You do not need to know the right job title.
Schools and councils use different names for roles. The important thing is reaching a person who can understand the barrier, coordinate support and explain what happens next.
Your support route
These are sensible first contacts. Your school may use different job titles.
Start here
Other people who may help
Why these people?
Ask for one clear plan
Words to start the conversation
Email you can send to school
What to ask for
When the local council may help
Local councils often have attendance support arrangements and may help where barriers are persistent, complex, or linked to wider family difficulties, young caring responsibilities or bullying.
Ask the school or your council what attendance support is available locally.
Important
If your concern is about bullying, safeguarding, abuse, neglect or immediate safety, raise it directly and ask for the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
If your child cannot attend for a prolonged period because of health needs, ask the school and local authority what education and reintegration support should be considered.
Why this tool takes a support-first approach
Current DfE guidance expects schools and local authorities to work with families to understand barriers to attendance. The DfE’s 2026 communications guidance also says parents should know who to speak to — a person, not a department — and what happens next.
GOV.UK parent attendance help · DfE statutory attendance guidance