Difficulties attending school: Universal support

This type of support would include approaches by schools to support a sense of belonging and safety in school for all pupils.  

_What might this look like? _ 

Early signs that a child or young person is struggling to attend school. They might be missing a few days every couple of weeks or be reluctant to attend certain lessons when they are in school. They may be communicating at home worries about attending school. 

**Education services ** 

In school support  

• Breakfast club at school to provide more time to prepare for the school day  

• Visuals to show the routine of the day ahead 

• A ‘soft start’ to the school day in which the child/young person begins the day doing something they enjoy  

• See more about Ordinarily Available Provision in schools here 

Cognus Attendance  

• Attendance consultations to discuss pupils of concern and to provide general advice   

• Attendance advice and guidance for schools through their allocated support officer  

• Attendance termly school targeting support meeting 

• Information about the Sutton-Schools-Graduated-Response[External Link]  

• Information for parents/carers available to access online here[External Link] 

For further information or enquiries, please call 0208 323 0461 or email attendance@cognus.org.uk 

Cognus Educational Psychology Service  

• Annual EBSA network event which is free for school staff and professionals to attend to hear about the latest research related to supporting pupils who have difficulties attending school. Date: 30.09.25, please sign up by emailing ep.service@cognus.org.uk  

• EBSA training hosted by the Sutton Partnership Learning Management System. See details and sign up information here[External Link] 

• A call back service for parents/carers to receive a one-off consultation for support and advice. Sign up here[External Link] 

• EBSA Guidance[External Link] detailing theory and evidence based practice for supporting pupils who struggle to attend school. This includes an action planning document, whole school audit and a range of tools which can be used to gain the voice of the child/young person 

For more information or enquiries, please email ep.service@cognus.org.uk  

Cognus School Inclusion  

• Inclusion surgeries are available for any member of school staff to sign up to who has a concern about a child or young person to provide information, advice, and guidance to support inclusive practice and the prevention of exclusion. See here[External Link] for dates and sign up information  

• Inclusion surgeries for parent/carers to provide information, advice and guidance. See here[External Link] for dates and sign up information  

Cognus Therapies  

• Cognus Therapies runs a SEND champion training which consists of training on universal speech, language and communication needs, occupational therapy and educational psychology advice and support. Sutton schools who have not accessed this training previously can send one delegate for free or pay for additional staff members to attend. If you would like to book on the training, please contact cognus.therapies@cognus.org.uk 

• Parent workshops which consist of training on range of universal speech, language and communication needs, occupational therapy and educational psychology advice and support. See more information here [External Link] 

**Social care services ** 

Family Hubs  

• Parent/carer Coffee Information Sessions. If you would like to find out more about the sessions, please contact Clare Kennedy Parenting Administrator via her email: clare.kennedy@sutton.gov.uk 

• A range of parent/carer training programmes, support sessions and information which can be found here  

**Health services ** 

Education Wellbeing Service SWLSTG/Cognus  

•  Education wellbeing service - [External Link] and videos[External Link] for school staff and parents/carers on a range of topics related to emotional wellbeing and mental health  

• In school workshops for school staff and parent/carers on a range of topics related to emotional wellbeing and mental health 

• Every Conversation Matters training to introduce ideas about communication approaches which build relationships and emotional resilience in children and young people  

For more information about this service or to request training and support contact your schools Mental Health Lead. To find out who is your linked worker please email EWSinfo@swlstg.nhs.uk or see here[External Link]. For schools who are part of the team linked to Cognus see more information here [External Link] 

School Nursing  

• PSHE education in schools  

• Consultation and information and referral onto other services  

For more information please email hcpadmin@sutton.gov.uk, call 020 8770 5409 or see the teams Facebook page[External Link] or Instagram[External Link]