More Than a Register: Unlocking Safeguarding Responsibilities Through Attendance

Severe school absence has more than doubled since the pandemic, and the impact on learning outcomes is concerning. Research shows that pupils who attend school every day in Year 6 have 30% higher odds of meeting expected standards in reading, writing and maths. For Year 11 pupils, near-perfect attendance can double the likelihood of achieving top grades.

Put simply: missing just 10 extra days can cut a pupil’s chances of achieving key benchmarks by half. Attendance isn’t just a number—it’s one of the strongest predictors of a child’s progress, attainment and long-term confidence.

But under the existing 2025 Ofsted framework, attendance takes on an even deeper meaning. It is now viewed as a key indicator of pupil safety, vulnerability and engagement.

This webinar will walk you through what the changes mean for schools in practice. We’ll break down the expectations, explore safeguarding responsibilities linked to absence, and use real case reviews to show why understanding attendance as a core safeguarding issue is essential for every school and trust.

During the session we will be discussing the following:

• Understanding Safeguarding responsibilities linked to attendance
• Attendance in the Ofsted framework
• Sharing case reviews where attendance was a key factor

Let us introduce you to this week's professional speaker

Pippa Kober

Pippa has over 13 years’ experience in primary education, including 9 years in senior leadership roles and extensive practice as a Designated Safeguarding Lead. Alongside this, she has served as an Assistant Headteacher, SENDCo, and Designated Teacher, and has led on attendance and inclusion across a busy school community. She recently joined Judicium as a Safeguarding Consultant.

With a strong interest in trauma‑informed practice, supporting care‑experienced children and their families, and understanding emotional‑based school avoidance, she is experienced in developing effective safeguarding systems, strengthening professional curiosity, and helping schools build supportive cultures where children feel safe and understood.