The DfE advises schools to refer to: Working Together improve school attendance. Please seek advice from your Local Authority, or the DfE, regarding attendance codes if required.
Code X: Not required to be in school
This code has been updated by the DfE and should now only be used to record sessions that non-compulsory school age children are not expected to attend.
All Covid-19 sub codes have been deprecated and removed from registers.
Colour Key -
| Colour | Description |
| Present | |
| Authorised Absence | |
| Approved Educational Activity - Counted as Present | |
| Unauthorised Absence | |
| Not Counted in Attendance Calculations |
Attendance codes -
| Register Code | Description |
| / | Present AM |
| \ | Present PM |
| L | Late (before registers closed) marked as present |
| C | Authorised absence as pupil is absent due to other authorised circumstances |
| E | Authorised absence as pupil is excluded, with no alternative provision made |
| H | Authorised absence due to agreed family holiday |
| I | Illness (NOT appointments) |
| M | Authorised absence due to medical/dental appointments |
| R | Authorised absence due to religious observance |
| S | Authorised absence due to study leave |
| T | Authorised absence due to traveller absence |
| B | Approved education activity as pupil being educated off site (NOT dual registration) |
| J | Approved educational activity as pupil is attending an interview |
| P | Approved educational activity as pupil is attending an approved sporting activity |
| V | Approved education activity as pupil is away on an educational visit or trip |
| W | Approved educational activity as pupil is attending work experience |
| G | Unauthorised absence as pupil is on a family holiday, NOT agreed, or is taking days in excess of an agreed family holiday |
| N | Unauthorised absence as pupil missed sessions for a reason that has not yet been provided |
| O | Unauthorised absence as pupil missed sessions for an unauthorised absence not covered by any other code/description |
| U | Unauthorised absence as pupil arrived after registers closed |
| D | Dual registered (at another establishment - NOT counted in possible attendance |
| X |
Not required to be in school - for non-compulsory school age children |
| Y | Unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances - not counted in possible attendances |
| Z | Pupil not yet on roll - not counted in possible attendances |
| # | Planned whole or partial school closure - NOT counted in possible attendances |