Updated 'Using pupil premium: guidance for school leaders' to add links to information on approaches to supporting attendance.

Updated 'Pupil premium: overview' for 2026 to 2027.

Attendance strategies

Reduced attendance following the pandemic continues to be a major challenge. Absence rates for all children increased post-pandemic, but more so for disadvantaged pupils.

There are significant costs associated with poor attendance rates, including:

• lower attainment
• reduced earning potential
• poorer mental health and wellbeing

You should consider using your pupil premium to support improving attendance, where appropriate, including tackling underlying causes of absence.

Approaches to support attendance are outlined in:

• Working together to improve school attendance
• Best practice toolkit for schools
• Communicating with parents about school attendance

The Supporting school attendance resource from EEF is structured around 6 evidence-informed themes to support you and attendance teams. 

RISE events

Support is provided via termly regional events, including:

• training
• best practice sharing sessions
• open days

Attendance and behaviour hubs

Attendance and behaviour hubs provide support and resources to improve your approach to managing attendance and behaviour. Find out more about the programme and register to join through RISE attendance and behaviour hubs programme.