The following attendance code definitions are taken from the government guidance document;

Working together to improve school attendance

Statutory guidance for maintained schools, academies,

independent schools and local authorities

August 2024

Attending the school

Code / \: Present at the school / = morning session \ = afternoon session.

Pupils must not be recorded as present if they are not in school during registration. If a pupil were to leave the school premises after registration, they will still be counted as attending for statistical purposes.

Code L: Late arrival before the register is closed.

The pupil was absent when the register started being taken but arrives before the register is closed. Schools should actively discourage late arrival and be alert to patterns of late arrival. All schools are expected to set out in their attendance policy the length of time the register will be open, after which a pupil will be recorded as absent. This should be the same for every session and not longer than 30 minutes. If a pupil is recorded with code N but arrives later in the session after the register has closed, the attendance register must be amended to record them as absent using code U or another absence code that is more appropriate.

This code is classified for statistical purposes as attending.

Attending a place other than the school

Code K: Attending education provision arranged by the local authority. The pupil is attending a place, other than the school or any other school at which they are a registered pupil, for educational provision arranged by a local authority under section 19(1) of the Education Act 1996 (exceptional provision of education), section 42(2), or 61(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014 (special educational provision off site).

A pupil attending provision arranged by the school rather than the local authority must be recorded using Codes P or B instead. Schools must also record the nature of the provision (regulation 10(5)), examples are: • attending courses at college; • attending unregistered alternative provision. Schools should ensure that arrangements are in place whereby the education provider notifies the school of any absence by the pupil. The school must record the pupil’s absence using the relevant absence code. This code is classified for statistical purposes as attending an approved educational activity.

Code V: Attending an educational visit or trip. The pupil is attending a place, other than the school or any other school at which they are a registered pupil, for an educational visit or trip arranged by or on behalf of the school and supervised by a member of school staff. The visit or trip must take place during the session for which it is recorded. If the pupil does not attend the visit or trip the school must record the pupil’s absence using the relevant absence code. This code is classified for statistical purposes as attending an approved educational activity.

Code P: Participating in a sporting activity. The pupil is attending a place for an approved educational activity that is a sporting activity. The sporting activity must take place during the session for which it is recorded. A pupil can only be recorded as attending a place for an approved educational activity if:

• the place is somewhere other than the school, another school where the pupil is registered, or a place where educational provision has been arranged for the pupil by a local authority under section 19(1) of the Education Act 1996 or sections 42(2) or 61(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014;

• the activity is of an educational nature;

• the school has approved the pupil’s attendance at the place for the activity, and

• the activity is supervised by a person considered by the school to have the appropriate skills, training, experience and knowledge to ensure that the activity takes place safely and fulfils the educational purpose for which the pupil’s attendance has been approved.

Supervision means the pupil is physically supervised by someone who meets this definition. If schools have concerns about the appropriateness of an activity, they can seek advice from the sports’ national governing body. The final decision on approving the activity, however, rests with the school and they should take the effect on the pupil’s general education into account. Schools have responsibilities for the safeguarding and welfare of pupils attending an approved educational activity. The school will need to be satisfied that appropriate measures have been taken to safeguard the pupil. Schools should ensure that they have in place arrangements whereby the provider of the sporting activity notifies the school of any absence by the pupil. The school must record the pupil’s absence using the relevant absence code. This code is classified for statistical purposes as attending an approved educational activity.

Code W: Attending work experience. The pupil is attending a place for an approved educational activity that is work experience provided under arrangements made by a local authority or the school as part of the pupil’s education. The work experience must take place during the session for which it is recorded. A pupil can only be recorded as attending a place for an approved educational activity if:

• the place is somewhere other than the school, another school where the pupil is registered, or a place where educational provision has been arranged for the pupil by a local authority under section 19(1) of the Education Act 1996 or sections 42(2) or 61(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014;

• the activity is of an educational nature;

• the school has approved the pupil’s attendance at the place for the activity; and

• the activity is supervised by a person considered by the school to have the appropriate skills, training, experience and knowledge to ensure that the activity takes place safely and fulfils the educational purpose for which the pupil’s attendance has been approved.

Supervision means the pupil is physically supervised by someone who meets this definition. 307. Schools have responsibilities for the safeguarding and welfare of pupils attending an approved educational activity. The school will need to be satisfied that appropriate measures have been taken to safeguard the pupil. Schools should ensure that they have in place arrangements whereby the provider of the work experience notifies the school of any absence by the pupil. The school must record the pupil’s absence using the relevant absence code. This code is classified for statistical purposes as attending an approved educational activity.

Code B: Attending any other approved educational activity. The pupil is attending a place for an approved educational activity that is not a sporting activity or work experience. The educational activity must take place during the session for which it is recorded. 310. A pupil can only be recorded as attending a place for an approved educational activity if: 80 • the place is somewhere other than the school, another school where the pupil is registered, or a place where educational provision has been arranged for the pupil by a local authority under section 19(1) of the Education Act 1996 or sections 42(2) or 61(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014;

• the activity is of an educational nature;

• the school has approved the pupil’s attendance at the place for the activity; and

• the activity is supervised by a person considered by the school to have the appropriate skills, training, experience and knowledge to ensure that the activity takes place safely and fulfils the educational purpose for which the pupil’s attendance has been approved.

Supervision means the pupil is physically supervised by someone who meets this definition. 311. Schools must also record the nature of the approved educational activity (regulation 10(5)), examples are:

• attending transition days at other schools;

• attending courses at college;

• attending unregistered alternative provision arranged by the school.

Schools have responsibilities for the safeguarding and welfare of pupils attending an approved educational activity. The school will need to be satisfied that appropriate measures have been taken to safeguard the pupil. Schools should ensure that they have in place arrangements whereby the provider of the educational activity notifies the school of any absences by the pupil. The school must record the pupil’s absence using the relevant absence code. This code is classified for statistical purposes as attending an approved educational activity.