EBSA early-warning checklist

Keep one running for any pupil who's started to niggle at you, fill it in as you go rather than from memory at term's end, and start watching from the 94% mark — not from persistent absence.

Pupil: ……………… Year: …… Key adult: ……………… Date opened: ……… Current attendance: ……… % (watch from 94%)

Tick what you're seeing and add the detail — it's the pattern, not any single line, that tells the story:

• Absence pattern — the shape, not just the amount: Mondays / day back after holidays / clustering around the joins. Notes: ………………
• Lateness — creeping, recurring. Dates / frequency: ………………
• Missing single lessons — reliably 'unwell' for the same lesson (PE, assembly, …), even with good overall attendance. Which: ………………
• Somatic complaints — schooldays vs weekends — tummy aches, headaches, nausea on school mornings that fade by Saturday. The on/off pattern is the tell: ………………
• Withdrawal — the dimming: less hand up, edge of the playground, more worry about small things. Notes: ………………
• The masker flag — looks completely fine all day, falls apart at home (too often a girl, too often missed). Notes: ………………

The 94% line crossed? ☐ Yes → open the first conversation curious, not concerned, bring parents in early and no-blame, and share with the SENCo. ☐ Not yet → keep logging.

Log the shape of the absence across the timetable, not just the total — fill it in as you go, and start watching from the 94% mark, not from persistent absence.

Student: ……………… Year: …… Form tutor / key adult: ……………… Date opened: ……… Current attendance: ……… % (watch from 94%)

Tick what you're seeing and add the detail — it's the pattern, not any single line, that tells the story:

• Absence pattern — the shape, not just the amount: Mondays / day back after holidays / clustering around the joins. Notes: ………………
• Lateness — creeping, recurring. Dates / frequency: ………………
• Missing single lessons / timetable fragmentation — reliably absent for the same subject or period even with decent overall attendance. Which: ………………
• Somatic complaints — schooldays vs weekends — stomach aches, headaches, nausea on school mornings that fade by Saturday. The on/off pattern is the tell: ………………
• Withdrawal — the dimming: quieter, edge of things, more worry about small things. Notes: ………………
• The masker flag — looks fine in lessons all day, falls apart at home (too often a girl, too often missed). Notes: ………………

The 94% line crossed? ☐ Yes → open the first conversation curious, not concerned, bring parents in early and no-blame, and share with the SENCo. ☐ Not yet → keep logging.