Statement on Included, Engaged and Involved Part 1
On 18 March 2026 Scottish Government released new guidance for schools and education authorities in Scotland on the national approach to promoting and managing attendance in Scottish schools. Children in Scotland have commented on the guidance here.
“The Scottish Government has published new non-statutory guidance on school attendance in Included, Engaged, Involved Part 1: Improving Attendance in Scotland’s Schools. We know that for many children, young people and families there are significant, systemic challenges which affect school attendance. Children in Scotland worked with colleagues across Scottish Government, the wider education sector and our partners in the third sector to support the refresh of the Included, Engaged and Involved Part 1 guidance and we welcome the additional guidance provided for staff to support all children and young people to access their right to education and active engagement in their learning.
“Across the entirety of the guidance, we welcome acknowledgement that a range of complex and diverse barriers can prevent pupils from attending school in both the short and long term. We are pleased to see emphasis placed on whole school approaches to promoting inclusion and the voices of children and young people as key enablers to improving attendance.
“We particularly welcome updated guidance on the positive use of flexible timetables and alternative provision as a means to meet support needs and not simply manage them. The guidance correctly recognises the central role of the children and young people in determining the flexible support required to meet their individual needs. This must be realised in practice, to ensure that any flexible approaches are clearly agreed with children, young people and families and not used as a mechanism to informally exclude children.
“Children in Scotland’s policy briefing on attendance highlighted the prevalence of issues related to attendance among pupils with additional support needs and how this was preventing them from realising their rights to education. It also outlined the key steps the Scottish Government should take to address these issues through professional guidance, data collection and policy delivery.”
– David Yule, Participation & Policy Officer, Children in Scotland
Policy briefing: Additional support for learning – School placements
This briefing draws on participation work with children and young people with additional support needs, offering a unique national insight into how those recommendations are being experienced in practice.
