 6th November.

Action: SG to share draft guidance with SAGRABIS at upcoming meeting on 6th November.

Action: SG to update guidance in response to feedback from members and other stakeholders and circulate in advance of the next meeting.

AOB

No other business was raised.