Attendance Matters is a collaborative blog and podcast space for education professionals who want to explore, understand, and improve school attendance.

We bring together research, policy updates, and real-world experiences to make sense of a complex issue that affects every school and family. Our aim is to connect ideas, share best practice, and promote fair and inclusive approaches that help all children attend, engage, and thrive.

Our working group includes former school leaders, headteachers, governors, parents, teachers, and school administrators — all with a shared commitment to improving attendance and inclusion through open discussion and trusted information.

We curate resources, analyse data, and publish reflective commentary to inform and inspire those working in schools, trusts, and local authorities, as well as parents and carers interested in the bigger picture.

Attendance Matters is proudly sponsored by Attend — supporting schools with tools, insights, and data to improve attendance. While Attend provides funding, all editorial content is created independently by the Attendance Matters team.