Event Summary
Attendance and behaviour are markers of engagement. Yet 7 minutes of every 30 minutes of lesson time are still lost to poor behaviour, suspensions are rising, and severe absence rates are increasing again particularly among SEND pupils and those eligible for free school meals.
At Westminster Insight’s Attendance and Behaviour Digital Conference, you will hear directly from Jayne Lowe OBE, Attendance and Behaviour Ambassador, Department for Education, on the new RISE Attendance and Behaviour Hubs. With new Attendance Baseline Improvement Expectations (ABIEs) for schools from September 2026, we share strategies to improve attendance and behaviour and keep children engaged, particularly for older year groups where enjoyment and belonging are lower. Data shows that in Year 7, and throughout Key Stage 3, regular attendance drops sharply. We will share effective guidance to improve attendance at these crucial transition moments.
The recent Schools White Paper Every Child Achieving and Thriving covers behaviour, re-integration after suspensions, and exclusions. With inclusion becoming more deeply embedded in education policy, we will discuss new requirements for schools, with a focus on earlier identification of needs and better support to prevent behavioural issues from escalating. We will cover the role of data in preventing off-rolling, and reforms in behaviour management and stronger re-integration following suspension.
Gain practical strategies to reduce disruptive behaviour, improve classroom engagement, and boost pupil-staff relationships, while discovering innovative approaches to enhance attendance and create a positive learning environment. We will highlight Ofsted’s new grading focus on attendance and behaviour, showing you how to effectively evidence your data and showcase impactful interventions to ensure you are fully prepared for your next inspection.
You will hear from best practice examples for reducing persistent and severe absence – with significant disparities in experiences for pupils with SEND and FSM, we will share strategies for supporting pupils with SEND and addressing socio-economic disparities in attendance. Practical case studies will highlight successful school-level interventions, restorative approaches to behaviour management, and effective engagement with families and communities.
The DfE has also published its Restrictive interventions, including use of reasonable force, in schools guidance, which will become effective in April 2026. It aims to provide clarity on how schools use rarer interventions like restraint. We will discuss the new statutory guidance and new duties for schools.
School leaders and key stakeholders will also explore how robust monitoring, targeted support, and multi-agency collaboration can help schools create inclusive environments where all pupils feel safe, supported, and able to thrive.
By attending this full-day online conference, you will gain best practice, and develop approaches that improve engagement, reduce absence, and ensure every pupil has the chance to succeed.
Key Points
- Understand the latest national trends in behaviour and attendance, including persistent loss of lesson time, rising suspensions, and severe absence rates
- Next steps for policy including the Schools White Paper and RISE Behaviour and Attendance Hubs
- New Attendance Baseline Improvement Expectations (ABIEs)
- Improving communication and engagement with parents
- Learn practical strategies to reduce disruptive behaviour, boost classroom engagement, and improve teacher-pupil relationships, and ease anxiety during critical transitions
- Navigating Ofsted’s new grading focus on attendance and behaviour
- Offering high-quality enrichment activities to boost attendance
- Restrictive interventions, including the use of reasonable force
- Preparing your school for greater scrutiny of exclusions, suspensions, off-rolling and pupil movement
- Discover best practice approaches to tackle persistent and severe absence, support SEND pupils and address socio-economic disparities in attendance
- Tackling bullying and cyber bullying
- Develop actionable plans for inclusive school environments
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Group discounts
Contact us for group rates.
