Improving school attendance - the role of the Inclusion Service

The Inclusion Service provides support to schools, parents and young people in providing services on behalf of the Local Education Authority and deals with non-attendance, electively home educated children and making enquiries about children missing education.

The aim of the Service is for every child to have an equal opportunity to access educational provision and to ensure that parents meet their parental responsibilities under various Education Acts on our legal proceedings webpage.

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Inclusion Officers

The Inclusion Officer's aim is to help children attend school full-time and support schools in resolving issues which may be affecting a child's wish to attend school. If the aim is not achieved the Inclusion Service may have to consider legal proceedings.

All Surrey schools have an allocated Inclusion Officer to support schools and parents to ensure every child goes to school regularly. Inclusion Officers can accept referrals or enquiries from schools or other agencies, parents and members of the public if a child is not attending school.

Inclusion Officers can provide advice on.

  • Resolving attendance problems.
  • Legal aspects of school attendance.
  • Signposting to agencies.
  • Useful resources available.

What we do - our service offering

We fulfil both statutory and non-statutory functions in relation to compulsory school-aged children and young people. The Inclusion Service offers all schools, including academy and free school, a statutory service as follows.

  • Guidance on investigation of causes for absence for cases meeting the criteria for legal intervention
  • Guidance on case work management for statutory cases
  • Termly consultation with key personnel to report and plan actions for open cases, including matters relating to safeguarding concerns, checks and monitoring students whose attendance is below 90%.
  • All aspects of legal intervention for Inclusion offences
  • Advice and guidance on all matters relating to legislation and processes underpinning Inclusion and pupil registration, including registration coding and off roll procedures
  • Strategic guidance and support to improve whole Inclusion and reduce persistent absence
  • Data analysis

Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA)

If your child or young person is experiencing EBSNA or school-based anxiety you may find the following webpage useful for advice, guidance and access to support.

You can also find advice on other web pages on supporting your child's education, school attendance and absence, and exclusion and suspension.

Help and contacts

If you need help in ensuring your child attends school regularly please contact the office in whose area your child's school is situated.

North East Inclusion Team

Epsom and Ewell, Elmbridge, Spelthorne Telephone: 01372 833588

South East Inclusion Team

Tandridge, Reigate and Banstead, Mole Valley Telephone: 01737 737777

South West Inclusion Team

Waverley and Guildford Telephone: 01483 517179

North West Inclusion Team

Woking, Surrey Heath and Runnymede Telephone: 01483 518130

If you are concerned that a statutory school age child (who lives in Surrey) is missing from education because they may not have a school place and are not receiving suitable alternative education provision, then please let us know by completing a children missing education form.

You can also send us your comments and compliments or complain about our services.


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